When: 25 November 2025, 18:00 (to start 18:30) - 20:00
Where: Firefly Lounge, Three Guineas Pub, Reading Station, Station Approach, RG1 1LY
Speakers: Rob Smith, SESRO Project Development Manager, Thames Water
Mark Mathews, SESRO and Severn Thames Transfer Engagement Manager, Thames Water (secondee from Jacobs)
The water supply chain has all of the elements of others, from sourcing, transfer, manufacturing (treatment), distribution and storage, but with added challenges.
It currently attracts much public interest, and the Thames Valley Group are looking into what innovation and infrastructure is being put in place to better meet ever expanding water supply demand in the Central Southern Region with Rob Smith and Mark Mathews from Thames Water.
From opportunities for new long distance new water transfers (Severn to Thames Transfer), which would see raw water transferred from the north west to the south east of the country in times of drought, to creating one of the largest strategic reservoirs in the country to supply water to 15 million customers (the South East Strategic Resource Option), we will get a fascinating insight into how Thames Water are working with other water companies, government, regulators and local communities in developing its strategic water resource schemes to meet the challenges of climate change, population growth and environmental protection.
Given the scale and complexity of these essential national infrastructure projects, Rob and Mark will set out how they are driving their technical partners to assess and develop mitigation plans for a wide range of transport impacts, including on road, rail and active travel. They will also explain some of the logistic challenges that they are grappling encompassing major earth works and civil engineering activities.
As we move towards Net Zero, we will explore how these projects point us in the right direction. We will also consider the wider environmental and social benefits driving the programme.
Rob Smith joined Thames Water in March 2024 to lead the project delivery for SESRO. Rob has over 20 years’ experience in managing infrastructure projects, having worked as a principal engineer and project manager for Parsons Brinkerhoff, JMP consultants and with HS2 - leading the Phase 2b Rail Systems and Application Design contract.
Mark has over 20 years’ experience in water industry town planning and stakeholder engagement, having worked with Thames Water, Mott MacDonald and Jacobs before being seconded back into Thames Water again to support on SESRO and the Severn to Thames Transfer.
The Thames Valley Group team look forward to having this unsung and largely unrecognised large-scale construction and operational supply chain explained to them.
Booking for Members - Free & Non-Members -£5.00 inc. VAT
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