Keynote Speakers
The seminar will feature keynote speakers from around the world.

Dr. Paul Boulos
President, MWH Soft, Colorado, USA

Dr. Paul F. Boulos has more than 20 years of industry experience, primarily at the project manager, project director and officer-in-charge levels. Over the years, he has managed and directed projects ranging from master planning and regional water quality studies to large IT integration projects. He is a recognized world-leading expert in water resources engineering, has won many prestigious honors including technical awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Water Works Association and the US Environmental Protection Agency, and was awarded Honorary Diplomate (Hon.D.WRE) status by the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE), becoming one of only sixteen distinguished engineering professionals worldwide ever to receive AAWRE's highest honor. Additionally, he has served on technical review committees for several municipal drinking water projects throughout the United States and is currently a Consultant to the US EPA Science Advisory Board Drinking Water Committee (Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule and Long-Term 2 Enhanced Water Treatment Rule), as well as a member of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (Committee on Public Water Distribution Systems: Assessing and Reducing Risks). Mr. Boulos also currently serves as chairman of the board of international advisors of the Lebanese American University as well as a member of the external advisory board of the civil and environmental engineering department of the American University of Beirut. He is also a Director of AMIDEAST and a board member of the National Association of GIS-Centric Software (NAGCS) and the Arab-American National Museum National Advisory Board.

Jon Black
CEO, SEQ Distribution Entity (Interim) Pty Ltd, AUSTRALIA

Jon Black is the CEO of the new South East Queensland (SEQ) local government-owned water and wastewater distribution business. From 1 July 2010, the organisation will incorporate the water and wastewater businesses of the ten South East Queensland councils from the Gold Coast to Noosa and west to, but not including Toowoomba. The company will operate about $10 billion worth of assets and employ around 2500 people. In asset terms it will be one of Australia’s top 50 companies responsible for over 1 million water connections across 23,000 square kilometres, servicing approximately 2.9 million people. Jon was instrumental in establishing the Council of Mayors (SEQ) as the peak advocacy body for local governments in the SEQ region. As the inaugural Executive Director, Jon led the SEQ Councils in their response to the State Government’s institutional water reform process, contributing extensive skills in strategic planning, leadership and management. Prior to his appointment with the Council of Mayors (SEQ), Jon spent 25 years in the Australian Defence Force. His service included Chief of Staff for the Chief of the Australian Army, as well as the Commanding Officer / Chief Instructor at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Jon holds qualifications from the Universities of NSW and USMC in Virginia, USA, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Royal Military College of Duntroon.

Shaun Cox
Managing Director, South East Water Limited, AUSTRALIA

Shaun Cox is the Managing Director of South East Water Limited, a metropolitan water retailer with approximately 1.3 million customers. Prior to this, Shaun was Director of Gold Coast Water for 12 years. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters of Engineering and Technology Management. Shaun is the immediate past Chair of the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), which is Australia’s peak national urban water industry body, representing some 15 million customers through its members. He is also a member of Engineers Australia. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland. He also participated in the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) working group looking at Water for our cities. PMSEIC is the Australian Government's principal source of independent advice on issues in science, engineering and innovation. Shaun’s career and organisational focus is on sustainability, and integrated planning – a key underpinning of sustainability.

Richard Went
Director, Gold Coast Water, AUSTRALIA

Mr. Richard Went is the Director of Gold Coast Water, a commercialised unit of Gold Coast City Council that provides water, recycled water and wastewater services to the Gold Coast City. Dick has a Diploma of Civil Engineering, a Graduate Diploma in Management and a Master of Science in Environmental Management. As a dedicated Council employee, Dick has over 30 years experience in the water industry in areas of planning, engineering, construction and management. Dick was one of Gold Coast Water’s first employees upon its establishment in 1995, and has spent the last 12 years in senior management positions, most recently as the Manager of Operations and Maintenance. In this role, Dick was the Chair of the Northern Wastewater Strategy Advisory Committee, a multi-award winning project that supported growth and optimised the beneficial use of recycled water throughout the northern regions of the city. Dick was also responsible for the operations, maintenance and upgrade of Gold Coast Water’s $2.8 billion worth of infrastructure assets including the Hinze Dam, two water treatment plants, four wastewater treatment plants and over 3000kms of water mains, 3000kms of wastewater mains, 600 pump stations and 74 reservoirs. As Director of Gold Coast Water, Dick will be responsible for the ongoing management and operations of one of Australia’s leading water utilities.

Organised by:
MWH Soft  |  Gold Coast Water

Sponsored by:
SIWW  |  Malaysian Water Association  |  WaterCare  |  Hobart Water  |  Moreton Bay Water  |  GWMWater  |  Tweed Shire Council  |  Cairns Regional Council  |  Gladstone Regional Council  |  Metrowater  |  Riverina Water  |  Sunshine Coast Water  |  South East Water