We are pleased to share highlights from the Asset Management Customer Value (AMCV 2024) Leading Practices Conference organised by Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) and our consultant partners, Isle Utilites and Aurecon. The conference is the culmination of the year’s work benchmarking asset management and showcases the best examples of asset management from the water sector.
From Tuesday, 22 October to Wednesday, 23 October 2024, leaders in asset management from across Australia were able to network and share their challenges relating to population growth, water security, digital transition, climate variability, growing customer expectations, and delivering social, diversity and inclusion outcomes. With over 80% of water business costs tied to asset management, AMCV 2024 provided a platform for utilities to streamline operations and prioritise initiatives through good practice and strategic roadmaps.
Day one commenced with an introduction from Adam Lovell, Executive Director at WSAA, followed by a welcome address from Paul Plowman, Executive General Manager at Sydney Water. The keynote by Keith Gardner from Isle Utilities set the tone for the discussions, focusing on lessons learnt from the UK, facing strikingly similar challenges to ours.
Workshops led by experts from Isle Utilities, Aurecon, Wannon Water, Sydney Water, Goulburn Murray Water and a panel of speakers provided a deep dive into themes such as leadership, continuous improvement, and cultural change. Key points were the importance of a culture where difference is valued and how good asset management maturity enables innovation within an organisation.
In the afternoon different streams separately addressed stakeholder engagement and how asset management enables organisational goals. Simon Robertson (North East Water) and Katherine Larkings (Icon Water) shared insights on applying asset management to the climate change adaption challenge. Emily Hill from Hunter Water and the WSAA Young Utility Leaders cohort 23/24 and Nazrul Islam (Power & Water) shared insights from stakeholder engagement and project management community-centred projects.
Day two opened with insights from Stuart Wilson, Deputy Executive Director at WSAA, and Diane Nolder, Project Director Cost Benchmarking at WSAA. The key focus of the day was “Data in the Driver’s Seat” which is an area the sector has ‘room for improvement’. The morning session included excellent presentations on how quality asset information drives better outcomes for customers including a presentation from Southern Ports in Western Australia. This was followed by a panel session discussing the importance of targeting, structuring and integrating information.
The afternoon once again included two streams with a focus on doing the basics right and averting failure. Notable contributions included those from Locky Wilson (Water Corporation), and Rachel Raby (Barwon Water), highlighting the importance of asset knowledge and emergency risk management in fortifying business resilience. The “Doing the basics” stream included presentations on network reliability, asset health monitoring and the effective use of AI.
The event closed with reflections emphasising the improvement the sector has seen in the last four years and how we can leverage our strengths to meet future challenges.
We appreciate the participation and feedback from all attendees, which are invaluable in driving the future of asset management. Your engagement is crucial in shaping an inclusive and resilient water sector. Thank you for contributing to this significant dialogue.
31 Oct 2024
