WJA Annual General Meeting hears about year of strong progress
The annual general meeting of the Water Jetting Association has been informed about significant progress in developing its standards and coaching programme while preparing for continued growth.
The AGM was held at StoneX Stadium, North London, on 10th September, 2025, the day before WJA Trade Show 2025, which took place at the same venue.
In his annual report, WJA Chairman Lee O’Callaghan, pointed to the association’s strong financial performance, with a surplus maintained despite significant investment over the previous 12 months.
Promoting safety – growing membership
This included continuing the WJA’s drive to digitise its systems and services, which is reducing operating costs and improving the range, efficiency and sustainability of services delivered for members.
Lee O’Callaghan said: “We are now well placed to move forward with our strategic objectives, which are to grow WJA membership and redouble our promotion of water jetting health and safety through engagement with service users, other associations and public bodies.”
Importantly, the WJA’s mission, promote safety and best practice in support of the water jetting industry through coaching, education and advocacy, was supported by strong activity during 2024/25.
Key achievements have included:
· Significant updating of the WJA Blue Code of Practice, for use of high and ultra-high pressure water jetting equipment.
· Similar updating of the WJA Red Code of Practice, for the use of water jetting equipment in drains and sewers and surface preparation with a jetting gun up to 275 bar.
· Revision and updating of the Safety Awareness Examination and the Drain and Sewer and Hydrodemolition Practical Modules.
· Development of a new Drain, Sewer and Robotics Examination.
· Development of a new WJA First Aid course.
· Development of new outlines and content for both candidate and coach/examiner examinations.
· Organising and holding of a successful WJA Trade Show 2025, which gave water jetting companies, many of them WJA members, the opportunity to market their services and products to hundreds of visitors from across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
New board members join
The WJA Board has two representatives per workstream category – Technical, Coaching/Examination, Membership, Finance and Marketing – plus the WJA’s Director, Leanne Smith, and Technical Manager, Gordon Taylor.
Two board members stepped down at the AGM, Steve Sharp and John Jones. Steve McIver was reappointed to the board, to work alongside Stacey Bowling as coaching/examination board members.
Steve Williams has joined the board to work with John Rhodes as membership board members. Simon Lowther has also joined and works with Lee O’Callaghan as marketing board members.
Steven Smith and Jamie Ings will continue their work as finance board members, while David Malin and Darren Hamilton continue as technical board members.
John Jones – dedicated service to the WJA
A previous WJA President, John Jones had dedicated many years to WJA activities but is now stepping back from involvement.
His first involvement with the WJA was attending its seventh training course, as an operative, in 1984. He then went on to become a training manager at Veolia and then to set up his own WJA-registered coach/examination company.
WJA Director Leanne Smith said: “John has been a superb supporter of the WJA over many years. His water jetting experience, expertise, wisdom and patient advocacy have played a huge part in guiding the WJA to where it is today, always in the best interests of its members.”
John Jones said: “Attending that first course made me realise the importance of the WJA. When I went into management in the 1990s, I became more involved in the association and its committees.
“I have been proud to be part of the WJA’s journey, working with many wonderful people, to play a part in transforming it into the professional body, with clear processes and standards, that it is today.”