In the final seminar of the 2012 Fenner Forum Series we examine future challenges and opportunities for water management, use and conservation in a changing world.

The past two decades have seen significant world-wide water reforms. In Australia, these reforms have led to major institutional changes, the introduction of water entitlements and water markets, the purchase of water for the environment, caps on water extraction and diversions, changes in urban and irrigated water use, basin-wide salinity management strategies, centralisation of water resource information and a reliance on water-sharing plans in catchments. These reforms coincided with major droughts and floods, continuing land use change, increasing mining pressures, growing urbanisation, a global financial crisis, water quality declines and general decreases in the resources of regulators.

In this forum we will discuss the skills, training and organisations required to cope with and adapt to the predicted changes in managing water and related resources in Australia and elsewhere over the next two decades.

The forum will run from 5.30-6.30pm followed by light refreshments and informal discussion.

About the speakers

• Chris Hepplewhite, Manager Research and Development, ACTEW Corporation
• Amy Hankinson, Assistant Director, Engagement and Reporting, Compliance and Assurance, Murray-Darling Basin Authority
• Katherine Daniell, Research Fellow, Centre for Policy Innovation, ANU; Hydrological Society, Canberra

Co-chairs

• Sara Beavis, Senior Lecture, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU; Hydrological Society Canberra
• Ian White, Professor of Water Resources, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU; Hydrological Society, Canberra

The seminar is jointly sponsored by the Hydrological Society, Canberra