The Conference on “The Benchmarking and Asset Management Nexus – Key Tools for Regulators and Decision Makers” will convene on 30 June, 2022 in Albania’s capital city Tirana, back to back with the Danube Water Forum to take place on 28-29 June.
The Nexus conference will draw around 100 senior water sector representatives from the Danube region to discuss how benchmarking and asset management can be used as key tools for decision making.
Please note that participation in this event is possible by invitation only.
The conference's language will be English, with simultaneous translation into Albanian. Only physical participation will be possible. For further details on logistics and registration, please consult the links below.
Regulations regarding Covid-19
Please consult the website of the Albanian Ministry for Europe of Foreign Affairs for details on requirements upon the entry into Albania as well as ongoing restrictions in the country.
Conference Venue
The conference venue is the Hotel Rogner in Albania’s capital city Tirana. Several airlines serve Tirana on a regular basis, please consult the website of Tirana airport for further details.
Registration Process and Fees
We thank our institutional and corporate partners who help us to make this meeting possible and allow us to offer invited guests the registration for free. However, accommodation and transportation costs for this event shall be covered by yourself or your organisation.
To confirm your participation, please register by 15 June 2022 by clicking the "Register" button on this page.
For further information on the registration process, please consult the "How to register guide" under the links below!
The conference badge and other materials for the conference will be made available at the registration desk.
In case you like to join the Danube Water Forum, which is held back-to-back with this event, please consult the Event's page for further details.
Hotel booking
Please note that the organizers have only pre-booked a limited amount of hotel rooms in the Hotel Rogner. We recommend making your own accommodation arrangements in a timely manner. When making your reservation at the Hotel Rogner, please refer to the 2022 Danube Water Forum and Nexus event to receive a special room rate. In addition, find a list of hotels in the Logistical Guidelines document (see links below) close to the venue. We request you to please arrange your own booking at the hotel of your preference.
Speakers
Session 1
Opening and Keynote: The Benchmarking and Asset Management Nexus
30 June, 09:00 - 10:30
Welcome words
Mr. Walter Kling, IAWD President, Austria
Welcome words
Mr. Peter Wolff, Fund Manager, ORF MMS, GIZ, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Welcome words
Mr. Petrit Tare, President, SHUKALB, Albania
Welcome words
Mr. Sokol Xhafa, President, SHUKOS, Kosovo
Welcome words
Mr. Elton Kacidhja, General Manager, Tirana Water and Wastewater Utility, Albania
Keynote “The Benchmarking and Asset Management Nexus”
Mr. Enrique Cabrera Rochera, Chair, IWA Specialist Group Benchmarking and Performance Assessment, IWA Senior Vice-President, Spain
Keynote “The Benchmarking and Asset Management Nexus”
Ms. Rita Salgado Brito, Chair, IWA Specialist Group Strategic Asset Management, Portugal
IAWD’s benchmarking activities in the Danube region
Ms. Katerina Schilling, Interim Head of IAWD TS, IAWD, Austria
Overview of AM activities in South-East Europe
Mr. Oliver Nachevski, Project Manager, ORF MMS, GIZ, North Macedonia
Moderator
Ms. Elisabeta Poci, Executive Director, SHUKALB, Albania
Panelist
Mr. Ndricim Shani, Chairman, Albanian Water Regulatory Authority (WRA), Albania
Panelist
Ms. Maja Medenica, UTVSI AM Hub and Belgrade Water AM Center Head, UTVSI, Serbia
Panelist
Mr. Klevis Jahaj, General Director, National Agency for Water Supply, Sewerage and Waste Infrastructure (AKUM), Albania
Panelist
Ms. Sanja Zivkovic, Secretary, Committee for Communal and Environmental Affairs, Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, Montenegro
Session 2
SEEAM Program Results & Way Forward – Enhancing the Cooperation Between Service Providers and Relevant National Institutions
30 June, 11:00 - 12:30
Greeting remarks
Ms. Gabriele Lames, Program Manager, GIZ Albania
Overview of SEEAM implementation in Albania
Ms. Arbana Kola, AM Hub Manager, SHUKALB
Overview of SEEAM implementation in Kosovo
Ms. Erdonita Humolli, AM Hub Manager, SHUKOS
How to continue AM activities after SEEAM
Mr. Petros Kolovopoulos, Executive Director, Hydro-Comp Enterprises Ltd., Cyprus
Moderator
Mr. Georgi Hristov, Project Manager, GIZ, North Macedonia
Panelist
Mr. Florian Demi, Director, Directorate of Economic and Supportive Services, AKUM, Albania
Panelist
Mr. Baton Begolli, Water Policy Advisor, Inter-Ministerial Water Council, Office of the Prime Minister, Kosovo
Panelist
Ms. Valbona Paja, Deputy General Director, Shkoder Water and Wastewater Utility, Albania
Panelist
Mr. Sokol Xhafa, Acting CEO, RWC Pristina, Kosovo
Session 3
The Utility Benchmarking Program: From Benchmarking to Performance Improvement and Back
30 June, 13:30 - 15:00
Overview of water service sector performance in the Danube region
Mr. Aleksandar Krstic, CEO, Eutopia Pro (as IAWD UBP Coordinator for the Danube Region), Serbia
Benchmarking regulation in Montenegro
Mr. Milos Petrovic, Energy and Water Regulatory Agency of Montenegro
Benchmarking for LGUs
Ms. Emilija Milunovic, RCDN Project Manager, IAWD, Austria
Moderator
Mr. Walter Kling, President IAWD, Austria
Panelist
Ms. Albana Jani, Director, Directorate of Coordination, Analysis, and Information, AKUM, Albania
Panelist
Mr. Agron Haxhimali, Executive Director, Association of Albanian Municipalities, Albania
Panelist
Ms. Adelina Farrici, Executive Director, Association of Local Autonomy of Albania (ALAA), Albania
Panelist
Ms. Nadire Bejtullahu Vitija, Training Manager, SHUKOS, Kosovo
Session 4
Benchmarking and Asset Management as Foundation for Sustainable Infrastructure Investment
30 June, 15:30 - 17:00
Case Study 1 of BM&AM achievements and linkage to investment projects
Mr. Sokol Xhafa, Acting CEO, Regional Water Company Pristina, Kosovo
Case Study 2 of BM&AM achievements and linkage to investment projects
Ms. Ivana Torbica, Investment, Development and Project Engineer, Gradiska utility, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Moderator
Mr. Raimund Mair, Senior Water Resource Management Specialist, World Bank, Austria
Panelist
Mr. Eduart Rumani, National Programme Officer, Swiss Embassy, Albania
Panelist
Ms. Hajrije Morina, Director, Water Services Regulatory Authority, Kosovo
Institutional Partners
