Water New Zealand

Meet the Team: Ally Reid We're pleased to introduce Ally Reid, MSDGs Climate Action, who joined the Water New Zealand team in May 2026 as our Administration and Training Support. Ally brings a unique blend of sustainability knowledge, career development expertise, and administration experience to the role. She recently graduated from Massey University with a Master of Sustainable Development Goals (Climate Action) and is particularly passionate about Climate Action (SDG 13), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6). A qualified career consultant and professional member of the Career Development Association of New Zealand, Ally was drawn to Water New Zealand because it provides an opportunity to combine her interests in sustainability, training, and career development. She also brings extensive administration experience, including executive and C-suite support from previous roles. When she's not supporting our training programmes and members, Ally enjoys spending time in central Wellington with her husband Christopher, their apartment cat Lily and embracing the bustling city life.

Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2026 Keynote Speaker: Robert Bilott, Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Environmental Lawyer and Litigator Dark Waters Movie: The Story Behind The Environmental Legal Battle Exposing Corporate Coverup Robert Bilott is the tenacious environmental lawyer who became “DuPont’s worst nightmare,” according to The New York Times. The story in his book, Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer’s Twenty-Year Battle Against Dupont, inspired the major motion picture, Dark Waters (November 2019), featuring Academy-Award nominee Mark Ruffalo as Rob Bilott.  Bilott was a corporate defence attorney for eight years until he took on an environmental suit that upended his entire career and exposed a brazen, decades-long history of chemical pollution. He shares the story of his epic 25-year legal battle against DuPont that consumed his life and exposed the worst case of corporate coverup and environmental contamination in modern history.  Bilott recounts the day a farmer came to his firm, convinced the creek on his property had been poisoned by runoff from a nearby DuPont landfill. Audiences will hear the remarkable legal journey that ultimately revealed massive chemical contamination of unprecedented scale and scope, now impacting virtually every living thing on this planet. Bilott’s story is an unforgettable legal drama about malice and manipulation, perseverance against the failings of environmental regulation, and one lawyer’s quest to expose the truth about a previously unknown and still unregulated chemical—presenting one of the greatest human health crises of the 21st century. To date, Bilott—a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP—has helped secure billions of dollars in benefits for his clients exposed to contaminated drinking water. Among his many honours, Bilott was selected as one of the best lawyers in America for several years running and in 2017 received the Right Livelihood Award, commonly known as the “Alternative Nobel Prize.” Don’t miss this powerful international keynote: https://lnkd.in/gZim8zYe

Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2026 Keynote Speaker: Dr John Small, Chair for the Commerce Commission Dr John Small was appointed Chair in December 2022 and has been a Commissioner since June 2020. He is the Founding Director of the economic consultancy firm, Covec, and was also the former Head of the University of Auckland’s Economics Department. He has extensive experience undertaking complex competition analysis in a wide range of sectors, including energy, transport, agriculture, telecommunications, payment systems, and construction. He was also previously a lay member of the High Court of New Zealand, frequently called as an expert witness before courts, tribunals and commissions. In May 2024 John was appointed as an Associate Member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Hear from John and fellow industry leaders as they explore the challenges shaping the future of water services: https://lnkd.in/gZim8zYe

🤝 Under 35 and working in water? 💡 Looking to build your professional network? The Young Water Professionals Preconference Symposium combines technical presentations, industry insights, career discussions and networking opportunities, all before Conference & Expo begins. The programme includes project showcases, a contractor/consultant/council panel and a fireside chat with senior professionals Lorraine Kendrick and Dr Deborah Lind. Register for the YWP Preconference Symposium here: https://lnkd.in/eKd-6d55 And afterwards? Join the YWP Welcome Function and keep the conversations going. It's free to attend and a great chance to meet other young people working across the water sector. Click here to find out how to register: https://lnkd.in/ecB4tftT

Blue-green infrastructure helps manage flooding, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, and create healthier, more resilient communities. Our Blue-Green Infrastructure Online Course explores the theory, design, implementation and maintenance of nature-based solutions specifically for Aotearoa New Zealand conditions. Join us from October and gain practical skills you can apply in your projects immediately. Learn more and register today: https://lnkd.in/geweJsif

Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2026 Panel Speaker: Suzanne Naylor, General Manager – Water and Environment at Fonterra Panel: Industry and Water As a Chartered Environmental Engineer, Suzanne’s entire career has been dedicated to the water and wastewater sector. With extensive experience in water and wastewater management, both within municipal authorities and industry, Suzanne brings a valuable co-lensed perspective to the Water New Zealand Board. Suzanne’s water journey began at Watercare in 2002 and included responsibilities for source/raw water management, dam safety, as well as water and wastewater networks and reticulation. She also led the specialist environmental/water quality and technical support team, playing a pivotal role in compliance management and strategic leadership across the wider business. In 2023, Suzanne was offered the role of General Manager Water & Environment at Fonterra Ltd, due to her background in water and environmental management. Join Suzanne and fellow panellists as they explore the relationship between industry and water, and the opportunities ahead: https://lnkd.in/gZim8zYe

Welcome to the team: Michelle Davies We're delighted to officially welcome Michelle to the Water New Zealand team as our Accounts Administrator after joining us in December 2025 in a maternity leave cover role. With nearly 30 years of finance experience across a variety of sectors, Michelle plays a key role in supporting our day-to-day financial operations and helping keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. When she's not balancing numbers, Michelle is kept busy by her three sons and two grandchildren, so it's fair to say she's well practised at keeping things running smoothly!

Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2026 Panel Speaker: Dr Caroline McElnay QSO, Chief Health Officer for the Victorian Government & Chairperson - Public Health Advisory Committee for the Ministry of Health New Zealand Panel: 2026 – 10 Years On From Havelock North, What Next? With more than 20 years of public health experience across Aotearoa New Zealand and the United Kingdom, Caroline has led responses to a wide range of public health emergencies, including our COVID-19 response during her time as Director of Public Health from 2017 to 2022. A former President of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine, Caroline is highly regarded for her expertise in communicable diseases, environmental health and epidemiology. In 2023, she was appointed a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order for services to public health. Join us to hear Dr McElnay’s unique perspective on public health, resilience and the critical role water plays in community wellbeing: https://lnkd.in/gZim8zYe

Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2026 Keynote Speaker: Allan Prangnell, Chief Executive for the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai Panel: 2026 – 10 Years On From Havelock North, What Next? Allan should be well-known to our audience, having featured as a keynote speaker at almost every Water New Zealand Conference in the last decade. Allan has been a central figure in the seismic water services reforms that have unfolded over this time. He first entered the water world as a Director at the Department of Internal Affairs managing the Government response to the Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry. Following the Inquiry, Allan led a growing team at Department bringing the critical public infrastructure conversation to the fore. What started as a drinking water problem, rapidly exposed the state of New Zealand’s water infrastructure and the critical services they underpin in every town and city. A key aspect of this response was setting up a dedicated drinking water regulator, the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai (the Authority), which Allan has been at the helm of for the last four years. Since taking on the role of Chief Executive at the Authority, Allan has led the Authority through a rapid transformation from a tightly scoped drinking water regulator, to a fully-fledged water services authority with a broad new system leadership and oversight role. Allan has led the Authority through this period of change to ensure it has the right toolkit and approaches to work with supplies large and small to improve drinking water safety. Join Allan and fellow panellists as they reflect on the changes made since Havelock North and discuss what still needs to be done to ensure safe, resilient water services for our communities: https://lnkd.in/gZim8zYe

Meet your 2026 Board election candidates Water New Zealand members can now view the candidate profiles for this year's Board election on our website. Take some time to learn more about the nominees, their experience, and their vision for the future of Water New Zealand before voting opens on Monday 24 August 2026. Eligible financial members will receive voting information when the election period begins. Voting opens on Monday 24 August 2026 and eligible financial members can cast their votes for the vacant elected Board Officer positions. This is your opportunity to help shape the future direction and governance of our Association. Log in to view the candidate profiles and be ready to cast your vote when voting opens. https://lnkd.in/eHMHY-WB