The Water Management Society (WMSoc) is a not-for-profit membership organisation that has been providing practical and technical training solutions to individuals and companies within the water management industry for over 40 years. Their expertise in Legionella awareness, Legionella and Water Hygiene training enables them to give the most up-to-date instruction on how to prevent Legionnaires and other waterborne diseases within various water systems, including cooling towers.
By gathering expertise from every sector of the industry, the WMSoc can offer informed and professional assistance in all matters relating to the responsible management of water in industry and commerce. They achieve this through training courses, events, publications and journals, and in addition to these, their Midlands based offices accommodate a unique, on-site Practical Training Area for hands-on experience.
Their members come from a wide range of disciplines including water suppliers, scientists, engineers, manufacturers, consultants and facilities managers. Applications are welcomed from those within the relevant industries both in the UK and overseas. Being a WMSoc member gives access to a wide range of resources and connections with other professionals and regulatory bodies within the water management industry.
The morning sessions are intended to focus on some of the new and innovative microbiological testing methods and their practical applications within the water treatment industries.
| Time | Presentation | Speaker | Bio | Affiliation & Company |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Welcome by Chairman | Prof K Clive Thompson | Chief Scientist, ALS Food and Pharma | |
| 09:45 | Overview of New Testing Technologies | Elise Maynard | Council Member, Water Management Society | |
| 10:15 | Water Management Solutions | Ian Mein | Director, Southsea STS Ltd | |
| Coffee Break & Networking (10:45 - 11:15) | ||||
| 11:15 | Legionella Detection in Water | Fiona Alcock | Oxford BioSystems | |
| 11:45 | In-house Water Testing - Real-life Experiences | Paul McDermott | Director, PJM-HS Consulting Ltd | |
| 12:15 | Roundtable Q&A | Questions to the panel from the delegates | ||
| Lunch and Exhibition (12:45 - 14:00) | ||||
Clive Thompson is Chief Scientist at ALS, Life Sciences, Rotherham, UK. This is one largest analytical testing organisations in the UK and Ireland, operating from a total of 22 sites and employing over 1,500 staff in the food, water and environmental sectors. Clive is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC); Chartered Chemist (CChem); Chartered Scientist (CSci); Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (FCIWEM); Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (FRSPH); Fellow of the Water Management Society (FWMSoc); Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (FIFST); Visiting Professor at East London University of London; Member of the American Chemical Society; and Member of the American Society for Microbiology .
He has been involved in the development of chemical and microbiological new methods for food and water. He is on the Food Group, Environment Health and Safety Group and Science and Enterprise Group of the SCI and also on the RSC Water Science Forum and Food Group. He is active in a number of BSI, CEN and ISO groups. He has helped to the organise a number of UK and international conferences, has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and edited a number of books
Elise is a Managing Partner of Elise Maynard & Associates LLP which provides independent consultancy to the water and medical devices industries. She has served as Chair of the Water Management Society and has been awarded Fellowship in recognition of her services to both the Society and the Industry.
Her background is in Microbiology, having trained in the Clinical and Health Protection Agency (HPA) laboratories at St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth. Elise has a Diploma in Management and an MSc in Health Research and Development from Portsmouth University. She is a registered Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS), the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM) and also of the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH), where she is an active member of the water special interest group. Elise is also a member of the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) and the Central Sterilising Club (CSC). She has presented or chaired at numerous international events and has published a number of peer-reviewed papers. She is an independent adviser for a number of water safety groups both in Primary Care and Hospital Trusts
Following 7 years working as a lab microbiologist providing biocidal efficacy testing for industrial clients and developing a new range of food surface disinfects I moved into the Field looking at removal of biofilms in food plant including RO and UF filtration plants. After a sabbatical I working moved to the world of Contract Laboratories; after a short period at Alcontrol, I took on a position at Latis Scientific developing a range of testing methods to meets the requirements of the HTM's for Decon and Sterile Services. At this time, we also started looking Rapid Microbiological methods for testing of Legionella, Mycobacteria and Pseudomonas, becoming the first laboratory to provide Rapid testing of water for Environmental Mycobacteria. Subsequently I have started Southsea STS Limited and we have been instrumental in the setting up of 4 new laboratories including the running a new laboratory facility; on a large industrial site in the North West, providing project work for the assessment of non-chemical biocide treatments on site, the effect of low level radiation on bacterial growth and Rapid Legionella testing for all of the domestic, utility and cooling water systems on site.
A highly experienced technical & compliance director and Authorising Engineer Water & Chlorine dioxide. Tim Wafer is founder and CEO of The Water Solutions Group - water hygiene consultancy with a water forensic investigation capability that is trusted by a number of NHS Trusts across the UK. He is responsible for the delivery aspects of all of governance and compliance within WSG and has been appointed lead consultant on a number of high profile waterborne pathogen outbreak investigation
Paul McDermott has an Honours degree and PhD in microbiology and spent the first 11 years of his career in microbiology research and as a university lecturer. Following this, Paul worked as a Specialist Inspector in the Health and Safety Executive's Biological Agents Unit. In his role as a regulator, much of Paul's time was spent working in the field of occupational Legionella risk control where he developed a deep understanding of the regulatory framework and an appreciation of the practicalities of effective risk management.
Paul acted as expert witness in a number of Legionella enforcement cases and since leaving HSE, has continued to provide expert witness services to HSE, the Crown Prosecution Service, Local Authorities and private legal companies.
During his career he has contributed to the production of numerous Legionella-related guidance documents, including:
Paul is also a Technical Assessor for the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, conducting assessments of companies seeking UKAS accreditation for Legionella risk assessment services.
Since setting up his biorisk consultancy in July 2014, Paul has undertaken a variety of work including the role of Authorising Engineer (Water) at a number of NHS Trusts and is currently supporting water risk management arrangements at a number of large academic institutions. Paul also continues his work as expert witness in health and safety cases. Most recently, he was expert witness for the prosecution in the JTF (Wholesale) Ltd case in July 2017 and BUPA Care Homes in June 2018.
Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, a Fellow of the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management and a member of the Water Management Society.
