Embedding IWM in your organisation - Part A (Winter 2026 IWM Webinar 4)

This session provides insights on the key strategies available to an organisation for delivering strong IWM outcomes within Victorian regulatory / institutional landscape. It involves a facilitated panel discussion followed by audience Q&A. Key takeaways: Gain insights from diverse experiences in how people within different types of organisations have driven IWM outcomes. Learn about key strategies such as building IWM champions, clarifying roles and responsibilities, establishing organisational processes and governance structures, cross-departmental collaboration, knowledge brokering and capacity building and developing interdisciplinary capabilities. Audience: Representatives of IWM Forums across the state (both Regional Vic and Metro Melbourne), Local Government, Catchment Management Authorities, Water utilities and other interested parties working in: Strategic and statutory planning Stormwater management Sustainability and liveability Environment / waterway management Water / wastewater infrastructure planning. Panellists Wayne Burton Wayne Burton is the Sustainability and Climate Change Coordinator at East Gippsland Shire Council and a member of the East Gippsland Integrated Water Management (IWM) Forum. His work focuses on climate resilience, adaptation planning, and collaborative approaches to IWM. Wayne brings practical experience in embedding long-term water and climate considerations into organisational decision-making and service delivery. Sam Innes Sam Innes is an experienced IWM specialist at Greater Western Water, where he leads programs and projects that embed IWM principles and practice across the organisation and its service area. With a strong background in collaborative water cycle planning, he has driven initiatives that connect stormwater, alternative water sources, green infrastructure and liveability outcomes within Victoria’s regulatory framework. He brings both technical depth and practical experience in building organisational capability and cross-team collaboration. On the panel he shares insights into strategies for establishing processes, clarifying roles and fostering the champions needed to deliver lasting IWM outcomes inside a major water corporation. Trent Griffiths Trent Griffiths is Manager of Strategy and Partnerships at Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, leading a team focused on collaborative catchment and waterway management across south-west Victoria. He coordinates the development and implementation of key regional strategies, including the Regional Waterway Strategy and the Regional Catchment Strategy, which bring together agencies, community groups and Traditional Owners to protect and improve the environmental, cultural, economic and social values of our amazing natural resources. With extensive experience in natural resource management, Trent specialises in cross-organisational collaboration, building capability, and integrating diverse knowledge systems into Integrated Water Management planning. Kent Feng Kent Feng is a stormwater and WSUD practitioner with a decade of experience spanning research, consulting, and local government. His work has focused on catchment investigation, stormwater quality and quantity management, and the application of WSUD and IWM approaches to support healthy waterways and resilient urban environments. Kent’s background includes developing IWM strategies across a range of project scales, from local precincts to whole‑of‑catchment planning. His consulting experience strengthened his technical capability in asset‑based solutions, while also building strong skills in multidisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement. Chris Saliba Chris is an environmental engineer with over 20 years of experience in the water industry. He is passionate about developing sustainable, practical solutions to complex water challenges. Chris has extensive expertise in planning, delivering, and operating sewer and water infrastructure to provide essential services to communities. In his previous role, he led a land development project aimed at creating a truly sustainable, water focused and affordable residential development in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor. In 2025, Chris joined Melbourne Water as Senior Manager of Integrated Service Planning, leading the incorporation of IWM principles into MW strategies and processes. Facilitator Jamie Ewert Jamie Ewert has extensive experience delivering the stormwater and IWM capacity program, having facilitated and delivered many Clearwater events with local government, as well as capacity building and conference events at a national scale through the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities. He led both the Communications and Research Adoption portfolios for the CRC. Since his time at the CRC, Jamie has been part of Alluvium Consulting and Natural Capital Economics, initially as an IWM specialist and now as a Climate Adaptation Lead. Pre-requisites N/A