Water, sanitation and hygiene together comprise one of the 7 major areas of focus for the Rotary Foundation and, as Peter Lorschy pointed out in introducing today’s guest, this is also an area of particular interest for our Club, with our strong representation of water engineering enthusiasts and
especially our recent immersion in David Russell’s life work in Sarawak, Borneo.
especially our recent immersion in David Russell’s life work in Sarawak, Borneo.
So it was a particular pleasure to hear from Dr Annette Davison, principal, risk analyst and founding director of Risk Edge.
Annette’s qualifications and CV are immensely impressive. Qualified in applied biology with a PhD in environmental microbiology, she has 30 years’ experience in environmental management, integrated water cycle management, risk assessment and paralegal work across the private,
multinational, academic and state government sectors and is a recognised global leader in risk assessment for water products and environmental management.
Once she used to be reticent about parading her achievements, she told us at the outset, but now she wears them proudly in order to model to young girls, like our own Lilly Clegg, the glass ceilings that can be smashed by women in today’s world.
More about Annette's presentation 'Read More' below
Cont'd:
Annette’s theme today was the preciousness of safe drinking water and the risks that are ever- present even in developed societies like Australia and New Zealand both in terms of quality and quantity. She reminded us that although NSW dams are overflowing today and causing severe
flooding in their catchment areas, last year the level of Warragamba Dam had fallen dangerously low and the prospect of Sydney running out of water was scarily close. Luckily the rains came but we can’t be sure they always will, she warned us.
flooding in their catchment areas, last year the level of Warragamba Dam had fallen dangerously low and the prospect of Sydney running out of water was scarily close. Luckily the rains came but we can’t be sure they always will, she warned us.
Annette gave us an overview of the journey water goes on from the original treatment plant until it runs out of our taps and dropped such fascinating insights as the cultures that she had been able to grow from a major supplier of bottled water and the outbreak of illness from contaminated water that happened recently in clean, green New Zealand.
Jo Moffatt reinforced Annette’s point about the risk to water even in developed countries with her story of catching typhoid from throwing coins into a fountain in Rome and forgetting to wish that the water would be safe.
Annette's presentation is included here for your review - Presentation.