Events

Bold Goals is a cross-disciplinary event bringing together professionals from engineering, local government, development, architecture, planning, landscape architecture and water utilities for an evening of big ideas and bold thinking. Hosted by Stormwater Queensland with support of Engineers Australia, this event creates a unique platform to share and pitch visionary goals for the future of stormwater management.

In a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by housing supply and affordability pressures, climate change and legacy infrastructure, Bold Goals invites participants to think beyond the status-quo and envision what best-practice stormwater management and total water cycle management can truly look like. Attendees will hear a series of short, inspiring pitches from diverse industry professionals designed to challenge perspectives, spark collaboration and drive innovation across sectors.

Whether you’re shaping policy, designing communities or delivering infrastructure, this event offers an opportunity to connect, contribute and help define a more resilient and sustainable water future.

This event is designed for but not limited to:

• Stormwater Professionals
• Water Utilities
• Landscape Architects, Architects, Planners and Urban Designers
• Economists
• Local/State Government
• Developers
• Young professionals, students and post-graduate researchers

Stormwater Queensland invites attendees to bring a friend, client or colleague to learn more about the challenges and future of sustainable stormwater management!

Speakers include prominent voices from across the industry, including:

• Rob Fearon, General Manager – Servicing Planning (Urban Utilities)
• Liza Valks MPIA (Fellow), State Manager – Qld & NT (Planning Institute of Australia, PIA)
• Mal McCann, Director and Queensland State Manager (DPM Consulting Group)
• Chamantha Athapaththu, Committee Member (River Basin Management Society) and Senior Scientist (Hydrobiology)
• Michael Smit, Deputy Chair (Rainwater Harvesting Association) and Technical and Sustainability Manager (Kingspan Water and Energy)
• Geoff Vietz, Director and Principal Scientist (Streamology)
• Will Kershaw, Principle Environmental Engineer (JDA Co.)
• Teah Hammet, Consultant (CRED Consulting)

More speakers to be announced, including:

• Veris (Event Sponsor)
• Engineers Australia Queensland Water Panel
• Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA)

Sponsors: This event is proudly sponsored by Streamology and Veris (Speaking Sponsors)

Date: Thursday 2 July 2026, 6- 9pm

Venue: Engineers Australia, 340 Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

**Included in ticket is informal networking between presentations. A range of canapes and alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks will be served during networking and are included in ticket price.