Solutions in Water
Issue No. 44 - December/January 2008
New Zealand forum wave of the future
By seizing an initiative for networking in New Zealand, the Water Industry Alliance has developed strong new business prospects and a formidable new vehicle for networking with keen customers globally. In September, a Water Industry Alliance delegation met New Zealand water industry peers for a three-hour, Climate Change & Water Scarcity forum in Auckland.
A panel of speakers presented to mixed tables of delegates, each speaker having 10 minutes to present on a topic. Tables then put their heads together and put questions to the speaker panel for a lively discussion.
Member feedback shows the stimulating and very efficient format has created useful business connections. Given the success of this Market Solution Forum format, the Water Industry Alliance will use the same approach for its next networking event in Phoenix, Arizona in January 2009.
CEO Joe Flynn says the initiative began when the Water Industry Alliance learned of Premier Mike Rann’s impending visit to New Zealand to promote migration.
Realising the opportunity to link with a strong news opportunity, the Alliance organised a program of speakers, and a proactive group of members interested to do business in NZ, at three week’s notice.
“We put together a great panel of New Zealand and Australian authorities on water security and climate change,” Joe says.
“South Australia is addressing the issue of climate change very responsibly and the world is very interested in what we’re doing. We’re at the forefront of water supply diversification.
“It’s always interesting how much interest you can generate when you tell people what’s going on in SA.” Water Industry Alliance members have considerable interest in New Zealand.
United Water’s R&D centre in Adelaide has links to New Zealand. Optimatics, Baleen Filters and Dematec joined the mission.
“The forum format put customers who wanted to talk about problems in a room with people wh...
