Building leadership capability to drive change in the global water sector
Delivering sustainable water outcomes in a rapidly changing world requires more than technical expertise—it requires leadership at all levels.
Across the global water sector, professionals are being called upon to:
- Influence across teams and organisations
- Navigate complexity and uncertainty
- Lead projects, programs and change processes
- Work collaboratively across disciplines and sectors
The Pathway Program is the International WaterCentre’s globally focused leadership development program designed to equip water professionals with the skills, confidence and support to lead change in practice.
A structured pathway to leadership impact
The Pathway Program is not a stand-alone course—it is a progressive leadership development journey.
It supports participants to move from:
Understanding leadership → Applying leadership in real-world contexts → Enabling leadership in others
The program comprises three levels:
- Level 1 – Foundations
- Level 2 – Transformation
- Level 3 – Multiplier
Participants can undertake the Levels separately and sequentially, over a potentially extended period of time, or embark on a transformational leadership development journey by combining Levels 1 and 2 in a bundle to enable real-world application and behaviour change.
Level 1 of the Program commences in September each year, and is an 11-week, interactive, online course that introduces participants to foundational leadership concepts and provides guidance and ‘leadership stories’ (i.e. short case studies and personal stories from distinguished water leaders) on how to address common leadership challenges in the water sector. In 2026, Level 1 will commence on Monday 7th September. (Price: AUD $295)
Level 2 of the Program commences in March each year, and is designed for water practitioners who have completed Level 1 and want to do more intensive work on their leadership capacity in partnership with an IWC leadership coach. This level involves designing, delivering and evaluating a challenging water leadership project over 9 months, and using it as a ‘leadership practice field’ to apply the principles, concepts, tools and guidelines from Level 1. In 2027, Level 2 will commence in early March, with a live introductory workshop. (Price: AUD $2,650)
Level 3 also commences in March each year, and has a similar design to Level 2. Level 3 involves scoping, designing, delivering and evaluating a significant, leadership-focused capacity building event or project over 9 months, to help enable other water practitioners to drive change. This is a further leadership development opportunity (i.e. a ‘practice field’ for leadership). In 2027, Level 3 will commence in early March at the same time as the Level 2 program. (Price: AUD $2,650)
Read on and download our brochure, to find out more about why developing water leadership skills is important, and how you can go about doing so.
Download the brochure
Learn more about The Pathway Program. This brochure contains further information about all three levels of the Pathway Program.
Download the Level 1 Learning Summary
Keen to know even more about Level 1?
The Learning Summary provides a week by week detailed breakdown of Level 1 content.
Program Options
Foundations – Level 1
Build your leadership knowledge, confidence and direction
- 11-week online course
- Introduction to leadership concepts, tools and frameworks
- Development of a personal Leadership Development Plan
Level 1 is designed as an accessible entry point for water professionals at any stage of their career. Ideal for individuals exploring leadership development or organisations introducing leadership capability building.
Transformation Pathway (Level 1 + Level 2) – Recommended
Move from learning to leadership in practice
- Includes all Level 1 components
- Plus 9-month work-based leadership project
- Individual and group coaching
- Peer learning and buddy group support
The Transformation Pathway is where real change happens in participants. In Level 2, participants apply what they have learned by designing and delivering a real leadership project in their workplace, supported by experienced coaches. This reflects a “learning by doing” approach, where leadership capability is built through practice, feedback and reflection. This is where leadership development becomes transformational.
Level 1 provides a strong foundation, but the greatest impact is achieved when participants continue into Level 2.
- Level 1 → builds understanding, confidence and intent
- Level 2 → enables real-world application and behaviour change
In Level 2, participants:
- Work on a meaningful leadership challenge
- Apply leadership tools and approaches in practice
- Receive coaching and structured feedback
- Build confidence and capability through experience
This approach ensures that learning translates into tangible outcomes for individuals and organisations.
There are two options for engaging with the Transformation Pathway. Either individuals can choose to follow the pathway or organisations can choose to invest in teams or cohorts from across their organisation to undergo Levels 1 and 2 together, potentially with additional weekly or fortnightly peer meetings included to assist application, reflection, learning and development. Discount pricing is available to organisations looking to fund teams or multiple teams.
For organisations looking to use leadership development to achieve gender equity focussed systemic change that fosters improved female participation, empowerment and representation then IWC has a separate program, Wave Makers, that offers an organisational version of the Transformation Pathway through pairing Level 1 plus Wave Makers.
Leadership Multiplier (Level 3, completed after Levels 1 + 2)
Build leadership in others
- 9-month leadership capacity building project
- Individual and group coaching and mentoring support
- Enables participants to develop leadership in their teams or organisations
Level 3 supports experienced participants to expand their impact by strengthening the leadership capacity of others.
Stronger outcomes through teams
The Pathway Program particularly suits being taken by cohorts or teams within an organisation. Team-based or cohort-based participation:
- Builds shared understanding of leadership
- Strengthens collaboration and alignment
- Creates peer support and accountability
- Enables collective problem-solving and innovation
Experience from program delivery shows that peer learning and structured support play a critical role in sustaining leadership development and practice.
Flexible, accessible and globally relevant
The Pathway Program has been designed to:
- Be accessible and affordable, particularly at Level 1
- Be delivered online and globally
- Accommodate working professionals
- Enable immediate application in the workplace
Participants join a diverse international cohort, building networks and connections across the global water sector.
Register Now for Pathway Program Level 1
Click on the link below to access payment options for domestic and international participants who wish to pay by Credit Card. If you are an organisation looking to sign up multiple staff and would prefer to pay by invoice, please email us at iwc_training@griffith.edu.au
Register your Expression of Interest to enrol in Pathway Program Level 2 or Level 3
Note that you must have completed Level 1 before enrolling in Level 2, and completed Level 2 before enrolling in Level 3.
PRODUCT AND PRICING TABLE
Choose the pathway that best suits your goals, remembering that Level 1 is the entry point. Level 2 is where value is realised. Level 3 is where value is multiplied.
Program Objectives
- To enhance the ability of water professionals and practitioners to drive positive change and deliver more sustainable forms of water management.
- To provide a practical, accessible, enjoyable and effective entry-level leadership development program for water professionals and practitioners working anywhere in the global water sector, irrespective of their organisation position, leadership experience or financial resources.
- To enable a large number of water leaders from around the world each year to help build the collective leadership capacity needed to address the world’s most significant water challenges and achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal number 6.
- To help program participants to build their knowledge, skill and confidence to engage in leadership, with a focus on addressing common leadership-related challenges that are experienced by water leaders around the world.
- To help prepare program participants for their long term leadership development journey with tangible early results expected within 3 months, and knowledge of how to manage their own development throughout their careers and to engage in developing others.
- To provide a pathway for self-motivated water professionals and practitioners to move through three levels of progressively more challenging and powerful leadership development experiences if they wish to continue to strengthen their leadership capacity and magnify their impact as water leaders.
Target audience
Level 1 of the Pathway Program aims to help any professional or practitioner in the water sector to build their confidence, knowledge and skill in exerting exert influence to drive change towards more sustainable outcomes. In particular, it seeks to serve:
- A highly diverse range of water professionals and practitioners in terms of their professional background, geographic setting, organisational type, water management focus, leadership experience, seniority and demographic profile. Level 1 aims to remove as many barriers as possible to participation in a high-value, foundational leadership development initiative.
- Aspiring, emergent or established water leaders. Importantly, the level 1 course seeks to include people who may not yet see themselves as a ‘water leader’, but nonetheless want to learn how to exert influence, drive positive change in the sector, and ‘make a difference’.
- Established water leaders who want to continue their learning process and build their leadership capacity at an individual and group level.
- Organisations that recognise the importance of building leadership capacity to the delivery of their strategic objectives and want to invest in people and groups so they can more effectively initiate and drive change, lead projects and lead people. To assist in this area, level 1 of the program includes some learning activities that are conducted within small groups, which can involve people from the same organisation working together.
Pre-requisites
The Pathway Program aims to be as inclusive as possible by not assuming that the participants have a particular form of experience, occupy particular leadership roles, have particular forms of power or have already developed a ‘leader identity’. Nevertheless, participants in level 1 of the Program will need:
- The ability to communicate easily in English (both verbally and in written / typed form).
- Access to the Internet and either a mobile/cell phone or personal computer/tablet during the 10 week course, with the ability to record and upload short videos (e.g. via a mobile/cell phone). Note that all course resources will be available for download to assist those participants who do not have access to a fast or stable Internet connection.
- An email account for pre-and post-course communications.
- A local support network (e.g. access to a more experienced leader who works, or has worked, in the water sector who can act as an informal local mentor during the course).
- The time needed to participate in the course over 10-11 weeks (which is approximately 2-3 hours of time per week). Although the core activities occur over 10 weeks, we anticipate that most participants will be using an additional week to finish some activities (e.g. finalising their leadership plan).
Testimonials from participants
“I found the Level 1 course of the Pathway Program highly valuable for water sector professionals, blending theory with practical insights and testimonies from great water leaders, driving impactful contributions. It offered flexible learning at my own pace and time, with remote learning and global networking opportunities.” – Krishna Hari GC, SNV in Nepal
“The Pathway Leadership course Level 1 is delivered by an exceptional team at IWC. Taking this course will provide a foundational understanding to the fundamentals of what is a Leader. It is delivered in such a manner that it has a lasting impact on ones mind, body and soul. A huge paradigm shift in what one understands about what a Leader is. Everyone (including me) can be a Leader influencing social change within his or her sphere of influence, by using ones power to harness the potentials that is out waiting to be manifested”. – Antoinette Ani Wickham, Senior Water and Urban Planning Development Coordinator, ADB
Embarking on the Leadership Development Journey through Pathway Levels 1 and 2 has been a truly transformative experience for me, both professionally and personally. Level 1 laid a strong foundation for my leadership growth. Through the creation of a Leadership Development Plan, I identified clear development objectives to strengthen my ability to influence others and drive positive change in my project and workplace. Level 2 is built on these foundations by offering a real-world, work-based project. This journey is valuable; it goes beyond leadership theory—it’s about practicing what you learn directly in your leadership project as your practice field. It’s an empowering experience that equips you to grow as a leader who leads with purpose and impact. – Lucy Habu, Solomon Islands Water Authority
“It’s easy to pick up leadership tidbits and soundbites from social media and self-help books. What we really need is the discernment to distill leadership insights using an overarching framework, making them relevant to our individual needs and personal leadership journeys. The Pathway Program not only provides this framework but also encourages structured reflection and synthesis. Pathway helped me turn big ideas and headlines into my personalized toolbox of practical leadership skills. Anyone seeking to grow as a leader in the water sector should consider being on the Pathway Program.” – Yang Villa, International Water Association / Asian Development Bank
Leadership Blog
Read these stories from our Leadership Stream Blog, where three Level 1 and Level 2 alumni share their leadership stories.
Ala Al Dwairi, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Water Leadership Stories
Watch these videos from two outstanding emerging water leaders from around the world – Antonella Vagliente and Yang Villa – to learn why strengthening water leadership capacity globally is important.