Solomon Islands Media Briefed Ahead of Pacific Water & Wastewater Conference

Honiara, 23 August 2025 – Members of the Solomon Islands media gathered this morning at the Heritage Park Hotel for a special press conference held in the lead-up to the Pacific Water and Wastewater Conference & Expo 2025 (PWWC25).

The session was jointly hosted by the Solomon Islands Government, Solomon Islands Water Author and Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA. It provided an opportunity for local journalists to meet the organisers, ask questions, and learn more about the purpose and scope of the upcoming conference before it officially opens on Monday, 25 August.

The panel of representatives featured:

• Christopher Hunupauro, Deputy Secretary of Corporate, Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification

• Christopher Vehe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification

• Pitolau Lusia Sefo-Leau, CEO, Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA)

• Carmine Pianetedosi, CEO, Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA)

In her remarks, Pitolau Lusia Sefo-Leau highlighted PWWA’s role and the uniqueness of its annual conference,

“Unlike other conferences, the PWWA Conference includes a ministerial forum which is now in its 9th year, brings together ministers and political leaders from across the Pacific to elevate water as a regional priority,” she said. “Water is not just life, it sustains all biodiversities. Yet we often take it for granted. Our role as the PWWA Secretariat is to advocate, support, and strengthen our utilities to ensure water is delivered, protected, and valued.”

She commended the Solomon Islands for leading this year’s theme: “Water for All: Connecting People, Policies and Communities for a Shared Sustainable Future.”

Speaking on behalf of the host nation, Permanent Secretary Chris Vehe underlined the value of collaboration,

“You can already see from the Ministry’s title that water is not yet explicitly included, and that is why this conference matters – it elevates our understanding and appreciation that water truly is life,” Vehe said. “The forum is about working together with regional partners to build a stronger, shared commitment.”

Representing SIWA, CEO Carmine Pianetedosi noted the importance of sharing knowledge and learning from peers across the region:

“With 18 utilities and over 260 delegates present, this conference is a chance to share experiences and identify solutions to challenges unique to the Solomon Islands,” he said. “We look forward to both

Now in its 16th year, PWWC25 is the Pacific’s largest gathering focused on water and wastewater. Hosted in Honiara from 25–29 August 2025, the conference will bring together ministers, policymakers, utilities, development partners, and private sector representatives to advance sustainable solutions for water management across the Pacific.

📍 For media enquiries:
Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) Secretariat
Email: info@pwwa.ws | Website: www.pwwa.ws