Building on Strong Foundations: Expanding Leadership Pathways for Young Water Professionals

By Omi Kumari, IWA India YWP Chapter 

Over the past seven years, my journey with the International Water Association (IWA) has taken me across Australia, India and Thailand, where I have engaged with different Young Water Professional (YWP) communities. This experience has reinforced the strength of IWA’s global network: a space built on knowledge sharing, collaboration, and a shared belief in the importance of the next generation of water leaders.

One of the most valuable aspects of being part of this community is the opportunity to connect across borders, disciplines and career stages. From fellow YWPs to senior leaders and committee members, the network offers a rich environment of ideas, mentorship, guidance, and professional support. For many emerging professionals, this exposure can be both empowering and transformative as these connections can play a key role in shaping how emerging professionals engage with the water sector.

IWA already offers a wide range of platforms through events, professional networks, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Together, these initiatives create meaningful opportunities for engagement and development, enabling YWPs to contribute, collaborate, and build their professional profiles within a global context.

Across different countries, these opportunities take shape in diverse and dynamic ways. In India, for example, the YWP community reflects strong enthusiasm, technical knowledge, and a growing interest in engagement. In Australia, collaboration through the Australian Water Association (AWA), IWA’s Governing Member, demonstrates how local and global connections can come together to support participation and professional exchange across a broad range of stakeholders.

These experiences illustrate the richness and diversity of the global YWP community, how engagement supports long-term professional development and leadership growth.

As the community continues to evolve, opportunities arise to further enhance how participation connects to broader professional journeys. Supporting YWPs in moving from initial engagement to sustained contribution, and from contribution to leadership, can help reinforce the long-term impact of the network. This can be achieved by continuing to build on strong existing foundations, while further enhancing the visibility of opportunities and supporting diverse forms of participation across regions and professional backgrounds.

The International Water Association (IWA) is already making meaningful progress in this area. Young Water Professionals (YWPs) are increasingly integrated into the fabric of the association, contributing to high-level decision-making bodies such as the Strategic Council, and playing active roles in flagship events through Programme and organising committees. At the same time, collaboration between YWPs and Specialist Groups continues to grow, creating valuable connections between technical expertise and professional development.

Alongside these efforts, IWA is investing in leadership development and intergenerational exchange. Initiatives such as the IWA LeaP Leadership Programme, the IWA Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship, and platforms like the Emerging Water Leaders Forum are equipping YWPs with the skills, networks, and visibility needed to lead and influence. These opportunities support individual growth as well as strengthen the wider community through dialogue, mentorship, and shared learning.

Leadership within the YWP community is already expressed in many ways through global engagement and impactful local action. Recognising and supporting this diversity of contributions remains central to sustaining an inclusive, dynamic, and forward-looking network.

The strength of the IWA YWP community lies in its global reach, its diversity, and its shared purpose. By continuing to build on these foundations, IWA can further support the development of future water leaders and contribute to a more connected, inclusive, and resilient water sector.