Women in Water: Voices to Glasgow
The conversations shaping the future of water don’t begin when the doors open in Glasgow. They’re already happening.
As the countdown to the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2026 continues, Women in Water: Voices to Glasgow brings together some of the sector’s most influential voices to explore the ideas, challenges and opportunities defining the industry today. Hosted by Christina Savvas in the Skewdio, the podcast series shines a light on the people behind the progress, creating a space for honest conversations ahead of one of the world’s biggest water events. In a sector where women have historically been underrepresented, the series also provides a platform for female leaders to share their experiences, champion different perspectives and inspire the next generation of talent.
Featuring leaders from water companies, consultancies and partner organisations, the series explores topics including operational resilience, digital transformation, leadership, inclusion and the future workforce. But more than that, it asks a simple question: what does the future of water really look like, and who will shape it?
Across every episode, one theme consistently emerges: purpose.
For many guests, water wasn’t the career they expected to pursue, but it quickly became one they couldn’t imagine leaving. As Anna Boyles from Stantec says, “once you’re in, you don’t leave.” It’s a reminder that behind every treatment works, network and innovation programme are people motivated by making a genuine difference.
That purpose becomes even more powerful when guests reflect on the impact their work has every day. Sarah Holland from Thames Water highlights the invisible effort behind essential services, explaining that “no one thinks about what it actually takes to just turn on that tap or flush that toilet.” It’s an insight that captures one of the podcast’s biggest strengths: revealing the stories that often go unheard.
The series also challenges perceptions of the industry itself. The guests’ journeys couldn’t be more varied, from psychology and policing to engineering, consulting and environmental science, demonstrating that there is no single route into water. Their stories also show that leadership in the sector comes in many forms, with women making an increasingly visible contribution across every discipline and helping redefine what the industry looks like.
While the conversations acknowledge the significant challenges facing the sector, from climate resilience and public trust to investment and environmental protection, they are equally defined by optimism. Again and again, guests return to the value of collaboration over competition.
Nicole McNab perhaps sums this up best: “People have lots of shared problems and challenges, but we can collectively solve all of them.”
That collaborative spirit sits at the heart of the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition. Throughout the series, guests describe Glasgow not simply as a conference, but as an opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships and accelerate progress across the global water community.
The podcast also explores the people shaping that future. Leadership, mentorship, flexible working and creating opportunities for women across the sector feature throughout, with contributors sharing personal experiences of overcoming barriers, building confidence and supporting others to succeed. Together, these conversations highlight not only how far the industry has come, but how much stronger it becomes when a broader range of voices is heard.
As Sarah Holland reflects, women supporting women is “one of the most powerful things that we can do in this industry.”
It’s a message that extends beyond the podcast itself.
The upcoming Operations Challenge at the Congress reflects many of the same themes, bringing together people from different organisations and backgrounds to solve problems collaboratively and showcase the realities of operational decision-making. Like the podcast, it’s built on the belief that the industry’s greatest strength lies in sharing knowledge, learning from one another and creating opportunities for more people to get involved.
Together, these conversations paint a picture of a sector at a pivotal moment. New technologies, greater collaboration, significant investment and an increasing focus on inclusion are creating opportunities to rethink what’s possible. As Sarah Holland says, “this is a pivotal moment for the industry.”
Women in Water: Voices to Glasgow captures that moment through the voices of the women helping lead it. It celebrates the expertise, leadership and experiences of those driving change across the sector, while showing why diverse perspectives are essential to solving the challenges ahead. It’s an invitation to hear the stories behind the strategy, the people behind the progress and the conversations helping shape what comes next.
Whether you’re preparing for Glasgow or simply passionate about the future of water, these are conversations worth listening to.
Listen to the series now: Skewb Ltd | Spotify
Register to take part in the Operations Challenge at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition here: IWA – Community Portal
