IWA Glasgow Community Group: London Workshop
The workshop on 25 November for the Glasgow Community Group was a great opportunity to give a progress update on planning, and encourage community members to share their own thoughts and ideas on various aspects of the Congress through the exploration of four different 'hubs' - one of which was the UK Pavilion.
The UK Pavilion Session brought together industry leaders, innovators, young professionals, and partners from across the sector to help shape the vision for the UK Pavilion at Glasgow 2026. This highly collaborative workshop ensured the UK water community had a central voice in defining what the Pavilion should stand for when the global water community arrives in Scotland.
Collaborative Breakout Zones Driving Fresh Ideas
The session featured four interactive breakout zones, each facilitated by young water professionals from the Pavilion’s co‑lead team. These zones tackled the most important priorities for the Pavilion’s development:
Designing the physical Pavilion space
Identifying today’s critical challenges and opportunities for the UK water sector
Translating Congress themes into engaging Pavilion content and experiences
Making pledges for action to drive the sector forward
This multisensory, community‑driven approach fostered open discussion, creativity, and a sense of shared ownership across all participants.
Early Outcomes: Innovation, Resilience, and Collaboration
The session was widely praised for its energy and ambition. Emerging themes included a strengthened focus on:
Nature‑based solutions
Digital catchment monitoring
Integrated water management to boost long‑term sector resilience
Participants spotlighted cutting‑edge work in public health surveillance, urban water infrastructure, and international water partnerships, reinforcing the Pavilion’s role as a hub for innovation and global collaboration.
A First Look at the Pavilion Design
Attendees also had the opportunity to preview the first draft of the Pavilion’s physical design. Feedback centred on improving the Pavilion’s look, feel, and accessibility which will ensure that it becomes an inviting, functional space that reflects the UK’s commitment to creativity, sustainability, and high‑quality visitor experience.
Celebrating Strengths and Addressing Challenges
The collective discussion highlighted the sector’s many strengths: a passionate and skilled workforce, strong sustainability commitments, and a collaborative culture that spans organisations and geographies. At the same time, participants openly addressed sector‑wide challenges, including:
Climate resilience
Digital transformation
The ageing workforce and future skills
The need to accelerate innovation and knowledge sharing
Looking Ahead to Glasgow and Beyond
A key moment of the session was the reflection on pledges made during the IWA Congress in Toronto and the creation of new commitments for Glasgow 2026. These pledges underline an important message: the UK Pavilion isn’t just an exhibition stand; it’s a platform for long‑term action.
As the journey to Glasgow continues, the UK Pavilion will serve as a focal point for partnership, learning, and global leadership, ensuring the momentum built now continues well beyond the Congress.