On 30 October the new Young Water Professionals Committee of the Danube region came together to fill leadership positions.

Young Water Professionals is a worldwide initiative of the International Water Association that aims to build attractive career perspectives for future leaders in the water sector. Organized in national chapters and regional committees, YWPs between 18 and 35 join networks, engage in capacity building, and build their profiles.

As a partner organization of the IWA, IAWD has been instrumental in establishing YWP networks in the Danube region. By now seven national YWP chapters are IAWD members, and each will have a seat in the new Committee: Serbia, Kosovo, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, and the Young Experts Board of Vodovodi Republike Srpske in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At the first meeting, three leadership positions were up for election. Albert Salltakaj of IWA Young Water Professionals Kosovo takes the Chair and will put his experience in project management, capacity development, and leadership within YWP Kosovo to promote knowledge exchange, encourage innovation, and empower young people to advance a more sustainable and inclusive water sector. In this role, Albert will also represent YWP on the Board of IAWD starting in January 2026.

"My vision is to create a strong and collaborative network that prepares future generations with the right knowledge and provides greater opportunities - contributing directly to the sustainable management and protection of water resources", he says.

Mr. Salltakaj's Co-Chair is Denisa Cadkova of IWA YWP Czech Republic. During her three years on the national Czech Republic YWP Committee she has worked successfully to raise both the quality of the Chapter's activities and its visibility in the professional and international context, growing membership by 30%, and significantly increasing member satisfaction.

"I see the Co-Chair position as a meaningful mission - an opportunity to help build something valuable for young professionals in our field, and I am truly honored to contribute", she comments.

Third up for election was the Secretary position, taken by Roxana Alexandru of IWA YWP Romania. Her comment:

"The experiences I had as president of the Romanian student organization, seeing people "grow" around me and change for the better from one activity to another, made me realize what great value a strong and connected community has, and how small ideas can lead to big changes. All of this motivates me to take on the role of Secretary and try to use my past experience to make a difference in the Young Water Professionals community."

We congratulate the new Committee representatives and are looking forward to a fruitful cooperation: The water sector needs you, your ideas, and your commitment!