Welcome to the July 2008 edition of the IWC eBulletin.

In this Issue

1. Message from the CEO
2. Water Leader Scholarships Now Open for Applications
3. IWC is Moving to a New Office on Ann Street
4. MOU Signing in China
5. Mark Pascoe Participates in the Western Corridor Water Grid Event
6. "Sharing Experiences" Launched by Bob McMullan
7. IWC at Enviro 08: "Water in the 21st Century" Discussion with Dr Gleick
8. Yellow River Conservancy Commission Delegation Visit
9. IWC Says Good-Bye to Danielle Pedi
10. New Staff: Ingrid De Lacy
11. Industry Placement Fellow: Li Gaolun
12. Partner News: International Riverfoundation - Finalists Announced for the Thiess Riverprize
13. Partner News: Dr Philip Bond of UQ receives Research funding from Queensland Government
14. Opportunity to Win a Hard Copy "Sharing Experiences" - Contest!

It has been a busy few months at the International WaterCentre. Among other activities, we have launched a publication, hosted a discussion group at Enviro 08 with guest speaker Peter Gleick, signed an MOU with China Water Engineering company, launched the second round of Water Leader scholarships and students have finished the first semester of the IWC Masters Program.

We also have a number of new staff, and sadly we are saying good-bye to our valued and talented Programs Coordinator, Danielle Pedi. She will be greatly missed but we wish her all the best in her new endeavours in Singapore.

In addition to all this activity IWC is going to move from Margaret to Ann Street in August. It is going to be an exciting next few months!

Mark Pascoe
CEO
International WaterCentre  

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After dozens of excellent candidates applied for the prestigious IWC Water Leader Scholarships in 2008, it was clear that there is a strong need to support the brightest and most talented people in their quest to become future water leaders. IWC has opened the second round of scholarships, which are available to Australian citizens, permanent residents and international applicants to undertake the Master of Integrated Water Management Program in 2009. Those interested in advancing their careers in the water sector and receiving a subsidised scholarship, should submit their application by August 1st, 2008.

Along with other scholarship recipients from Vietnam, Ecuador, and Australia, French-Canadian Diane Cousineau was successful in receiving an IWC full tuition scholarship to attend the program in 2008. With background in engineering and field experience in developing countries, Diane was looking for a program that would give her an understanding of the links between various aspects of water management. Diane says “IWC's Master's Program gives me an opportunity to learn the relationships between the different aspects involved in water management. We are not just learning about engineering or political science as separate units, we are learning about the relationships between the different variables that are involved in water management and the strengths and weaknesses of those relationships.”

The IWC Master of Integrated Water Management Program aims to accelerate the learning of those working in water resource management, with an emphasis on developing countries. The Master of Integrated Water Management Program is skill-based, interdisciplinary, experiential and relevant. There are no other courses in Australia, and very few internationally, that take such an approach to teaching and learning about water management.

IWC graduates receive a degree from four of Australia’s most prestigious universities. Our university partners are Griffith University, Monash University, The University of Queensland and The University of Western Australia.

Learn more about Water Leader Scholarships and the Master of Integrated Water Management

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The new International WaterCentre office building at 333 Ann Street

Since the Joint Venture was established in 2005, IWC has been located at 240 Margaret Street, in the SEQWater building. Due to expansion of both companies, IWC is moving to 333 Ann Street.

In the new location IWC will continue sharing office space with a partner company - International Riverfoundation, who has been IWC's neighbour in the current office since 2005.

The new building is 4.5 star ABGR and has a 4 green star rating. This includes reduced water use, which contributes to a lower sewage loading to relieve Brisbane's sewage infrastructure. In the construction of the building 20% of the cement was replaced with industrial by-product and reinforcing steel was made from 60% recycled steel.

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Mr. Zhu Quinping, General Manager of China Water International Engineering Consulting Co Ltd, and Mark Pascoe, CEO of International WaterCentre, shake hands after signing the MOU.

In April, International WaterCentre signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Water International Engineering Consulting Co Ltd, a company of China’s Ministry of Water Resources (MWR), in Beijing. As part of a regional trade mission, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh attended the event.

The MOU is representative of the cooperative activities to be undertaken between IWC and MWR’s China Water International Engineering Consulting Co Ltd within the fields of consultancy, research, education and training in water management.

“IWC recognises water as a critical component of sustainable development essential for socio-economic welfare, poverty reduction, human and environmental health and is committed to setting international benchmarks in integrated water management which can be followed across the globe,” said Mark Pascoe, CEO of International WaterCentre.

The agreement follows a number of joint training and research initiatives between IWC and the MWR as well as information sharing at the International Yellow River Forum and the Brisbane-based International Riversymposium.

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At the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project Event

Mark Pasco, CEO of International WaterCentre, and Director on the Board of Western Corridor Recycled Water Project (WCRWP), joined Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water Penny Wong, Deputy Premier Paul Lucas and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh on May 7th, 2008 to observe a major milestone for the WCRWP – the installation of the first two pipelines under the Brisbane River bed.

The Western Corridor Recycled Water Project is the first major purified recycled water project in Australia, the third largest water recycling project in the world and the largest in the southern hemisphere.

The project, which uses trenchless technology to leave minimal impact on the environment, is about 70% complete and is planned to be ready to pump purified recycled water into Wivenhoe Dam at the end of the year.

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Bob McMullan launches IWC publication on sanitation in South East Asia and the Pacific

On World Health Day April 7th, 2008 Australian Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance Bob McMullan, MP, launched a joint publication between International WaterCentre and WaterAid Australia, Sharing Experiences: Sustainable Sanitation in South East Asia and the Pacific.

Sharing Experiences is a collection of case studies in sanitation from nine countries highlighting practical work from a range of organisations including local and international NGOs, government agencies and international donors. The case studies focus on what worked, what didn’t work and why, with the overall goal of contributing to a community of practice in low-cost sustainable sanitation in the region.

At the event Mr McMullan reinforced the commitment government has made towards foreign aid, particularly improving access to clean water and sanitation services.

“We are committed to helping our neighbours and, in line with other international organisations, including the development banks and UN agencies, we intend to fulfil our election commitment to substantially increase aid for water and sanitation in the next three years,” said Mr McMullan.

Download your copy of Sharing Experiences: Sustainable Sanitation in South East Asia and the Pacific.

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Dr Peter Gleick

IWC shared the vision for Water Sensitive Futures at the Enviro 08 conference where Dr Peter Gleick gave a presentation on his predictions for the future of water. A group of senior water leaders from Australia and New Zealand discussed economic, sociological, institutional, technological and planning issues in water management.

Dr Gleick, founder and President of Pacific Institute for Development, Environment and Security in California shared his vision of what the water situation might be 100 years from now. Dr Gleick highlighted that water is not an unsolvable problem, but solutions are going to require fundamental thinking. He went on to say it is not water that people fight about, it is the benefits that water gives us.

A discussion followed, where participants examined different variables in the quest toward solving water shortage and looking at future solutions. The discussion consisted of questions on sustainable water planning and use, privatisation of water, technology, desalination and arrangements that will solve water shortage problems and endure the time test.

Download the summary of "Water in the 21st Century, Looking Beyond 2015" discussion notes.

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Yellow River Conservancy Commission Delegation Visit

Mr Ren and Peter Hannington exchange gifts

Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC) delegation visited IWC and Professional Development Fellows to observe the progress students are making in their seven-month program. IWC and the students had a low key afternoon where presentations and discussions revolved around what the students have learned and how it has advanced them for their work in the YRCC.

Mr Ren, the leader of the delegation and Deputy Director General for the YRCC Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, was impressed with the experiences and opportunities the Fellows have had during the program. He indicated that closer ties between IWC and the YRCC would be desirable, particularly in terms of future groups of high-achieving YRCC staff taking up fellowships with IWC and looking at other education and training opportunities.

Mr Peng Shaoming discussing technical questions with Professor Fran Sheldon from Griffith University

The Professional Development Program (PDP) in Integrated River Basin Management is tailored for water industry professionals from China’s YRCC. The program was designed to enhance the vocational knowledge and skills of individuals, relevant to their current and future employment. The seven-month program in Brisbane includes English language training, post graduate level academic studies, field trips, workshops, tutorials, poster presentations, a workplace industry placement and a technical study tour. The program provides students with an insight into Australia’s approach to sustainable water resources management, and includes modules in water science, project management, governance and policy, and sustainable development.

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Second from left: Danielle Pedi, Editor of "Sharing Experiences", looking through the book with Gabrielle Halcrow, Bob McMullan and Mark Pascoe

Programs Coordinator, Education and Research, Danielle Pedi, has been at IWC for two years. Some of Danielle's daily tasks consisted of the coordination of development and delivery of IWC education and training activities, as well as involvement in and facilitation of IWC applied research projects.

Among other great achievements, Danielle invested a great amount of work in the Master of Integrated Water Management Program and assisted students as a tutor on the program. This year, in collaboration with WaterAid Australia, Danielle edited "Sharing Experiences" publication which was launched in Melbourne by Bob McMullan.

Danielle, originally from the US, has lived and worked in Japan, and traveled through the former Soviet Union and Asia. One of her passions is bringing adequate water and sanitation to less-developed countries. She has dedicated a lot of work and energy in volunteering for WaterAid. While staff at IWC will miss Danielle greatly, we wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

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Ingrid De Lacy

Ingrid De Lacy joined the team at IWC in May 2008 as Project Support Officer. Ingrid holds a BEc/BA from the University of Queensland, a Grad Cert in Accounting and is currently working towards her Masters in Development Practice. Ingrid has worked in a variety of roles in diverse locations. Her most recent experience was in Vanuatu, working with a local Microfinance NGO, coordinating projects and designing and implementing new initiatives. Prior to that, she managed the administration, logistics and accounts of a wholesale nursery in the Tweed Valley. She has also worked on education programs in Cambodia and Spain, in both teaching and program co-ordination roles. Before leaving Brisbane to work overseas she spent two years as a Project Officer with the Co-operative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism.

At IWC Ingrid will be involved with logistics, research and administration on a range of Australian and International projects.

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Li Gaolun

One of the ten Yellow River Conservancy Commission Fellows, Li Gaolun, will fulfill his professional industry placement, a component of the AusAID funded capacity building Professional Development Program, at IWC.

Senior Engineer, Gaolun graduated from Xi’an University of Technology in 1990 with a Bachelor’s degree in Science, majoring in Water Resources and Hydraulic Power Engineering Construction.

For the last 18 years, Mr Li has been working in the Department of Water Resources Management in Yellow River Conservancy Commission subdivision office - Shandong Bureau (YRSB), YRCC.

His duties include water use licences management, allocation of water resources, monitoring of water use, and protection of water resources in Shandong Yellow River.
 

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One of  the finalists: Derwent Estuary Program

Seven river management projects have been announced as finalists of the National and International Thiess Riverprize this year which marks the 10th anniversary of the prestigious award.

This year’s international finalists are:
• Lake Macquarie, The Lake Macquarie Project Management Committee, New South Wales, Australia
• St Johns River, St Johns River Water Management District, Florida, USA
• Swan River, Swan River Trust, WA, Australia

 
This year’s national finalists are:
• Derwent Estuary, Derwent Estuary Program, Tasmania
• Tweed River, Tweed Shire Council, New South Wales
• Lake Macquarie, The Lake Macquarie Project Management Committee, New South Wales
• Swan River, Swan River Trust, Western Australia

The 2008 laureates will be announced at a special gala dinner during the 11th International Riversymposium (1 – 4 September) in Brisbane, Australia.

Marking the 10th anniversary of the most coveted award in river management worldwide, the prize money has been increased again this year by the International Riverfoundation (IRF) to a total of AU $500,000. The international prize is now valued at AU $350,000 and the national award at $150,000.

The entries were well received by the judging panel. ‘All nominating organisations demonstrated a real commitment to achieving river health outcomes’, said Professor Paul Greenfield, Chair of the prize judging panel. A number of entries this year showed good community involvement and integration of activities and were able to demonstrate innovative processes.

The Thiess Riverprize is an initiative of Riverfestival in partnership with the International Riverfoundation. IRF provides the prize money for this award whilst Riverfestival manages the award and produces the prize ceremony.

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Dr Philip Bond

Dr Philip Bond from UQ's Advanced Water Management Centre is one of the funding recipients, for his research work using sludge made up of bacteria to clean wastewater, from the Queensland Government, Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle.

The Queensland Government provided $1.8 million this year to support six Smart State Fellowships and two Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships. The Fellowships provide funding for early or mid-career researchers to undertake innovative research in Queensland.

"The Smart State Fellowships and the Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships are designed to support cutting-edge research in Queensland," Ms Boyle said.

Established in 2005, the Smart State Innovation Funding Program aims to build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists to Queensland and stimulate cutting-edge research projects.

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Bob McMullan launches "Sharing Experiences" - a joint publication between International WaterCentre and WaterAid Australia

Your chance to win “Sharing Experiences: Sustainable Sanitation in South East Asia and the Pacific” – publication of International WaterCentre and WaterAid Australia, launched by Bob McMullan on World Health Day, a collection of case studies in sustainable sanitation.

It's simple - just answer the following question and be one of 5 winners:

What is the closing date of the 2008 Water Leader Scholarships?

Email a.middleton@watercentre.org the following info:

Subject Line: Competition
Email body text: Your name, company, contact details and the competition answer.
Closing date: July 10th 2008. Winners will be contacted on Friday, July 11.

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IWC Contacts

For more information contact:
International WaterCentre
Phone +61 7 3221 1772
Fax +61 7 3221 1727
PO Box 15056, City East, Brisbane
Queensland 4002, Australia
admin@watercentre.org
www.watercentre.org