New academy to equip water leaders for future

Emerging water utility leaders, this is your moment! Water professionals with three-to-ten years of full-time work experience can apply today for the Transformative Water Leadership Academy (TWLA) – a collaboration between the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the WaterNow Alliance — to prepare a diverse, next generation of water utility leaders for sustainable community leadership.

TWLA is launching its inaugural class this November, with applications for the 10-month program due Sept. 15. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the program is available at no cost this year to approximately 50 early-career water professionals. Participants will take part in in-person and virtual sessions that include experiential learning, mentorships and locally-relevant capstone projects that address leadership for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater management and water reuse. 

“The water workforce is certainly a top-of-mind issue for many water professionals,” said Barb Martin, AWWA’s engineering & technical services director, who discussed the TWLA on recent podcasts with WaterWorld and The Water Values Podcast.

“In AWWA’s recent State of the Water Industry survey, aging workforce and anticipated retirements ranked No. 4 of the top 20 issues facing the water sector, up from No. 8 a year ago,” she said. “TWLA works to address this challenge and hopefully change the paradigm for tomorrow’s water workforce.”

TWLA also provides more experienced water professionals the opportunity to volunteer as small group mentors, capstone project coaches or instructors. Sponsorship opportunities are available for those committed to advancing the water community and showcasing their thought leadership on achieving a sustainable, community-focused water future.

To enhance the TWLA experience, a Community Cooperative Alliance is being formed to connect participants with national, regional and local organizations representing marginalized or underserved populations. As a resource network for participants, this alliance will help share TWLA results and insights, promote water sector careers and introduce TWLA to future potential applicants. Suggestions for groups to be included can be sent to grants@awwa.org.

The core concepts of the TWLA curriculum are:

• Build community
• Protect public health
• Safeguard the environment
• Advance diversity, equity and inclusion
• Inspire innovation
• Think globally and act locally