What You Need To H2Know - From Strategy to Influence: Building OWWA’s Advocacy Roadmap

Welcome to a special episode of What You Need to H2Know, the podcast that highlights the people, places, and projects shaping Ontario’s water community. This episode, From Strategy to Influence: Building OWWA’s Advocacy Roadmap, focuses on advocacy, policy, and government relations within Ontario’s drinking water sector.Host Michele Grenier, Executive Director of the Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA), is joined by Deborah Goudreau, Manager of Plant Operations with the City of Hamilton and an OWWA Board Member and AWWA Director for the Ontario Section. She is also joined by Christina Marciano, Vice President and Environment Practice Group Lead, and Faria Amin, Associate in Environment, both from Sussex Strategy Group.Together, they discuss why advocacy has become a strategic priority for OWWA, how the organization approached its advocacy audit, and what it means to move toward a more intentional and coordinated government relations strategy. The conversation explores the evolving policy environment, the value of advocacy for OWWA members, and how clear priorities and consistent messaging help strengthen the sector’s collective voice.Listeners will also hear insights into career paths in government relations, key themes that emerged from the advocacy audit, and what success looks like as OWWA works toward its 2026 goals.Whether you are curious about how advocacy works behind the scenes or want to better understand how OWWA is representing the interests of Ontario’s drinking water sector, this episode offers practical insight and forward-looking perspective. 💧👉 Learn more about OWWA’s advocacy and policy work at owwa.ca