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An essential event for all biosolids and bioresources professionals, providing an overview of the latest innovations, best practice, cutting-edge technologies and research in the field.

This year's conference programme features over 70 expert speakers who will share their operational experience and practical solutions for the challenges facing the bioresources sector.  We look forward to welcoming over 350 industry professionals to enjoy great technical content and straight-talking discussions.

2026 Programme

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr Maxine Mayhew
CEO, Coriant Group

From Waste to Worth – why our sector matters more than ever

Tuesday 17th November I 9:30am

Biosolids and bioresources are no longer simply by-products to be managed. They are strategic assets at the heart of the circular economy, supporting public health, environmental protection, food security, renewable energy generation and resource recovery.
In this inspiring keynote, Dr Maxine Mayhew, CEO of Coriant Group, will explore how the sector is evolving from waste management to value creation, and why the work undertaken across the industry has never been more important. Looking beyond technology and regulation, the session will focus on the people, innovation and leadership needed to unlock the full potential of biosolids and bioresources in the decades ahead.
She hopes to share with attendees her pride and optimism about the industry's role in creating a more sustainable and resilient future and the opportunities this means for all who work in it.

Rick Lancaster
Global Bioresources Director, AtkinsRéalis

The World is not enough. Using global challenges to catalyse creation of a regenerative water economy

Wednesday 18th November I 9am

Bioresources are a fundamentally important part of societal growth thus we must ensure we have resilient and sustainable solutions to manage them.

In this Keynote, at a pivotal moment of transformation for the sector, Rick Lancaster Global Bioresources Director at AtkinsRealis, will explore how we are witnessing challenges and opportunities in equal measure across the world. He will discuss the importance of cross sector collaboration and how we must leverage the opportunity to transform emerging contaminants into catalysts for innovation, establishing a viable, affordable, and a sustainable roadmap required for a truly regenerative water economy. 

Site Visit - Severn Trent's Net Zero Hub at Strongford - the world's first net zero wastewater treatment plant! 

Delegates will get a first-hand look at the treatments being deployed to transform bioresources treatment and actively monitor and reduce emissions. Find out more.

Pre-booking essential - available to conference delegates only.

Meet & Greet

Join us for complimentary welcome drinks from 7pm - 8pm in the Ludlow Concourse.

This is a great opportunity to network with other attendees before the event, catch up with colleagues and meet the Aqua Enviro team.

Name Speakers Time Location Name
From Waste to Worth – why our sector matters more than everMaxine Mayhew, Coriant9:30 AM - 10:00 AMRoom 1
Name Speakers Time Location Name
AI-driven optimisation of anaerobic digestion: enhancing efficiency, feedstock strategy, and system integrationAlan Beesley, BiofuelAi11:50 AM - 12:15 PMRoom 2
How hard can we push existing assets? 15 years redefining the limits of sewage sludge anaerobic digestionYadira Bajon Fernandez, Cranfield University12:15 PM - 12:40 PMRoom 2
Mechanical cell lysis of WAS to optimise anaerobic digestionGrace Doody, United Utilities12:40 PM - 1:05 PMRoom 2
Overcoming the hydrolysis blind spot in advanced anaerobic digesters with biological pre-treatmentNasreen Nasar, Cranfield University2:00 PM - 2:25 PMRoom 2
Full-scale implementation of the microbial hydrolysis process (MHP) technologyDavid Parry, Jacobs2:25 PM - 2:50 PMRoom 2
Towards high-rate biosolids digestion: full-scale perspectives on the IntensiCarb™ processDomenico Santoro, USP Technologies2:50 PM - 3:15 PMRoom 2
Large scale post digestion thermal hydrolysis (or HTC) process to achieve optimum dewatering and biogas production at the Schijnpoort centralized sludge treatment facility in Antwerp, BelgiumFlinn De Vleeschauwer, Aquafin3:45 PM - 4:10 PMRoom 2
Optimising sludge digestion for a sustainable futureRussell Mulliner, AD Ingenuity4:10 PM - 4:35 PMRoom 2
Closing the dewatering control loop: real-time centrate solids monitoring as an enabler for process optimisationDr Mike Strahand, Aquamonitrix4:35 PM - 4:47 PMRoom 2
Evaluating digester resilience under increasing organic loadingNnenna Esther Chukwuekezie, Cranfield University4:48 PM - 5:00 PMRoom 2
Eliminating reactor feed and pulper mixing pumps in thermal hydrolysis: design and operational experience from the B8 platformAndreas Lillebø, Cambi Group AS5:01 PM - 5:13 PMRoom 2
Methane emission reduction on AD facilities through evidence based breather valve management 5:14 PM - 5:25 PMRoom 2
Name Speakers Time Location Name
Poster Session 3:15 PM - 3:45 PMLudlow Concourse
Name Speakers Time Location Name
Circular ammonia recovery for a low-carbon wastewater futureGuto Pari, Severn Trent9:35 AM - 10:00 AMRoom 3
Aqua2N®: reducing WWTP nitrogen loads and process emissions through resource recoveryShaun Stevens, EPS Water10:00 AM - 10:25 AMRoom 3
Biosolids to biochar in Ireland: pathways for circular resource recoveryAoife Moloney, Uisce Éireann10:25 AM - 10:50 AMRoom 3
Recovering phosphorus from digestate using alternative leaching agents: agronomic performance of struvite fertilizers and carbon sequestration potential of residuesThaís Guedes Silveira, Ghent University11:20 AM - 11:45 AMRoom 3
Demonstration of the bio-mineral process for phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater centratesAna Soares, Cranfield University11:45 AM - 12:10 PMRoom 3
Hydrothermal oxidation: innovation in advanced thermal conversion and resource recoveryDr Daniel Gapes, Cetogenix12:10 PM - 12:35 PMRoom 3
Smart co-digestion to optimise sludge & waste circular economy: feedback from full scale applications in SpainLynne Bouchy, CREAtech360º1:30 PM - 1:55 PMRoom 3
Destruction and recovery across the hydrothermal continuum: translating advanced thermal conversion to the bioresources sectorDr Sandun Dissanayake, Cranfield University1:55 PM - 2:20 PMRoom 3
Light at the end of the pipe: the emerging role of photolytic reactors in the water-energy-nexus.Paul Knowles, Hazen and Sawyer2:20 PM - 2:45 PMRoom 3
Sludge, heat, repeat: rethinking regulation for thermal treatmentSarah-Jane Westlake, AtkinsRealis2:45 PM - 3:10 PMRoom 3
Name Authors More Info
Hydrodynamic cavitation pre-treatment of food waste for intensifying biohydrogen yields via dark fermentationAdarsha Kumar Pradhan, Sanjay Nagarajan and Tom Arnot, University of Bath, UK
Advancing non-sewered sanitation through integrated human waste treatment and resource recoveryChathumini Daundasekara, Serap Ozmen and Leon Williams, Cranfield University, UK
Antimicrobial resistance in organic and conventional dairy systems: implications for manure management from UK–Canada evidenceChunxia Jiang, Jennifer Ritchie, Roberto La Ragione and Bing Guo University of Surrey, UK
Alla Yushchenkod, Jennifer Ronholm and Dominic Frigon McGill University, Canada
Plug & Dry - containerised sewage sludge dryingDale Foster, Huber Technology UK & Ireland
Urban circular biorefineries: recovering water, energy and phosphorus from sewage sludge at industrial scaleDaniele Basso, Stefano Cavana, Michele Tenardi, Lucia Zanetti, Matteo Pecchi, Marco Piva, HBI, Italy
Mechanical cell lysis of WAS to optimise anaerobic digestion (Clone)Grace Doody, Ashley Bickerton and Norman Dodzo, United Utilities, UK
Michael Falterer, Hillers, Germany
Thermo EL Stove: turning bioresources into clean cooking energyInnocent Mandili, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Malawi
Chomora Mikeka, University of Malawi, Malawi
Mario Chirwa Kajombo, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Malawi
Innovative polymer dosing to enhance primary settlement in wastewater treatmentJeroen Koppes, Alastair Wood and Reyyan Daçe, SOLENIS, UK
Decanter centrifuge real time control, dewatering analysis and optimisationKieran Pfeiffer, Ward and Burke, Ireland
Dual-mode energy recovery from an integrated anaerobic digestion-microbial electrolysis systemMatt Coley, Severn Trent, UK
Integrated microplastic removal, PHB recovery and energy reduction using AB-AGS, GAC-AGS and TiO₂ photocatalysis: a full-scale assessment of the Peschiera Borromeo wastewater treatment plantMohamad Amin Rastegar, University of Genoa (Università degli Studi di Genova), Italy
Understanding the role of rice husk biochar in anaerobic digestion of simple and complex substratesNovelita Wahyu Mondamina, United Kingdom
Davide Poggio and Bill Nimmo, University of Sheffield, UK
Arman Sastraatmadja, University of Birmingham, UK
Redefining ammonia inhibition: microbial resilience in continuous sludge digestersSamra Qasim, Nnenna Esther Chukwuekezie, Stuart Wagland and Yadira Bajón Fernandez, Cranfield University, UK
Destruction and recovery across the hydrothermal continuum: translating advanced thermal conversion to the bioresources sector (Clone)Sandun Dissanayake and Stuart Wagland, Cranfield University, UK
Ben Luqmani and Stephen Riches, AtkinsRéalis, UK
Cutting BOD measurement from five days to minutes: a stable, affordable microbial fuel cell biosensor proven on real urban wastewaterSiddharth Gadkari, University of Surrey, UK
Anna Salvian and Claudio Avignone Rossa
Advancing biosolids compliance through rapid on-site microbiological testingStephan Calvert, IDEXX Water UK
Pressure cooking for a greener future: converting biosolids into renewable gaseous fuelsThiani Jones, Jude Onwudili, Vesna Najdanovic, Omar Mohammad, Aston University, UK
Malcolm Glendenning, ICMEA-UK
All-in-one: mitigation of N2O, CH4 and NMVOC emissionsThomas Binninger, CTP Chemisch Thermische Prozesstechnik GmbH, Austria
Treatment of AD digestate and animal slurriesTrevor Montgomery, Montgomery EHS Ltd, Ireland
Unlocking low-temperature biogas production from food waste using cold-adapted marine microbiomesZeynep Cetecioglu Gurol, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
Tugba Sari and Ece Kendir Cakmak

"Really enjoyed it! It was a great conference and personally have a notebook filled with thoughts and ideas from all the brilliant talks.

Head of Bioresources, Severn Trent (2025)

2026 Conference Timings

Monday 16th November

  • Site visit - Severn Trent's Net Zero Hub at Strongford - 12:30 - 17:00 (depart and return Telford)
  • Meet and greet networking - Ludlow Concourse -19:00 - 20:00

Tuesday 17th November

  • Registration - Ludlow Concourse - from 08:45
  • Technical sessions - Ludlow Suite - 09:30 -17:25
  • Drinks reception - Exhibition Hall (Hall 1) - 17:30 - 18:15
  • Conference dinner - The Gallery at Telford IC - 19:30 - 23:00

Wednesday 18th November

  • Technical sessions - Ludlow Suite - 09:00 - 15.15

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