View presentations from the summit here (for attendees only)
List of Attendees

Water is without doubt the biggest challenge of the 21st century. At a time when the water industry is experiencing unprecedented challenges and the question of infrastructure development looms large on the horizon, the National Water Summit is set to become this year’s most topical industry event, with a programme focused firmly on usage reform, quality and conservation and effective water management. Innovation is vital and the National Water Summit will be canvassing some of the latest strategies for meeting demand and sourcing and securing water supplies across the nation.

About the conference

2008 has seen significant developments happening for one of Ireland’s most important natural resources. One of the main challenges that Ireland faces over the next decade is to achieve ‘good water status’ for all waters by 2015 as set out in the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The industry is also facing the challenges beset from the profound impact of climate change which has been felt more than ever over the past 12 months. The water services investment programme comprises of some 955 projects with a capital value of 5.8 billion, and the importance of the success and timely delivery of these initiatives is vital in order to meet the needs of our growing population and increasing commercial demands…

The 2nd National Water Summit will once again provide a forum for the entire water industry to debate the future direction of the sector. Following the success of our inaugural event, the 2nd annual National Water Summit will bring together Ireland’s leading water experts who will meet to debate industry reforms, current challenges and opportunities, and other initiatives – critical for the sustainability of the water industry.

Meet and network with the people shaping the future of the Irish water industry...

The 2nd National Water Summit will once again provide a forum for the entire water industry to debate the future direction of the sector. Following the success of our inaugural event, the 2nd annual National Water Summit will bring together Ireland’s leading water experts who will meet to debate industry reforms, current challenges and opportunities, and other initiatives – critical for the sustainability of the water industry.

The National Water Summit is a must-attend event for the water and wastewater sector, bringing together CEOs and senior level representatives from water companies, water and waste water treatment companies, policy makers and water authorities across Ireland and the EU. This event will be big on interactivity and big on networking opportunities!

• Local Authority Managers
• Local Authority Engineers
• Heads of Water Services/Supply
• General Managers (Asset Mgt, Planning, Maintenance, Recycling, Wastewater Mgt)
• Project Directors/Managers
• Procurement Managers
• Infrastructure Managers
• Planning Officials
• lTechnical Managers
• Large Water Users
• Consultants
• Finance & Legal Managers

• Climate change and the required paradigm shifts in water management
• The carbon critical design agenda
• Water policy and water usage reform – strategic priorities
• New directives and standards – tools for the trade
• The water framework directive – the way forward
• Charging
• Water conservation
• Assessing the cryptosporidium risk – panel debate
• Security of supply
• Major capital water projects update
• Flexible approaches to infrastructure delivery
• Charging / water demand on schemes before and after charging
• Private schemes
• River basin management plans
• Relationship between septic tanks / wastewater treatment systems and
• water pollution
• Waste water management strategies
• Water/wastewater treatment

Sample list of companies in attendance at the 2007 Water Summit

Trinity College, USGS Georgia Water Science Ctr, Department of the Environment, EPS, Northern Ireland Water, ESAI, A&L Goodbody Solicitors, South Western River Basin District, Celtic Water Management UK, KPMG, Scottish Water, Earth Tech Ireland, IFA, National University of Ireland, Bord na Móna Environmental Ltd, Muin Associates, Cavan County Council, Anord Control Systems Ltd,Tobin Consulting, Cork County Council, South Tipperary County Council, Sligo County Council, Severn Trent Services International, Fingal County Council, Limerick County Council, Parsons Brinckerhoff Ireland, Sisk Construction,Treatment Systems Services Ltd, McCann Fitzgerald, Wicklow County Council, Galway County Council, Shay Murtagh, Forfas, HRD Technologies

Keynote speakers

Dr Ike van der Putte, Director, RPS

Dr Ike van der Putte is Director of External Relations and International Environmental Affairs with RPS in the Netherlands. RPS is an international consultancy providing advice on the responsible development of natural resources, land and property, the management of the environment and the health and safety of people. Dr van der Putte is a member of the Sustainable Development Task Force of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) and former chairman of the environment committees of FIDIC and the European Federation of Consulting Engineers (EFCA). He is the main author of the FIDIC business guideline for environment and co-author of the FIDIC guidelines on sustainable development and project sustainability management. In the Netherlands he is chairman of the committee on natural disaster reduction and mitigation of the Netherlands Association of Consulting Engineers (ONRI) and advisory board member of the International Conference Centre (Amsterdam RAI – Aquaterra) on sustainable development in delta areas. He is currently chairman of the board of the UNEP Sustainable Buildings and Construction Initiative (UNEP/SBCI) and member of its Benchmarking and Climate Change Think Tanks.

Dr Colin Fricker, CRF Consulting

Dr Colin Fricker has 30 years experience in environmental microbiology, much of it working directly with the water industry. He received his PhD from University of Reading 1987. Fricker was awarded the WH Pierce prize for "outstanding contributions to microbiology 1986". He was former Head of Microbiology,Thames Water, UK, and now runs an international consulting company covering many aspects of water quality. Dr Fricker is heavily involved in the development of methods for the detection of cryptosporidium in water. He was scientific adviser to the Royal Commission investigating the Sydney Water Crisis in 1998 and works extensively in North and South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Professor John Anthony Allan

Professor John Anthony Allan heads the Water Research Group at King's College London/SOAS. He specialises in the analysis of water resources in semi-arid regions and on the role of global systems in ameliorating local and regional water deficits. His original background was in hyrdological and environmental sciences. Professor Allan now focuses on the social and political because they explain why people manage water as they do. In the past decade has provided advice to governments in the Middle East region [Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Palestine] and agencies [World Bank, FAO, UNDP, DFID, Netherlands MFA, Swedish MFA] and especially in the Middle East on water policy andº water policy reform. Professor Allan most recent book is entitled The Middle East water question: hydropolitics and the global economy.The KCL/SOAS Water Research Group has had a major influence on strategic thinking on water resources by drawing attention to the non-water sector solutions that very effectively address water deficits – namely trade and socio-economic development.Their other research and consultancy focuses on water policy reform, on financing investment in water infrastructure and international relations over transboundary waters. He was awarded the Stockholm Water Prize in August 2008

Tony Iles, MSc, BSc, Associate Director, Atkins

A G Iles, associate director, Atkins Water & Environment, MSc, BSc and is an associate director within Atkins Environmental Sustainability team.Tony has over 30 year’s practical experience of environmental assessment and management and is currently on the Carbon Critical Design leadership team at Atkins. He has recently completed a secondment to BERR where he assisted in writing the UK Strategy for Sustainable Construction. He is currently on part-time secondment to the Construction Industry Council where he is Chair of the Carbon Working Group.The role of this group is to work with the professional bodies and the Strategic Forum for Construction in the delivery of low carbon design.

Tony has been fundamentally involved with Carbon Critical Design change process within Atkins, including the design of internal training courses and providing leadership on strategic discussions with Atkins clients; aiming to change the design question to provide a focus on zero carbon design and construction.

The National Waste Summit, now in its 6th year is Ireland’s premier Waste Management conference. Organised by The Sunday Business Post & iQuest, this event is Ireland’s most important forum for today’s waste management professionals, environmental managers, policy-makers and senior business professionals. This event will act as a strategic forum for all those interested in ensuring that Ireland has sustainable environmental waste management policies in place for the future.

This year’s summit will explore the options open to Ireland in the light of the pressing need to fulfil our EU commitment to landfill only 1 million tonnes of waste in 2010 and only 0.45million tonnes by 2016. With 2010 looming, can Ireland move fast enough to meet its targets under the EU Landfill Directive?

We’d like to thank our main sponsors this year – Ulster Bank, RPS Group and Greenstar – for their continued support of this event.

Event Summary:

Forfás 2008 Waste Benchmarking report & Ireland’s performance in this area

Developing a competitive waste management market

Waste management in Ireland at the crossroads and options for change

Revised Waste Framework Directive

Vision for the future – perspectives from local authorities and private sector

Bio-waste - developments in compost standards and brown bin schemes

Legislation update

Safety leadership for waste operators

Recycling & recovery – policy, case studies including MBT plants in action

Bio-energy – Ireland’s first bio-energy plan and perspectives from an operator in Ireland

Progress on the revised Dublin Waste Management plan

Who should attend?

Directors and Senior Managers in waste operators

Local Authority directors and managers in charge of environmental services

Advisers to the waste industry – legal, financial, environmental, engineering

Organisations which have attended previous summits include such well-known names as:

The Environmental Protection Agency, Irish Waste Management Association, Indaver Ireland, Bank of Ireland, Repak Ltd, TES Consulting Engineers, RPS Group, eircom, Ernst & Young, Greenstar, AIB, Bord na Mona, White Young Green, One 51, A1 Waste, Greyhound Recycling,Waterford CC,William Fry Solicitors, Garda Siochána, Revenue Commissioners, Dublin CC, Monaghan CC, Longford CC, Limerick CC,Wexford CC, A&L Goodbody, ESB, Cork CC, Enterprise Ireland, Deloitte & Touche, PwC, Donegal CC, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown CC, An Bord Pleanála, BDO Simpson Xavier, Bowen Group, KPMG, Super Drug Ltd, Construction Industry Federation, IIB Bank, Offaly CC,Westmeath CC, N.Tipperary CC, Sligo CC,Wicklow CC, Ulster Bank, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, St. James’ Hospital, Siemens Ireland, South Dublin CC, IAWS, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Arthur Cox, Galway CC, NTR,Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Textile Recycling Ltd, Tetra Pak, Repak, Panda Waste, Competition Authority, Forfás, Ascon, Thorntons Recyling, Donegal Creameries plc

Comments on previous Waste Summits from our delegate surveys:
"Excellent conference, very informative, good balance between issues of policy, public sector and private sector..."

"Outstanding chairing by Áine Lawlor"

"Very well organised event..."

"The National Waste Summit has provided a much needed platform for constructive and insightful discussion and has, in a short space of time, established itself as a key date in the waste calendar."

Larry O’Toole, Director, Waste & Energy, RPS

"All good and very informative and interesting."
Paul Devaney, Offaly County Council

Speakers include:

Michael Kitt, TD, Minister of State, Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government
Michael Kitt represents the constituency of Galway East and was first elected to the Dáil in 1975.

Dr Jonathan Healy, Senior Policy Analyst, Environmental Policy, National Competitiveness & Infrastructure Dept, Forfás
Jonathan Healy is an environmental economist and was educated at UCD where he received BA, MSc and PhD degrees in economics. He is currently a Senior Policy Analyst in the National Competitiveness and Infrastructure Department in Forfás, with responsibility for environmental policy.

Dr John Curtis, Economist, Environment Protection Agency

John has a PhD in environmental economics and previously worked with the Economic and Social Research Institute where his research focused on fisheries and waste issues. Since joining the EPA, he has prepared a number of discussion papers.

James Greyson, Senior Sustainability Analyst, BlindSpot.org.uk

Sustainability Analyst, James Greyson runs BlindSpot, a UN-recognised global think-tank which was established in 2005. As a member of the UN Climate Neutral Network, BlindSpot develops policies for businesses and communities to become limate neutral. The think-tank provides research and advice on unexplored options for sustainability and how major global problems can be rapidly reversed.

Andreas Versmann, Policy Officer, DG Environment, Unit G4 – Sustainable Production & Consumption, EU Commission

Andreas studied Law and Political Sciences at Free University, Berlin. From 1990 to 2007, he worked as Legal Officer in the Ministry for Agriculture, Environment and Consumer Protection of the Land, Brandenburg, Germany. Since 2007 he
has been Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG Environment.

Ray O’Dwyer, County Manager, Waterford County Council

Ray O’Dwyer is Waterford County Manager having previously held a variety of managerial and professional posts with other local authorities. He is chairperson of the City & County Managers’ Environmental Committee and a member of the EPA Environmental Enforcement Network.

Mary Darlington, BSc., CFIOSH, MIES, FCIPD, Director – Darlington Consulting

Mary holds a BSc in Occupational Safety and Health Management from UCD together with qualifications in Environmental Impact Assessment Management and HR Management. She is a Chartered Fellow of both IOSH and CIPD and a corporate member of Irish Ergonomics Society.

She spent 13 years in various HR roles before getting involved in health and safety with Bausch and Lomb in Waterford where she was Safety & Environment Manager for over eight years. She set up her own consultancy in 1996.

Paul Delahunty, Executive Engineer, Environmental Section, Wexford County Council

Paul has six years experience in charge of refuse and recycling in Wexford County Council’s Environment Section.
The Council has 18,000 refuse customers and Paul managed the implementation of the green bin for dry recyclables in 2005/6 to the Council’s refuse customers. He is now preparing for the introduction of the brown bin.

Dr Elbert Dijkgraaf, Erasmus University Rotterdam (SEOR), The Netherlands

Dr Elbert Dijkgraaf is deputy director of SEOR and fellow of the Rotterdam School of Economics (both Erasmus University,
Rotterdam). He has 16 years experience in scientific based project research at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. His main specialisation is industrial organisation, competition policy, regulation and environmental policy. He wrote his PhD on the Dutch waste market, published many articles about waste issues and is the editor of the just published Kluwer book The waste market: Institutional developments in Europe.

He has published also on economic issues of drinking water, electricity, postal services, healthcare and education.

Alex Marshall, Project Manager – AD & MBT, Clarke Energy

Alex's background is in business development opportunities for anaerobic digestion (AD) and mechanical biological treatment (MBT). He work's closely with HAASE technologies. He has worked for two international MBT equipment and technology suppliers, one in Germany and one in Israel. Alex also spent a year with RPS Group's waste team in Bristol where he worked as adviser to WRAP on anaerobic digestion technologies, and conducted two market studies into the refuse derived fuel market in Britain.

Pearse O’Kane, CEO, Bedminster International Group

Pearse is responsible for day-to-day management of the business as well as strategic development of the group, including global green-field projects and acquisitions.

Previously, Pearse was employed for a number of years with Imperial Chemical Industries Plc (ICI), eventually establishing his own unique Plastics Technology business, which he later sold to the German conglomerate, Hoechst AG. Since joining Bedminster in 2003, Pearse has spearheaded a number of key business initiatives including the development of the Bedminster BioEnergy Solution.

Matt Twomey, Assistant City Manager, Environment & Engineering, Dublin City Council

Matt Twomey is the Assistant City Manager with responsibility for Environment and Engineering Services with Dublin City Council. These services include Water Supply, Drainage, Waste Management and Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management, all of which are delivered on a regional basis in Dublin. He is a graduate of UCD and his entire career has been with the Dublin Local Authorities.

CHALLENGING TIMES: CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS IN DELIVERING WORLD CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has clearly indicated that difficult adjustments lie ahead for the public finances. Though investment in key infrastructure initiatives and capital funding remains a priority, now more than ever the government must ensure that we achieve value for money across all areas of infrastructure and transport delivery in order to secure long-term growth and prosperity. Continued investment in major core economic infrastructure is paramount to sustained growth and future competitiveness. This year’s infrastructure summit will examine where the priorities now lie for critical infrastructure development. After Budget 2009, where now are the NDP’s priorities to secure Ireland’s future competitiveness? The deterioration in the government’s finances is forcing them to fund a larger part of planned NDP capital spending from borrowing. We’ll be examining closely what that borrowing requirement will be and what it will be invested in…

Delegate Profile

This summit has been researched and designed for decision-makers in the planning, delivery and financing of public infrastructure such as:

• Planners and strategists
• Policy and decision-makers
• CEOs/MDs
• Finance Directors
• Project Developers
• Economists/Investment Analysts
• Bankers/Financiers
• lPublic Sector Managers
• Private sector contractors/service providers
• Financial/Legal Advisors
• lRegulatory Bodies
• Elected Representatives

Delegate feedback from our last Infrastructure Summit Based on delegates surveyed at the National Infrastructure Summit 2007:

• An average 97% of respondents rated the summit as very good or excellent.
• An average 94% of respondents agreed with the statement
• “The conference represented a good investment of time and money.” l 100% of respondents agreed with the statement “I found the conference to be very informative.”

Speakers

Mr Brian Lenihan, TD, Minister for Finance

Brian Lenihan was appointed as Minister for Finance on May 7, 2008.
He has served as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform from June 14, 2007 to May 2008. Prior to that he had been Minister of State with responsibility for Children at the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and the Department of Education and Science.
He was first elected to the Dáil in April 1996 in the by-election caused by the death of his father, Brian, who had been a deputy in Dublin West since 1977. During the 28th Dáil, Brian Lenihan was chairperson of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution which considered changes in the abortion laws. He was also a member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
He is a son of Brian Lenihan, former Tánaiste and a Minister in various portfolios, who was a Dáil deputy for Roscommon-Leitrim from 1961 to 1973 and for Dublin West from 1977 to 1995. He is a brother of Conor Lenihan, Dáil deputy for Dublin South-West, and a nephew of Mary O'Rourke, Dáil deputy for Longford–Westmeath, who has held various ministerial posts. He is a grandson of Patrick Lenihan, Dáil deputy from 1965 to 1970.
Brian Murphy, Deputy Director, National Development Finance Agency Brian joined the NDFA in November 2007. He spent most of his previous career in the banking industry, having held senior positiBN AMRO and CitiBank in Treasury, Capital MarketsCredit in Ireland and overseas. Ronnie O’Toole, Chief Economist, National Irish Bank
Dr. Ronnie O'Toole joined National Irish Bank in August 2007. In this role he is responsible for forecasting and analysis of the Irish economy. He publishes a quarterly index of inward investment, quarterly economic review, and recently published a report, ‘The Emerald Isle: the Wealth of Modern Ireland’ on the evolution of household wealth in Ireland.
Formerly a Senior Economist with Forfás, Dr. O’Toole has published a number of articles and reports on Ireland’s trade, productivity and competitiveness performance. He recently published ‘Perspectives on Irish Productivity’, a book exploring aspects of Ireland’s productivity challenge and containing 25 papers written by leading economic and management thinkers from Ireland and abroad. He has a Ph.D. in Economics from Trinity College, Dublin.

Pat McArdle, Group Chief Economist, Ulster Bank

Pat McArdle, Group Chief Economist, has worked in Ulster Bank since 1996 where he is responsible for forecasting and analysis of the Republic and Northern Ireland economies. Prior to that, he was Chief Economist in NCB Stockbrokers and also served as a public servant in the Department of Finance and the European Commission.
Pat is a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, Council Member of the Foundation for Fiscal Studies, Member of the Securities Institute and the Financial Regulator’s Consultative Industry Panel. He has a masters degree in Econometrics from University College Dublin and is a Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA).

Bruno Herbots, Partner, Beauchamps Solicitors

Bruno Herbots is a partner at Beauchamps Solicitors and head of their Construction and Procurement Group. Bruno qualified in 1990 and has been recommended by Chambers Global, the world's leading legal directory for lawyers, as being ‘top-notch on construction and procurement matters’. Bruno is a lecturer at Trinity College Dublin (postgraduate Diploma in Construction Law and Contract Administration) and University College Dublin (postgraduate Diploma in Arbitration).

Tom Parlon, CEO, Construction Industry Federation

Tom Parlon was educated at Coolderry National School, Roscrea CBS, and Gurteen Agricultural College. He was elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2002 General Election as a Progressive Democrat TD for Laois-Offaly. He was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Finance and served from 2002 to 2007.
Previous to being a politician Tom Parlon held a number of senior positions in the Irish Farmers Association, including Deputy President (1991–1993) and President (1997–2001).
He joined the Construction Industry Federation as Director General Designate on October 1, 2007, taking over as Director General on January 1, 2008.

Paul Sweetman, Director, Transport & PPPs, IBEC

Paul Sweetman is IBEC’s Transport & PPP Policy Executive, coordinating the work of the IBEC Transport Council and PPP Council. Previous briefs in IBEC have included environment and local government policy. Prior to joining IBEC, Paul worked as an engineer in Northern Ireland and the United States.
Jimmy Quinn, President, Irish Road Haulage\ Enda Connellan, Chief Executive of Dublin Port Company
Enda Connellan is Chief Executive of Dublin Port Company which is responsible for managing Ireland’s premier port. Located at the heart of Ireland’s largest market, Dublin Port helps importers and exporters access the Greater Dublin Area in the most efficient way while also being positioned at the hub of the national road and rail network. The 30 million tonnes of trade that Dublin Port handles annually accounts for over two-thirds of Ireland’s containerised trade.
Since his appointment as Chief Executive in 1994, Enda has overseen a significant turnaround in the fortunes of Dublin Port Company. Over the past fifteen years he has steered the Port Company from loss making to profitability, introduced competition within Dublin Port which remains the sole Irish port with competing terminals, reduced port charges, invested over ?1/4 billion in port infrastructure, built a pension fund of ?200 million and became the first and only state port company to pay a dividend to its shareholder. The significant investment has ensured that Dublin Port has been able to provide in-time capacity to cater for the fivefold increase in trade that the port now handles. Enda Connellan has also played a pivotal role in establishing Dublin as an attractive cruise liner destination. This trade now contributes almost ?50 million to the local economy in tourism spend adding to the contribution of the 1.3 million ferry passengers using Dublin Port annually.
representative on matters relating to motoring, transport, consumer issues, road safety and the environment. He is
a well-known media commentator on transport matters and a familiar voice to radio listeners since his days as a traffic reporter for AA Roadwatch. He was educated at St. Michael’s College iblin. Matti Lahdenranta, MD, Helsinki City Transport (HKL), Finland
M.Sc. Matti Lahdenranta has worked as the Managing Director of Helsinki City Transport since 2003. Mr Lahdenranta has a long career in the public transport business. Previously he managed Helsinki City Transport’s Bus Unit in 2001-2002. From 1989 to1996 he worked as the Managing Director of one of the biggest bus companies in Finland,Vantaan Liikenne Oy / Oy Linjebuss Finland Ab and from 1984 to 1989 as Managing Director in a smaller bus company Porin Linjat Oy. Before 1984 and from 1996-2000 Mr Lahdenranta worked as a consultant, mainly focusing on public transport issues. From 1996 to 2000 his consulting projects also included several strategic development projects for organisations in various business areas. The challenges of Lahdenranta are today connected to reorganising the public transport system in the Helsinki region. The decision has already been made to merge municipal Helsinki City Transport and regional Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council into one organisation which will be responsible for planning, tendering and developing public transport in the Helsinki region (1,3 million). The new organization will be active from the start of 1.1.2010.

Peter Brennan, Managing Director of EPS Consulting, is Chairman of the Dublin Chamber Transport and Infrastructure Committee

He will be Chamber President in 2010. His interest in infrastructure dates from his time in Brussels as IBEC’s Director for European Affairs when the issue of EU funding for infrastructure was to the fore. He played a key role in getting PPPs onto the public policy agenda.
His company advises many clients in the construction and related services industries, in particular in relation to bid management. He was the lead author of the recently published report ‘Ireland’s Climate Change Challenge’ and is author of a book, also recently published, ‘The EU Negotiations that Shaped Modern Ireland.’ He has a Ph.D in European Policy from UCD

Colm Holmes

Colm Holmes is the CEO of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Ireland (CILTI). The Institute is a professional body whose mission is to advance and promote the science and art of logistics and transport. The Institute offers training and education and is also the appointed agent for the Department of Transport and the HSA in providing the CPC, ADR and DGSA examinations. With over 30,000 members worldwide in 30 countries the Institute plays a leading role in developing professionalism in our industry. Prior to joining the Institute, Colm worked for the CRH and Folens Groups.