PWTAG Annual Conference 2024 – Future Proofing Pools

The 2024 PWTAG conference is being held on Thursday 14 November 2024 at Holywell Park, Loughborough with the theme of Future Proofing Pools.

This year’s annual PWTAG conference “Future Proofing Pools” will be face to face again and offers an exciting opportunity to consider how our leisure and sports pools are going to move on in the 21st century. The importance of pools to the health of the population cannot be overestimated yet financial pressures can lead to closures and a reduction in this important national asset. The challenges we face include reducing energy consumption to counteract global warming, improving water quality, reducing the reliance on chemical disinfection while keeping bathers safe from infection and updating or replacing ageing pools and associated equipment. Speakers will give a view of how these challenges are being addressed in the UK and elsewhere.

You will hear: how we might learn from technological changes in the drinking water industry; improvements in pump efficiency; changes in monitoring pool water quality and bather loads; reducing chemical disinfectant levels; and how existing pools and plant have been revitalised for the future.

Meet the Speakers

Duncan Ockendon has a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Applied Chemistry and entered the UV industry in 2003. Almost from the start, Duncan became involved in the aquatics sector, owing to the rapid adoption of UV treatment of swimming pool water for the control of combined chlorine and protection against chlorine-resistant pathogens, such as Cryptosporidium. Having spent 30 years covering international sales in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia and North America, he is currently the UK & Ireland Aquatics Sales Manager for Xylem Water Solutions. In more recent years he has extended his product involvement to chemical controllers and Regenerative Media Filters (RMF).

Dr. James Amburgey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He holds Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA, and he completed two years of Post-doctoral research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an APHL Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Fellow. He has over 20 years of research experience in water filtration and coagulation.

Kate Mcknight is a Leisure Business expert with over 30 years’ experience of working in the Leisure industry. Kate has a passion for community wellbeing and providing excellent leisure facilities for people to use regardless of their physical ability or their ability to pay.
Kate has worked for the governing body of swimming (Swim England) as Head of Facilities and also for FINA the international federation as Honorary secretary for the facilities committee, this post involved writing the requirements for Architects and Pool Designers so their drawings comply with the requirements of the sport for Olympics, World Championships and major events.
Kate has now moved into the world of design and manufacturing of swimming pools as Country Manager for the UK & Ireland for Myrtha Pools and includes her expertise in programming and facility management to ensure each project is perfectly designed to meet the requirements of the community, the operator, and the pool owner.

Maarten studied sanitary engineering at Delft University of Technology (DUT). In 1994 he started his master thesis on THM’s in public swimming pools. Since then, Maarten has been working at various topics related to sustainability, health and safety and in swimming pools; a triangle of challenges. Although specialised in Pool water treatment, Maarten also worked on other swimming pool topics such as; Legionella, stainless steel, chemical safety, policy-making, troubleshooting, teaching (primary school to university), behavioural science, standardisation, CFD, out-patient clinic and drowning. In 2018 Maarten finished his PhD study at DUT about non-chlorinated pool water treatment for public swimming pools.
Since 2007 Maarten has presented scientific work during each of international scientific conferences on swimming pools and spas and co-organised a few of them. Currently he is one of the leading members of the scientific swimming pool committee and one of the world leading pool experts.

Martin trained as an environmental microbiologist before spending 20 years teaching and researching at Reading University. His work covered a wide range of topics including the microbiology of groundwater and degradation of organic compounds in water.Martin is a member of the PWTAG industry Forum and was a co-founder of Pool Sentry in 2004. Pool Sentry works with the operators of commercial swimming pools to support the delivery of excellent water quality whilst also optimising the use of resources and minimising running costs. In addition to supporting commercial clients, Pool Sentry has an active programme of research and development. Martin currently manages research projects with Loughborough University and the PWTAG trial on effectiveness of PAC dosing in relation to filtration. Martin has co-written several papers with Lester Simmonds and in collaboration with Rachel Chalmers on pool filtration and circulation in relation to microbiological risk.

Improving access to safe water for everyone and reducing the environmental impact of water and wastewater treatment are Michael’s professional passions.
A bilingual entrepreneurial scientist, Michael is a respected member of the global water community, a well-regarded and respected water industry expert who fuses academic excellence with business acumen.
Michael is passionate about water and especially the way that combining water quality sensors and domain expertise helps us on our journey towards a world where everyone has equal access to water and sanitation with a minimal environmental impact.
A father of three young children, Michael see water issues as a key part of the world they will grow up in.
Outside of the world of water, football, “real football”, and loud rock music are his other passions.

Paul joined the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1999 and qualified as a Combat Engineer – Utilities and Petroleum Fitter. Paul has deployed on multiple operational tours and overseas exercises to provide Close Engineer and specialist support for the British Military. Highlights include providing potable water/repairing critical infrastructure in austere environments such as Afghanistan, Belize, Iraq, Kosovo, and Nepal. He was responsible for the operation of both the potable supply and wastewater at RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus) from 2009-2013.Paul transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps in 2014 to become an Environmental Health Practitioner and successfully achieved a BSc (Hons) Environmental Health Studies in 2018. During his time as an EHP he deployed to Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, and the Middle East to help the British Military mitigate the inherent risk of disease and non-battle injury posed by environmental and industrial hazards, flora and fauna, climate, food, water, endemic disease, etc.

Paul Joined the Drinking Water Inspectorate in May 2023 and currently works within the Enforcement Team.

Richard is the Head of Facilities for Swim England, providing advice and consultancy ensuring that swimming facilities are designed fit for purpose and sustainable. Richard has authored Swim England’s “Decade of Decline” & “Facility Development Toolkit” alongside numerous technical guidance documents with Sport England. Richard is a member of PWTAG and he is also a long-standing representative of the British Standards working group for European standards of swimming pools.

Roger has over 45 years’ experience in the Aquatic Leisure Industry and fronts the WTI projects in Europe, Middle East, and Euro Asia, in addition to supporting the specialist design build projects delivered by sister-company Neuman Aqua Ltd, focusing on new-build developments and the rapidly growing expansion/retrofit sector.Roger served a 20-year career with Biwater Ltd, gaining experience in construction, operations, and manufacturing within the worldwide water industry, before leaving to set up the aquatic leisure consultancy, Royson Ltd in 1996. In 2005 he established Aqua Leisure International, before combining it with the formation of Neuman Aqua Ltd in 2011 and undertaking his role with WTI.

He is a regular Speaker at international conventions, a writer of industry articles and a participant on Industry Standards and Advisory Boards. Roger served a two-term role on the World Waterpark Associations Board of Directors 2004-10 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame 2016. He also served a 4-year term on the IAAPA Education Committee for EMEA 2018-22. He is a member of the Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity.