Supported by Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Lao PDR and Asian Development Bank, the SEAWUN Leadership Forum was held in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR on 28-29 October 2008. The Forum attracted the participation of 100 people including leaders and managers of water and wastewater utilities, government officials, international organizations, managers, experts and specialists in water sector in South East Asia and Asia – Pacific region plus water associations and entrepreneurs.

The objectives of the Forum were to:

• Examine cases of successful utilities and twinning arrangements to understand the key ingredients of their success
• Discuss ways to replicate their experiences across utilities in the region
• Develop guidelines to assist utility managers and/or policy makers in formulating action plans and programs towards improving overall service delivery

Focusing on leadership models and roles for water and sanitation in the Asia-Pacific, the Forum covered the following themes:

-          Leadership in the Public Sector: Creating and Transforming Effective Institutions

-          The Role of Regulation in Improving Operational Efficiencies

-          Decentralization of Water Supply Services and its Impacts on Service Providers

-          The Need for Financial Sustainability of Water Operators

-          Water Sector Reforms in Malaysia: The Case for Central Regulation and Corporatization

Each theme started with a case study or one/two presentations followed by panel discussions. This was really a platform for the water utilities and regulators to have open discussion and look at the insights of the successful stories and learn from them.