2026 Leadership Conference for Women in Water and Wastewater

The water and wastewater industry is experiencing rapid technological change, evolving workforce expectations, and increasing operational and public accountability. During this period of transformation, women leaders often encounter additional challenges related to visibility, advancement, and influence within their organizations and the broader industry.

Water and wastewater utilities are also confronting significant industry-specific pressures, including aging infrastructure, limited or competitive funding for system upgrades, increasing water demand from population growth and high-consumption sectors such as data centers, emerging contaminants like PFAS, and heightened regulatory scrutiny. These factors require strategic, forward-thinking leadership to maintain safe, resilient, and sustainable water systems.

The 2026 Leadership Conference for Women in Water and Wastewater is designed to support women at all career stages by strengthening leadership capacity, strategic thinking, and professional networks. The conference focuses on practical, forward-looking approaches to leading through change, embracing innovation, building resilient organizations, and contributing to the future of the industry.

Through expert-led presentations, panel discussions, and interactive conversations, participants will explore:

• Adaptive, human-centered leadership and professional development
• Emerging industry trends, digital transformation, and data-driven decision-making
• Building inclusive, innovative, and resilient workplace cultures

Whether you are an emerging leader or a seasoned professional, this conference offers space to learn, reflect, and connect with women who are shaping the future of water and wastewater leadership.

• The future of leadership for women in water and wastewater
• Purpose-driven, trust-based, and human-centered leadership
• Leading through change: adaptive leadership in a rapidly evolving industry
• Digital transformation, innovation, and emerging technologies in water and wastewater, including cybersecurity, smart infrastructure planning, and meeting increasing water demand
• Developing AI-literate leaders and responsible AI adoption in utilities
• Data-driven decision-making and analytics for executive leadership
• Workforce engagement, retention, and talent development in a competitive labor market
• Navigating generational shifts in workplace expectations and organizational culture
• Continuous learning and leadership development: building cultures of curiosity and experimentation
• Negotiation, influence, and strategic communication skills for leaders
• Emergency preparedness, crisis leadership, and organizational resilience, including water system risk management and enterprise risk management
• Social responsibility, sustainability, and community stewardship, including community engagement, collaborative delivery, public health protection (lead service line replacement, PFAS), climate adaptation
• Regulatory and policy compliance strategies in an increasingly complex regulatory environment
• Financial leadership challenges, including equitable access to federal funding, infrastructure investment, and climate resilience financing

• Apply adaptive leadership strategies to lead effectively through industry change, disruption, and uncertainty in the water and wastewater sector.
• Foster inclusive, high-trust workplace cultures that strengthen employee engagement, mentorship, and workforce retention.
• Evaluate opportunities for digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies within utility organizations.
• Practice human-centered leadership approaches that enhance communication, collaboration, and team resilience.
• Strengthen negotiation, influence, and interviewing skills to advance leadership effectiveness and career growth.
• Integrate ethical leadership, sustainability, and community stewardship into day-to-day decision-making.
• Build meaningful peer connections to exchange insights, expand professional networks, and elevate women’s leadership across the industry.

Interested in sharing your expertise and perspective?

We invite experienced and emerging leaders to submit presentation abstracts or express interest in serving on a panel for the 2026 Leadership Conference for Women in Water and Wastewater. Sessions include 45-minute individual presentations and 60-minute panels featuring 2–3 speakers, covering the leadership topics outlined above.

If you’re passionate about advancing leadership, innovation, and resilience in the water sector, we’d love to hear from you. Submit your abstract or panel interest by contacting Emily Wallace at [email protected].