Unprecedented and dynamic.

The definition of the rapid growth within the Asia and Pacfic region.

However, there had been an increasing demands of fresh water from every day consumers. According to Asian Water Development Outlook 2016 (AWDO 2016), with a finite water resources, Asia falls into precarious predicament.

Additionally, with its increasing climate variability, and water-related disasters, the horizon of Asia is deemed just as challenging as experienced in the past.

Thus, Asia faces its greatest struggle yet; attempting to double food production by 2050 to keep up with the upsurge of a growing population; whilst providing water for domestic users, and meeting industrial and energy demands.

Traditional supply side approaches to water are burning a hole into our checks, due to both ground and suface water being sourced.

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So what can we do?

CEO, Water Stewarship Australia, Michael Spencer will be giving us an insightful take on the business approach to water sustainability.

This session will discuss one of the most innovative and prospective framework for business to address Asia's water crisis.

Introduce participants to the Alliance for Water Stewardship framework.
Show how businesses internationally uses their framework and addresses their water risks.
Engaging with peers, governments, and communities in collective action.
Explore lower cost demand side option --encourage water management.
Explore scaling up water stewardship by involving groups of industrial water users in industrial parks, irrigation collectives, and local catchments through community organizations.
[Speaker Bio]

Michael Spencer

CEO, Water Stewardship Australia

Chair, Alliance for Water Stewardship

Michael Spencer’s career has spanned business, government, the media and not-for-profit sectors. Michael was asked to develop an international water stewardship program by several companies during Australia’s Millennium Drought in 2005 while establishing the Forest Stewardship Council in Australia. He had previously worked as Head of Marketing and Communication at FSC International in Germany. In his business career he worked in mining, finance and steel holding senior roles with BHP Billiton, National Australia Bank and BlueScope Steel. He was previously senior adviser to the Premier of Victoria and held senior positions with the Seven and Nine television networks. He is a Fellow in the Department of Business Law and Taxation at Monash University, runs a 250ha property for conservation and beef production and is President of the Strathbogie Ranges Conservation Management Network