New IWA Young Water Professionals Chapter in Ireland

As part of IWA’s mission to empower Young Water Professionals to contribute to sustainable water management, a new IWA Young Water Professionals (IWA YWP) chapter was officially established in Ireland in June 2025. This IWA YWP chapter will be the country’s go-to network, boosting connections for YWPs and a platform to support equal opportunities and quality career development. As a voluntary network, the Ireland chapter is open to all water professionals aged 35 or below who are enthusiastic, dedicated, and passionate about water-related issues. Here, Yuchen Liu, Chair of the YWP Ireland chapter, presents some key points about the chapter. 

Q: What was the motivation for setting up an IWA YWP Chapter in Ireland? 

As one of Europe’s most water-abundant countries, Ireland faces mounting pressures from population growth, economic development, and the escalating impacts of climate change. Currently, there is no dedicated network for young water professionals (YWPs) in Ireland, limiting collaboration and communication between early-career experts and key stakeholders in industry, research, and policy. The IWA Young Water Professionals Ireland (YWPIE) Chapter seeks to fill this gap by creating a national platform where YWPs can connect, collaborate, and contribute meaningfully to both the Irish and international water sectors, while accessing opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Q: How will the chapter contribute to the empowerment of YWPs to contribute to the national water agenda of Ireland? 

The establishment of the chapter will play an active role in advancing Ireland’s national Water Action Plan, which focuses on restoring and protecting Ireland’s water bodies. This ambitious agenda creates significant opportunities for YWPs to play a central role in addressing the nation’s water challenges. The chapter will provide a platform for skill development, mentorship, and cross-sector collaboration, equipping YWPs to become the next generation of leaders in the sector. By fostering innovation, connecting research with practice, and engaging a wide range of stakeholders, the chapter will not only strengthen professional capacity but also raise public awareness of water’s value. It aims to empower YWPs to influence policy and deliver long-term impacts.

Q: What are your aims and objectives for your chapter, and what activities do you plan to do? 

Our chapter’s main goal is to create an inclusive platform that engages and builds a strong network to promote the advancement of water-related fields in Ireland, while also contributing to global water solutions. To achieve these objectives, we plan to organise a series of activities. These include webinars focusing on the cutting-edge research in the water sector; professional and personal development shared by senior water professionals from academia/industry/policy. We will also actively connect with professional associations and other country chapters to organise events for YWPs and get involved in conferences both nationally and internationally to represent Irish YWPs, promote our community, build connections and share opportunities with broader audiences.

Meet the founding committee of the IWA YWP Ireland Chapter 

Yuchen Liu, Chair, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Galway

Yuchen Liu is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Galway, where he also completed his PhD in Environmental Microbiology. His expertise lies in anaerobic biotechnology for waste and wastewater treatment, with a focus on process optimisation and microbial ecology. Yuchen is deeply committed to translating scientific research into practical, real-world solutions for the water and biogas industries. He believes the Young Water Professionals (YWP) Ireland Chapter plays a vital role in fostering collaboration, innovation, and leadership among emerging professionals, and in strengthening connections between academia and industry to drive sustainable progress in the water sector.

Daniel Gyamfi Opoku, Vice-Chair, PhD Researcher, Teagasc

Daniel Gyamfi Opoku is an environmental professional. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Galway in collaboration with Teagasc, where his research focuses on understanding and reducing nutrient connectivity risks in drainage systems, supporting Ireland’s objectives under the EU Water Framework Directive. Daniel has gained international experience across Ireland, Ghana, Germany, and New Zealand, contributing to projects in water quality, land management, and environmental protection. His expertise spans hydrology, water resources management, and soil and water pollution control, with a strong background in water quality analysis, nutrient monitoring, sediment analysis, and GIS-based assessment of pollutant loss and fate risks. As Vice Chair of the YWP Ireland Chapter, Daniel is committed to empowering young professionals, fostering collaboration, and advancing innovative, sustainable solutions for water management.

Pooja, Secretary, Researcher, PhD Researcher, University of Galway

As a PhD researcher in microbiology at the University of Galway, Pooja focuses on green biorefineries that convert organic waste into high-value products like proteins, bio-based chemicals, and biogas. Pooja joined the International Water Association to engage in global collaboration on circular water solutions and resource recovery. Pooja is passionate about bridging microbiology with water innovation and values IWA’s unique platform for networking with researchers, professionals, and change-makers driving the future of sustainable water systems.

Conor Beegan, Communication Officer, PhD Researcher, University of Galway

After working on a project focused on anaerobic digestion in his Bachelor’s (Microbiology), Conor Interned with NVP Energy before pursuing a Master’s in Biotechnology. Upon conclusion of his Master’s program, he returned to work at NVP Energy, a company focused on utilising anaerobic digestion at low temperatures by utilising a novel, patented reactor configuration to enable low temperature operation. Within 8 months of working for the company, Conor was promoted to principal technologist and began pursuing a PhD at the University of Galway while remaining with NVP in an advisory/consultant capacity. His primary interests align with the optimisation of anaerobic processes and novel configurations/approaches designed to mitigate/solve challenges faced with their use in the wastewater sector.

Maryam Toufani, External Partnership Officer, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Galway

Maryam Toufani is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Galway, specialising in the sustainable production of hydrogen through seawater electrolysis and nickel-based electrocatalysts. Born in Mianeh (Iran) in 1994, she graduated in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Tabriz in 2016. She earned her Master’s degree from Sabanci University (Turkey) in 2019. Her master’s thesis focused on the development of ZnO nanoparticles and 3D graphene foam as electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors. She completed her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Galway under the supervision of Dr. Pau Farràs, as part of the Solar2Chem project. Her doctoral research centered on designing nanomaterials to improve activity and selectivity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water splitting. Maryam values the experience of working in different research environments, which has helped her develop a broader scientific outlook and stronger collaborative skills. She joined the IWA YWP Ireland Chapter to connect with professionals and contribute to projects focused on sustainable solutions in the water and energy sectors.

Brakemi Egbedi, Founding member (previous Secretary), University of Lagos, Nigeria 

Brakemi Egbedi is a researcher specialising in the utilisation of seafood by-products and the development of a blue circular economy. Brakemi obtained her PhD at Southeast Technological University, Ireland. She is a 2023 An Taisce climate ambassador, and she proudly champions the UN-SDGs, STEM initiatives, as well as community development and advocacy. Her aspirations lie in the realms of academic research, science communication, and social entrepreneurship.

If you have questions regarding the IWA YWP Community, please contact Isabela Espindola, IWA Membership Engagement Senior Officer.

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