IWA YWP Canada Chapter recognised as the 2026 IWA YWP Chapter of the Year

The International Water Association (IWA) is delighted to announce that the IWA Young Water Professionals Canada Chapter has been recognised as the 2026 IWA YWP Chapter of the Year.

The recognition was announced during the 8th IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum, held on 6 October 2026 as part of the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Glasgow, Scotland.

Launched by IWA in 2024, the Chapter of the Year initiative recognises and celebrates the outstanding contributions of IWA Young Water Professionals (YWP) Country Chapters worldwide. The annual evaluation considers the quality and completeness of chapters’ yearly reports, as well as innovation, collaboration, community impact, communication, leadership development and alignment with IWA’s Strategic Goals.

Following a comprehensive assessment of the activities delivered during 2025, the Canada Chapter stood out for its strong national programming, international collaboration, measurable reach, leadership development, inclusive communications and effective engagement with partners across the water sector.

“Having been part of IWA YWP Canada for nearly five years in different roles, it means a lot to see the Chapter receive this recognition. When I look back at the past six years, it is amazing to see how all the small steps, ideas, and efforts from so many people have brought us to where we are today. At the heart of our work has always been bringing young water professionals together and creating opportunities for them to connect, learn, and lead. This recognition belongs to all the volunteers and leaders who have contributed along the way. It motivates us to keep building a stronger and more connected YWP community, while creating more meaningful and impactful opportunities at both the national and global levels.” Hadi Mokarizadeh, Chair, IWA YWP Canada

Connecting young water professionals across Canada

Canada’s geographic scale, linguistic diversity and varied regional water challenges create both opportunities and barriers for collaboration. In response, IWA YWP Canada has developed a national platform connecting students, researchers and early-career professionals working across drinking water, wastewater, water resources, environmental engineering, policy and innovation.

The Chapter’s network includes more than 500 young water professionals, supported by regional representation across Eastern, Western, Central, Atlantic and Pacific Canada. Its activities seek to bridge regional and disciplinary boundaries while creating opportunities for professional development, leadership and knowledge exchange.

The Chapter’s work is informed by the complex water challenges facing Canada, including climate-related flooding, glacier loss, pressure on freshwater ecosystems, ageing infrastructure, emerging contaminants and inequalities in access to safe water and sanitation. By connecting young professionals across sectors and regions, the Chapter is helping prepare a skilled and collaborative workforce capable of responding to these challenges.

A flagship national conference

A major achievement in 2025 was the organisation of the 3rd IWA YWP Canada Conference, held from 18 to 20 June at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

Under the theme “Leading from the Future,” the conference provided a platform for young professionals and students to present their work, develop professional skills and connect with colleagues from across Canada and internationally. Its programme included technical sessions, poster competitions, workshops and networking opportunities, as well as a dedicated session involving Young Water Professionals from Latin America.

The conference also included a workshop on navigating career growth in the water industry, offering perspectives from both early-career and senior water professionals. Discussions explored the transition from academia to industry, early-career challenges, technical and interpersonal skills, professional development and pathways into leadership.
Alongside the conference, the Chapter hosted its second International Hackathon in a hybrid format. Five IWA YWP Chapters participated as finalists, demonstrating how practical challenges can encourage innovation, teamwork and international knowledge exchange among emerging water professionals.

Knowledge exchange across Canada

Beyond its flagship conference, IWA YWP Canada delivered and supported more than ten activities during 2025.
These included the 60th Central Canadian Symposium on Water Quality Research at Toronto Metropolitan University, the 12th Western Canadian Symposium on Water Quality Research at the University of Alberta and the 38th Eastern Canadian Symposium on Water Quality Research at Concordia University.

The Chapter also supported regional networking and professional engagement through Civil Night Fall 2025 at Memorial University and the Connect’25 alumni and networking reception at the University of Manitoba.

Through these activities, the Chapter connected students, researchers, utility professionals, industry representatives and policymakers across different regions of Canada. It also organised a bilingual workshop during the Eastern Canadian Symposium, supporting more inclusive participation within Canada’s multilingual professional community.

The Chapter continued its Waterside Chat series with a session titled “Thinking with machines: when to trust GenAI, when to learn and work without it.” The webinar encouraged participants to consider the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence in education, research and professional practice.

Building partnerships nationally and internationally

Collaboration was central to the Chapter’s work throughout 2025. IWA YWP Canada strengthened its relationships with the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association, the Canadian Association on Water Quality and Water Canada, while establishing a new partnership with the Western Water Centre.

“The IWA YWP Canada Chapter has done an excellent job bringing young water professionals together, creating opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange, organizing events that strengthen connections across the water sector, and building partnerships with leading water associations across Canada including Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) and Canadian Association on Water Quality (CAWQ). Its work is helping develop a strong and connected next generation of water professionals and leaders. Canadian National Committee (CNC) of IWA is proud to support and collaborate with IWA YWP Canada and congratulates the Chapter on this well-deserved achievement.” Iman Hashemi and Baiyu Helen Zhang, co-chairs of IWA Canada Governing Member

The Chapter also worked with universities, utilities, consulting firms, research centres, professional associations and industry partners. More than ten sponsors supported its activities during the year, contributing to the delivery and long-term sustainability of its programming.

Internationally, the Chapter engaged with IWA YWP Chapters in Japan, the United States, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom. It hosted a networking event with IWA YWP Japan during the Canada Conference and represented Canadian young water professionals at the 2025 IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand.
These connections enabled the Chapter to share Canadian experience internationally while learning from the approaches adopted by YWP networks in other countries.

Expanding communication and visibility

IWA YWP Canada also achieved significant growth across its communication platforms.
During 2025, the Chapter’s website recorded more than 17,500 views and approximately 6,600 visitors. Its LinkedIn community grew to more than 4,200 followers and generated over 118,000 impressions.

The Chapter published 11 newsletters in English and Spanish, reaching more than 460 subscribers. The newsletters combined technical insights and Chapter updates with information about upcoming events, educational opportunities, vacancies, research positions and study opportunities in the water sector.

A new “People of the Month” feature recognised active volunteers, while the Chapter’s blog platform expanded to 19 posts and more than 1,100 views. Together, these channels helped increase access to professional opportunities and raise the visibility of young water professionals and their contributions.

Developing the next generation of water leaders

The Chapter completed elections for its 2025–2027 Executive Committee and implemented a structured transition process, including knowledge-transfer meetings, volunteer onboarding and regular committee coordination.

Leadership opportunities were distributed across programming, partnerships, communications, publishing, membership and regional engagement. Volunteers and committee members were also formally recognised during the Canada Conference for their contributions to the Chapter’s activities.

His approach demonstrates that leadership development extends beyond participation in events. By giving young professionals responsibility for programmes, partnerships, communications and organisational governance, the Chapter enables them to develop practical leadership experience while contributing to Canada’s water community.

Looking ahead

Building on the achievements of 2025, IWA YWP Canada aims to strengthen its internal governance, expand participation across regions and increase the representation of Francophone communities and diverse voices.

“For us, this award is both an honour and a reminder of why we do this work. What I value most is seeing young professionals step forward, share their voices, take on new roles, and turn their own ideas into something that creates value for others. Looking ahead, we want to open more doors for YWPs across Canada and around the world to get involved, take initiative, and make their mark on the water sector.” Lin Sun, Co-Chair, IWA YWP Canada

The Chapter also intends to develop the fourth IWA YWP Canada Conference, expand its webinars and Waterside Chat series, deepen partnerships with universities, utilities, professional associations and industry, and increase Canadian YWP representation in national and international water forums.

Its future programme will continue to address themes connected to Sustainable Development Goal 6, including climate resilience, water quality, emerging contaminants and equitable access to water and sanitation.

The recognition of IWA YWP Canada as the 2026 IWA YWP Chapter of the Year celebrates the commitment of its volunteers, partners and members. It also demonstrates the important role that young professionals can play in connecting regions, advancing knowledge and building a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable water sector.

IWA congratulates the Canada Chapter on this achievement and looks forward to its continued contribution to the Canadian and global water communities.

For further information about the IWA Young Water Professionals Community, please contact Isabela Espindola, IWA Membership Engagement Senior Officer, at isabela.espindola@iwahq.org.

Not an IWA member yet? Join IWA today to access professional development opportunities and connect with the global water community. Visit iwa-network.org/join for further information.