The Women on Water Conference, hosted by British Water, once again proved to be an inspiring gathering of the water industry. The event brought together women and allies from across the water sector to share ideas, celebrate achievements and explore what it truly means to lead with authenticity and confidence.

The Womens Utilities Network (WUN) is proud to support British Water’s mission, and we are thankful for the representation across all panels. It was a proud moment to see so many men and women come together with a shared purpose – to create a more inclusive and equitable future for the utilities sector.

A special thank you goes to Lila Thompson and the British Water team for curating such an energising and thought-provoking day.

Tessa Fayers’ Keynote: The 4 S’s of Success
The day began with an uplifting keynote from Tessa Fayers, who shared her Four S’s of Success – Support, Sponsorship, Stamina and Sisterhood. Each of these qualities, she explained, is instrumental in building a fulfilling and resilient career.
• Support reminds us to both seek and offer help – progress is never a solo effort.
• Sponsorship highlights the value of having people who advocate for you when you’re not in the room.
• Stamina reflects the persistence needed to thrive in a demanding, fast-moving sector.
• And Sisterhood reinforces the power of women uplifting and empowering one another.

Tessa’s message resonated deeply across the room: success is sustained by community. Seek sponsors who will champion your career, nurture your network to maintain momentum and always invest in relationships that build collective strength.

Personal Branding – how to start?

Harriet Chunu-McClatchey spoke about the importance of consciously crafting the perception of who you are, rather than allowing others to define it for you. A strong personal brand, she explained, isn’t simply about visibility – it’s about credibility, influence and opportunity.

Harriet described the “secret sauce” of a personal brand as the energy you bring and how you show up. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it – the consistency between your words, actions and presence that builds trust and impact.

The first panel, chaired by Melina Persson, Water Sector Lead at Microsoft, explored how personal branding shapes professional growth. The panellists – Holly Beeston, Laura Hawksworth, Harriet Chunu-McClatchey and Rachael Fox – shared valuable insights into authenticity, perception and influence.
The discussion underscored that authenticity and professionalism can coexist; they strengthen each other when grounded in clear values and self-awareness.

The second panel, chaired by Angela Booth, Head of BD: Energy & Utilities at WNS, featured Varsha Wylie, Kathryn Pharr, Roselyn Unegbu and Rose Bouchard. Together, they explored how women can develop confidence in an industry that is still, at times, dominated by traditional power dynamics.

The conversation centred on recognising that confidence grows through action and experience. It develops quietly in the moments we trust ourselves, even when things feel uncomfortable.

The final panel, chaired by Sarah McMath – CEO at MOSL, President of the Institute of Water and a WUN Board Member – tackled the theme of addressing difficult or sensitive situations in the workplace. Panellists Victoria Edwards, Emily Timmins and Tanya Sephton offered practical approaches to managing conflict and building understanding.

The session encouraged attendees to consider intent versus impact, to recognise the difference between resistance and genuine disagreement, and to reframe challenging conversations as opportunities for engagement.

By focusing on empathy, listening and curiosity, the panel demonstrated that strong leadership comes not from avoiding difficult situations, but from handling them with openness and integrity.

Across the panels and keynotes, several themes stood out:

• Authenticity is strength – being genuine in how you show up builds trust and credibility.
• Sisterhood matters – supporting and advocating for one another creates collective resilience.
• Confidence is learned – it develops through experience, reflection and courage.
• Networks sustain success – relationships and sponsorship are essential to career growth.

The conversations reflected what WUN has championed since its inception: that diversity, inclusion and support are not add-ons to a successful career – they are the foundation of it.

The panellists spoke candidly about overcoming imposter syndrome, reframing self-doubt as a sign of growth and building resilience through supportive networks. Their stories illustrated that confidence isn’t an innate trait – it’s a practice, nurtured by courage and community.

Events like this remind us that success is never achieved in isolation – it’s built on shared strength, mutual respect and unwavering belief in one another’s potential.

To start your journey on networking, mentoring and many of the topics discussed at the event, why not:

• Join the Womens Utilities Network community to continue these conversations year-round.
• Seek mentors and sponsors who can champion your growth through our WUN mentoring programme.
• Start building your personal brand around your authentic self.
• And most importantly, supporting other women as they do the same.

Together, we are shaping an industry where women’s success is expected, not exceptional.