Texas Water Foundation Graduates 100th Texas Water Leader
Austin, Texas - On November 14th, Texas Water Foundation (TWF) graduated its fifth class and 100th Texas Water Leader. Last week, TWF’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a new leadership pathway for Texas Water Leaders through an annual rotating board position.
In 2020, TWF embarked on a new strategic goal to support, equip, and grow the next generation of Texas water leaders through a dedicated annual leadership program. With the conclusion of the fifth class in 2024, that program now celebrates the graduation of its 100th Texas Water Leader.
From water supply forecasts, to drought, flood, aging infrastructure, or workforce woes, water security in Texas has never been more important or more complex. The water professionals who inherit those challenges are expected to provide unique technical expertise, as well as navigate a changing workforce, conflict resolution, and policy analysis. Most importantly, these leaders are asked to solve complex problems by reaching beyond their silos and building networks of trust.
With these needs in mind, TWF surveyed leadership programs across the nation and designed its own curriculum to meet Texas leaders where they are. The result is a program built around the social, political, and personal skills leaders need to navigate the increasingly complex and crucial field of water. In addition to those skills, the curriculum offers access to coaching, trusted cohorts, Texas water policy, and mentor pairings with water champions across the field. From that first class of 20 members in 2020, the program and network of alumni has grown to include 100 of the most influential names in Texas water.
Where Are They Today? Today, you will find Texas Water Leaders running state agencies, water utilities, nonprofits, legal practices, and international teams of engineers. They are managing local aquifers, building infrastructure, and shaping water policy that advances a secure water future for Texas.
As leadership and workforce initiatives take more national focus, Texas Water Leaders was proud to be included in a national database of emerging leadership programs and an active member of Spring Point Partners Delta Coalition, a network of organizations dedicated to water leadership programming.On the national scale, impact and metrics for success are regularly discussed, whether that is where graduates go, whether they remain within the water sector, or the level of trust and connectivity a leader feels within an industry. For Texas Water Leaders, those measures of success have emerged slowly over time, and captured by way of an annual network analysis by Dr. Patrick Bixler and an alumni survey. From those annual snapshots, we have learned that:
Ninety five percent of Texas Water Leader graduates are still in the water workforce
Texas Water Leaders are well represented across Texas’ geographies and water sectors, from El Paso to Houston, and from groundwater to climate models
Texas Water Leaders are increasingly connected across different sectors and leading innovative research, state agencies, and private sector organizations
Beyond the successes of individual alumni, and the program's milestones along the way, Texas Water Leaders is proud to have built a space that allows water professionals to make new connections, strengthen relationships with one another, and create a diverse community of support. As the program continues to add water leaders to the alumni network, TWF is proud to announce a renewed commitment to the next generation:
Each year, an elected representative from the current Texas Water Leader class will be given a one year seat on the Texas Water Foundation Board of Directors.
Looking forward, Texas Water Leaders will be expanding its programming to include continuing education and opportunities for professional development for its alumni network. Stay tuned.
Applications are open for the 2025 Texas Water Leaders class, visit www.texaswater.org/water-leaders-program for more information.
Special thanks to Harte Charitable Foundation and Spring Point Partners for their support in building the Texas Water Leaders Program. Want to support Texas Water Leaders? Get in touch here.