Bled Water Forum

12/06/2026

Presentation - The mysterious drinking water of the sea: deep-sea water
Mr. Jaeyoun KO, President, Korean International Sommelier Association, South Korea

BLED WATER FORUM 2026Mr. Jaeyoun KO, President, Korean Internatio...

12/06/2026

PANEL 3: Blue Futures: Youth Perspectives on New Water Strategies
A panel highlighting the perspectives of young professionals and students on future water strategies, innovation and sustainable water governance.
BWF Young Global Academy:
Satja Sajko, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana; Head of BWF Young, Bled Water Forum, Slovenia

Guest Speaker:
Magdalena Živanović – President of the European Youth Parliament for Water (EYPW) and former President of the Sava Youth Parliament (SYP), Serbia
Ezgi Melody Kolay, Project Officer at EuHHAC (European Healthy Hydration Awareness Campaign) and Joint President at ENDietS (European Network of Dietetic Students)

Water Through the Senses: Sensory Approaches to Raising Awareness About Water
Kim Kneisel, Student, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tevž Rus, Student, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Sensory Harmony by Lake Velenje:
Jasmina Smajlović, Student, School Center Velenje – Higher Professional School of Velenje, Slovenia
Sumaja Burgić, Student, School Center Velenje – School for Service Industries, Slovenia
Satja Sajko

BLED WATER FORUM 2026BLED WATER FORUM YOUNG 2026A panel highligh...

12/06/2026

PANEL 2: Aquinity8: When water sets the standards – a new paradigm for gastronomy and tourism
This session explores how water quality is becoming a defining standard in gastronomy and tourism. It highlights new trends in coffee, cocktails and food pairing, showing how water influences taste, sustainability and guest experience in the hospitality sector.

Moderator:
Milin Patel

Speakers:
Boštjan Oblak, Co-founder, Aquinity8, Slovenia
Silvia Stefanuca-Serban, Beverage Architect & Experience Curator, Romania
Danijel Galjot, F&B manager, hotel Triglav Bled – food and water pairing, Slovenia, European Water Sommelier Association
Haneul Kim, Vice President KISA and EWSA, South Korea
John Zhu, Founder of Purelogica Academy, Master Water-Wine-Tea Sommelier, China

BLED WATER FORUM 2026This session explores how water quality is be...

12/06/2026

PANEL 1: Blue Health and Longevity
A discussion on the role of water environments in supporting human health, well-being and longevity, with insights from tourism, wellness and spa sectors.
Moderator:
Milin Patel

Speakers:
Csilla Mezősi, Secretary General, European Spas Association, Belgium
Reza Soltani, President Institute of Tourism, Belgium
Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, Environmental Chemist, GLOBAL 2000 – Friends of the Earth Austria
Aleksandra Bykowska-Derda, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
Ruriko Suzuki, Water Sommelier, Board Member of the Japan Aqua Sommelier Association (JASA), Japan European Spas GLOBAL 2000 Ruriko Suzuki

12/06/2026

Award Ceremony for the Winning Group of the “Playful Water” Competition (Kindergarten Programme) Radenska

BLED WATER FORUM 2026PLAYFUL WATER

12/06/2026

PANEL 5: Nature-based solutions to improve the water quality of Lake Bled
The professional segment is intended for participants of the workshops held in February and March and presents a draft of the final document—an operational action plan for further management and improvement of the situation.
Presentation:
Alenka Mubi Zalaznik, Project Manager, Limnos d.o.o., Slovenia Bled Slovenia

BLED WATER FORUM 2026LIMNOSThe professional segment is intended ...

12/06/2026

PANEL 4: Different methods for monitoring lakes in support of sustainable lake ecosystem management
Expert session focuses on the preservation and improvement of the ecological status of Lake Bled, presenting scientific insights and evidence-based approaches to sustainable lake management.
Introduction / Moderator:
Tina Eleršek, Group Leader Ecotoxicology, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia

Speakers
Nataša Dolinar, Division for Water Chemical Status, Slovenian Environmental Agency (ARSO)
Tina Eleršek, Group Leader Ecotoxicology, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
Jiří Peterka, Director, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre, Czech Republic
Tomáš Jůza, Department of Fish and Zooplankton Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre, Czech Republic
Anca-Iulia Stoica, Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria

BLED WATER FORUM 2026LIMNOSExpert session focuses on the preserv...

12/06/2026

PANEL 3: European Water Awards: Innovations shaping the future of water
This session presents the most innovative solutions in the water sector selected through the European Water Awards. The panel highlights technologies and approaches that are shaping the future of water management, drinking water systems and sustainable water use.
Moderator:
Milin Patel

Speakers
Toshiyasu Ichioka, Director, RIKEN Europe Office, RIKEN, Japan
Cal Junior, Founder and President Ô Amazon Air Water, Brazil
Ana Livi, Director of International Relations Ô Amazon Air Water, Brazil
Abdullah Bogari, CEO, GI Aqua Tech, Saudi Arabia RIKEN

BLED WATER FORUM 2026This session presents the most innovative sol...

12/06/2026

PANEL 2: Implementing the COP water declaration: knowledge, infrastructure and innovation
This panel explores how the commitments of the COP Water Declaration can be translated into concrete actions. The discussion will focus on practical approaches that connect new water knowledge, digital transparency, infrastructure development and innovation.The panel will also highlight how cooperation between governments, research institutions, industry and international networks can strengthen water resilience and support the implementation of global water and climate commitments.
Moderator:
Dr. Mitja Bricelj, Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Slovenia, Coordinator, EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), Pillar Environment (TSG3), ICPDR Ambassador

Speakers:
Zaur Gadimaliyev, Head of Section at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijan
Jhenelle Williams, Isotope Hydrologist and GloWAL Liaison Officer, Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Vienna, Austria
Huriye İNCECİK CEYLAN, Water Policy Section Manager/Senior Expert, General Directorate of Water Management, Miistry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye
Satja Sajko, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana; Head of BWF Young, Bled Water Forum, Slovenia
Michael Toh, Managing Director, Singapore Water Association, Singapore
Paul Pring, Chief Technology Officer, GI Aqua Tech GMBH, Germany Satja Sajko Ministrstvo za naravne vire in prostor ICPDR International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

BLED WATER FORUM 2026This panel explores how the commitments of t...

12/06/2026

PANEL 1: From Source to Sea: Water–Climate Nexus and Cooperation for Water Resilience
Climate change is increasingly experienced through water. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, droughts, floods and ecosystem degradation are affecting water systems across the entire hydrological cycle – from mountain sources and rivers to coastal zones and seas. These challenges highlight the need for integrated approaches that connect climate action with water governance. The Source-to-Sea (S2S) approach provides such a framework by linking freshwater, coastal and marine systems and promoting coordinated action across sectors, institutions and geographical scales. The Source-to-Sea Declaration (2025) emphasises the importance of cooperation and integrated water management to enhance resilience and safeguard ecosystems that support communities, economies and biodiversity. In this context, strengthening the Water–Climate Nexus is essential. Water management must play a central role in climate adaptation strategies, while climate policies must recognise water systems as critical infrastructures for resilience. This panel aims to explore how cooperation across the water cycle – from source to sea – can support climate resilience, sustainable water governance and long-term environmental stability.
Moderator:
Dr. Aleš Musar, First Gentleman of the Republic of Slovenia

Speakers:
Mitja Bricelj, Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Slovenia, Coordinator, EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), Pillar Environment (TSG3), ICPDR Ambassador
dr. Ana P***k Petrič, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Berlin, Germany
Dr. Tuğba Evrim Maden, Policy Development Coordinator, Turkish Water Institute (SUEN), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Turkey
Muneerah Alhajji, Senior specialist Engineer at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and Renewable Energy, Kuwait
Claudia Crosa, Director of the Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Public Works and Communications – Paraguay
Veronika Matuszná, Representative of the Water Protection Department, Ministry of the Environment, Czech Republic
Dr. Elnur Safarov, Caspian Sea Studies Expert IDEA Public Union, CASPISNET Coordinator, Head of International Cooperation Department, Institute of Geography, The Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve RS / Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Ministrstvo za naravne vire in prostor

BLED WATER FORUM 2026Climate change is increasingly experienced th...