14th Edition
14th Edition of ASIAWATER Conference
What does it take to build a nation in the 21st century? Increasingly, the answer flows through resilient, intelligent, and inclusive water systems. Across Southeast Asia, rapid urbanisation, climate volatility, ageing infrastructure, and rising expectations for equitable access are transforming water from a utility into a strategic national asset.
The 14th ASIAWATER Conference tackles this head-on with the theme: “Building Nations: Leveraging Technology-Driven Water Services for Inclusive Growth.” This isn’t just another water conference. This is where digital innovation meets infrastructure reality, where policy ambition meets practical implementation, and where Southeast Asia’s most pressing water challenges are tackled with smart, tech-enabled solutions.
DAY 01
7 APR. | TUESDAY
CONFERENCE SESSION - MORNING
- DAY 1
- CONFERENCE HALL 8C
- FREE-TO-ATTEND
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
Arrival of Guests/ Registration
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
Nature Based Solutions for Water Sustainability and Resilience: Connecting Rivers and Seas
Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Fang Yenn Teo
ICWES Senior Advisor and Professor of Water Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia
9:45 AM - 9:50 AM
Cultural Performance
9:50 AM - 10:00 AM
Welcome Speech
Mr. Mohamad Hairi Bin Basri
President, Malaysian Water Association
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
PAAB’s Role in Malaysian Water Supply Sustainability
YBhg Dato' Seri Ir. Jaseni Maidinsa
Chairman, Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB)
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Advancing Water Transformation through Infrastructure and Financial Excellence
YBhg. Datuk Ir Abdul Kadir Mohd Din FASc
Chair of ASM Water Committee/ Council Members of Academy of Sciences Malaysia
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Special Keynote
Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme: Advancing Water Sciences for a Water Secure World in a Changing Environment
Dr. Rahmah Elfithri
Chief of Capacity Development and Water Family Coordination Section, UNESCO HQ, France
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
The Role and Functions of the Water Specialist Regiment in the Management of Water Services in Malaysia
Kol. Mohd Nizam bin Daud
Royal Engineer Regiment (Territorial Army) Headquarters
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
VIP Luncheon
OPENING CEREMONY
- DAY 1
- CONFERENCE HALL 8C
- FREE-TO-ATTEND
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Arrival of Guests/ Registration
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Water Utilities Reimagined: Uniting Customer Focus and Intelligent Assets for a Sustainable Future
Matt Gleeson
Vice President. Energy Transition and Water Conservation, Oracle Utilities
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Arrival of Guest of Honour
National Anthem
Doa Recital
Cultural Performance
Welcome Speech
YBhg Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Mamat
Chairman, Informa Markets Malaysia
YBhg. Datuk Ir. Abdul Kadir Bin Mohd Din FASc*
Chairman, National Water Services Commission
H.E Jacques Werner
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Malaysia
Opening Speech and Launching of ASIAWATER 2026
YAB Datuk Amar Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof
Deputy Prime Minister / Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Malaysia
Soft Launch of SPAN Incubator Hub
Exchange of MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA AND THE NETHERLANDS ON CO-OPERATION IN THE FIELD OF WATER MANAGEMENT
VIP Visit to ASIAWATER 2026
CONFERENCE SESSION - AFTERNOON
- DAY 1
- CONFERENCE HALL 8C
- FREE-TO-ATTEND
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Sustainable Water Resources Management in Malaysia and Way Forward
YBhg. Datuk Ir. Mohamad Radzi Bin Abdul Talib
Director General, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Malaysia
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Challenges and Way Forward in Hydrological Science on Tibetan Plateau
Prof. Dr. Zhongbo Yu
Yangtze Scholar Distinguished Professor, Hohai University, China
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Ecohydrology for Sustainable Estuarine Development: From Scientific Approaches to Practical Solutions
Prof. Dr. Luis Chicharo
UNESCO Chair in Ecohydrology Water for Ecosystems and Societies at the University of Algarve, Portugal
DAY 02
8 APR. | WEDNESDAY
CONFERENCE SESSION - MORNING
- DAY 2
- CONFERENCE HALL 8C
- FREE-TO-ATTEND
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Arrival of Guests/ Registration
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Need for Effective Stakeholder Engagement in Sustainable Water Resources Management for Malaysia
Dato' Ir. Dr. Lim Chow Hock
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Digital Infrastructure: The Cornerstone of Economic Resilience – Are We Prepared for Sustainable Development in Data Centre Operations?
YBhg Datuk Ts. Mahadhir Aziz*
President, Data Centre Association of Malaysia
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Regional Panel Discussion: Innovative Water Management Strategies for Meeting Data Centre Demand: Current Best Practices and Insights
Moderator
Dato' Teo Yen Hua
Former CEO SPAN/ Advisor ASIAWATER 2026
Panellists
Engr. Salvador M. Royeca
Immediate Past President, Philippine Association of Water District (PAWD)/ General Manager of Baguio Water District
Dr. Subekti
Executive Director, Indonesia Water Supply Association (PERPAMSI)
Mr. Sumetee Charoenwongmit
Thai Water Works Association (TWWA)
CONFERENCE SESSION - AFTERNOON
- DAY 2
- CONFERENCE HALL 8C
- FREE-TO-ATTEND
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Gamelan Performance
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Welcome Address
YBhg. Datuk Ir. Abdul Kadir Bin Mohd Din, Fasc*
Chairman of National Water Services Commission (SPAN)
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Chief Ministerial Address
YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz Bin Ghazi*
Chief Minister of Johor
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Securing Sabah's Industrial Future: Lessons from Lahad Datu's Modular Desalination Pioneer
Prof. Ts. Jude Abel Logijin
Senior General Manager, Jetama Water Sdn. Bhd.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Singapore’s Circular Water: Driving Innovation for Future-Ready Industrial Water Solutions
Mr. Chew Men Leong
President of Singapore Water Association
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Advancing Public Health: Product Certification and Innovative Approaches to Contaminated Drinking Water
Kelli Fleischmann
Business Engagement Strategist, Water Quality Association
4:30 PM - 4:35 PM
Theme: From Vision to Implementation — Thailand’s Integrated Water Strategy for a Climate‑Resilient Future
Session Introduction and Upcoming 2026–2027 Events
Informa Markets Thailand
4:35 PM - 4:45 PM
Thailand’s 5-Year Water strategy Outlook
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sucharit Koontanakulvong
Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
4:45 PM - 4:55 PM
National Water Master Plan: Integrating Resilience, Climate Adaptation and Smart Governance
Dr. Wimolphat Bumbudsanpharoke Khamkanya
Senior Expert in Economic Analysis for Water Resources Office of National Water Resources, Thailand (ONWR)
4:55 PM - 5:05 PM
Smart Irrigation in Practice: Scaling Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Thailand
Mr. Phatcharin Pimsing
Irrigation Engineer ,Senior Professional Level, Royal Irrigation Department (RID)
5:05 PM - 5:30 PM
Smart Urban Water Supply: Enhancing Efficiency and Resilience in Mega Cities
Mr.Dollachet Klahan
Director of Water Treatment, Transmission System and Civil Work, Design Department, Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA)
DAY 03
9 APR. | THURSDAY
CONFERENCE SESSION - MORNING
- DAY 3
- CONFERENCE HALL 8C
- FREE-TO-ATTEND
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Arrival of Guests/ Registration
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Permits, Compliance, Specification and Certification: Ensuring Safety and Sustainability in Malaysia’s Water Services
National Water Services Commission (SPAN)
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Design and Operation Analysis of Compact WWTP using BFM Process in North China
Ir. Dr. Barry Lee
ASpring Bioenergy Limited
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Integrated Sustainable Strategies for Water Supply and Sanitation: Transitioning Bengaluru’s Urban Model to the Greater Metropolitan Region, Karnataka, India
Dr. H. K. Ramaraju
Chairman, Institution of Engineers, Karnataka State Centre/ Head of Civil Engineering & Principal ( I/c), Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore, India
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Building Resilient Utilities in a Changing Climate — an Indonesia Perspective
Agus Umar Yasin
Chairman of Indonesia Water Association (IdWA)
TED Talk: Empowering Water Community and Transforming the Ecosystem
- DAY 3
- CONFERENCE HALL 8C
- FREE-TO-ATTEND
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM