Top 25 Global Water Leaders

25 PADDY PADMANATHAN, CEO, ACWA POWER, SAUDI ARABIA

A civil engineer with nearly 40 years of experience, Padmanathan built ACWA Power to become a leading developer of privately financed power generation and desalination water production plants in 11 countries including in the Middle East and North Africa, Southern Africa and South East Asia regions. Over eight years, he grew the business into a company managing a US$32 billion asset platform to deliver 2.6 million m3/day of water and 23GW of power. An engineering graduate from the University of Manchester, UK, he started his career with a British Consulting Engineering practice, before moving onto Black & Veatch.

24 HANS-ULRICH BUCHHOLZ, ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, CORPORATE QEHS, L'OREAL, FRANCE

The first time a cosmetics company has made the Top 25, Hans-Ulrich Buchholz is responsible for water and wastewater management of L’Oréal’s operations. Buchholz works to combining business, economic and environmental protection in a holistic manner. He started his career with 20 years engineering and international project management of water treatment for municipalities and industry. He also worked for SUEZ in the group’s environmental projects in pulp & paper and the chemical industry. He has a diploma in civil engineering from the University of Karlsruge in Germany.

23 KEVIN SHAFER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT (MMSD), US

Since becoming executive director in 2002, Shafer has provided leadership in implementing green infrastructure across the utility portfolio. Under his management MMSD introduced innovative ways to manage stormwater, including introducing a regional stormwater runoff rule and MMDS’s $1 billion Overflow Reduction Plan. He also coorindated a $58 million process to produce water quality research for six Milwaukee area watersheds. Shafer received a bachelor’s degree in science and civil engineering with a specialty in water resources from the University of Illinois in 1982, and a master’s in science and civil engineering from the University of Texas in 1988.

22 HEIDI MOTTRAM, CEO, NORTHUMBRIAN WATER, UK

Heidi Mottram has helped the utility to develop a policy of using local suppliers to support the local economy, as well as introducing a very forward-thinking flood policy. This year the utility held its first “Innovation Festival”, teaming up with companies including IBM, Microsoft and BT. Under her leadership, Northumbrian has been named the only water company on the World’s Most Ethical Companies list seven years in a row. Prior to her current position, she held a number of senior management roles in rail companies and was awarded an OBE in the New Year honours list in 2010 for services to the rail industry. Last year she was named the North-east Business Executive of the Year.

21 JONATHAN CLEMENT, CEO, PWNT, THE NETHERLANDS

Jonathan Clement has helped position PWNT as a driver of ceramic membrane filtration for municipal applications. This includes the opening of the Andijk III plant in the Netherlands, and securing the 180,000 m3/day water treatment plant for PUB at Choa Chu Kang Waterworks (CCKWW) in Singapore. Upon completion in 2018, the plant at CCKWW will be one of the largest ceramic membrane plants for drinking water treatment in the world. He is also securing the £60 million Mayflower water treatment works for English utility South West Water (operational in 2018) after a trial and pilot studies in Singapore, the United States, Sweden, Australia and Scotland.

20 ADAM LOVELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WATER SERVICES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (WSAA), AUSTRALIA

Lovell provides national leadership for the Australian urban water sector, helping to develop the WSAA’s membership to provide urban water services to over 80 percent of the country’s population. Previous to joining WSAA in 2008, he spent 11 years at in leadership roles at Sydney Water in the science, technology and research areas. He also holds a number of non-executive Board roles including Australian WaterSecure Innovations, the Global Water Research Coalition and the Water Environment and Research Foundation (USA). Lovell holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and a Masters of Environmental Engineering Science from the University of Sydney.

19 MOHAMED EL RAMAHI, DIRECTOR, ASSET MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL SERVICE, MASDAR, UAE

El Ramahi acts as the focal point of stakeholder management and interface with all utilities and service providers, leading all Masdar’s initiatives related to water and sustainability. He plays a key role in shaping governance and regulatory frameworks for the energy sector in Abu Dhabi and UAE, aligning with government policies in relation to energy mix portfolio. El Ramahi is also a board member in Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited, and Hywind Scotland Floating Offshore Wind Park, both in the UK. He is also member of the board of Shams-1 Power Company, one of the world’s largest concentrated solar power projects.

18 RAMI GHANDOUR, MANAGING DIRECTOR, METITO UTILITIES, UAE

Rami Ghandour joined Metito in 2004, set up Metito Utilities in 2007, and is currently a director on the board of Metito Holdings. This year Rami led the financial close of Metito’s milestone Kigali Bulk Water Supply BOT that helps kick start large-scale water PPPs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rami has an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management from Wharton School and an MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge. Rami is a member of Metito’s founding family and prior to joining the company he was a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group and a process engineer at Bechtel.

17 HENRY CHARRABÉ, CEO, FLUENCE CORPORATION, US

Henry Charrabé led the merge between US firm RWL Water and Israeli new kid on the block, Emefcy, to create Fluence Corporation. Targeting the decentralised water and wastewater markets, particularly in China, the company has since been awarded multiple contracts. The CEO was also instrumental in securing a $10 million investment from the US. Prior to RWL water, Charrabé was a senior executive at RSL Investments Corps in the US and Europe. From 2003 to 2005, he served as chief operating officer of W2W, an electrocoagulation wastewater technology company.

16 DR SILVER MUGISHA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NATIONAL WATER & SEWERAGE CORPORATION (NWSC), UGANDA

Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha has been instrumental in the transformation of NWSC and has served the corporation in various capacities since 1994. Prior to his appointment he was chief manager in charge of the Institutional Development and External Services Division. He has led several teams of experts from NWSC-External Services on a number of institutional development and governance strengthening assignments. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Makerere University, Kampala and a Master of Science degree in Sanitary Engineering - Sector Utility Management Option (with Distinction) from UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands.

15 HARRY SEAH, CHIEF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, PUB, SINGAPORE

A regular in the Top 25 Global Leaders, Harry Seah serves as the chief engineering and technology officer of PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, leading PUB’s water R&D programme. Some of the key areas under the R&D programme include low-energy seawater desalination, harnessing smart technologies, as well as energy efficiency in used water treatment. He also oversees major infrastructural projects such as the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2, allowing him to incorporate new technologies into the water facilities. Since 1998, Seah has led the development of Singapore’s NEWater Programme, and he was involved in the pilot testing of three different Membrane Bioreactor systems in Singapore.

14 MENNO HOLTERMAN, CEO, NIJHUIS INDUSTRIES, THE NETHERLANDS

This year Holterman led Nijhuis Industries to win the biggest project in its history to deliver a turnkey wastewater treatment plant for the South Port Said Industrial Zone in Egypt. Before Nijhuis, Holterman was CEO of Norit Clean Process Technologies, leading the company to be acquired by Pentair in 2011. Before working at Heineken between 1995-1998, he obtained a Masters degree in naval architecture & marine technology at the Delft University of Technology. He is also one of the initiators of the Amsterdam International Water Week.

13 FRANK ROGALLA, DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY, AQUALIA, SPAIN

Known for his knowledge of technology innovation, this year saw the inauguration of one of Rogalla’s crowning achievements – the demo phase of All-gas, the largest site in the world for the production of biofuel from algae harvested using wastewater. He is often seen at events speaking on new technologies and rumour has it his car even runs on algae biofuel! Prior to joining the FCC group in 2008, he was the senior VP and global technology leader for Black & Veatch and with Severn Trent Services before that.

12 HEIN MOLENKAMP, MANAGING DIRECTOR, WATER ALLIANCE, THE NETHERLANDS

Hein Molenkamp has helped to position the Water Alliance, based at WaterCampus Leeuwarden, as one of the leading global water clusters, bringing together public and private companies, government agencies and knowledge institutes to help new businesses develop into the international water market. In 2017 Molenkamp was instrumental behind a partnership with the French water cluster, Pole Eau from Montpellier, to explore collaboration between the Dutch and French water markets. He also helped to sign cooperation’s with water clusters in Daegu, South Korea, the Water Council in Milwaukee and others in the US and Canada.

11 CINDY WALLIS-LAGE, PRESIDENT OF WATER BUSINESS, BLACK & VEATCH, US

Cindy Wallis-Lage leads more than 2,700 professionals in over 75 offices worldwide. Wallis-Lage joined the company in 1986 and is well known in the water industry for her expertise in water reuse and treatment. Wallis-Lage has been involved in more than 100 projects around the world in both the municipal and industrial sectors. She joined the Black & Veatch Board of Directors in 2012 and serves currently on the Board of Directors for the US Water Alliance. Wallis-Lage earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Kansas State University and her master’s degree in environmental health engineering from the University of Kansas.

10 AMIR PELEG, CHAIRMAN, THE SMART WATER NETWORKS FORUM (SWAN)/FOUNDER & CEO, TAKADU, ISRAEL

Even during his teenage years, Peleg showed he had entrepreneurial talent, winning a prize for young inventors from the Weizmann Institute. While Amir switched from the classic hi-tech industry to build the first data analytics leader in water TaKaDu, he also helped drive non-profit Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN) into a global hub for the smart water sector, bringing together utilities and system providers. Prior to founding TaKaDu in 2009 and developing the company into a household name in the smart water market, the serial entrepreneur founded YaData in 2006 (sold to MSFT in 2008), Unipier in 2000 and EVS in 1991. He holds a B.Ss degree in Mathematics, Physic and Computer Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and MBA degree from INSEAD France.

9 PATRICK DECKER, CEO, XYLEM INC, US

Decker continues to push Xylem beyond its heritage of pumps into the smart water space with a series of acquisitions, recently including Canadian analytic company Pure Technologies for US$397 million. Previously Decker oversaw the billion dollar acquisition of US smart meter company Sensus, before buying Singapore firm Visenti. As well as pledging US$1.5 million in financial and volunteer support to the Caribbean and Southeast US following the devastating hurricanes, the company’s stock price has risen 35%+ year-to-date. Decker joined Xylem from Harsco Corporation, a global industrial services company where he was president and CEO since 2012.

8 SUE MURPHY, CEO, WATER CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA

A known figure on the international conference and event circuit, Murphy was appointed CEO of Water Corporation in November 2008 after joining four years earlier. She was listed each year from 2009 – 2015 in the top 100 most influential engineers in Australia by Engineers Australia. In 2014 Murphy was presented with the IWA’s International Women in Water Award. A distinguished career with the Clough Group, she was the company’s first female director and CEO of its Minerals and Infrastructure division. She graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1979.

7 SALLY GUTIERREZ, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT PROGRAMME, OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA), US

Gutierrez has been the ultimate champion of fostering and nurturing innovation in the US water market, as well as being the face of the “water cluster” movement. There are now over 20 of these community collaborations between businesses, research and many other players as part of the growing water cluster leaders’ network. Gutierrez went to the University of Houston before undertaking an advanced degree in environmental science.

6 DIANE D’ARRAS, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL WATER ASSOCIATION (IWA),
FRANCE

In October Diane d’Arras was relected as president of the IWA and has served on the organisation’s board for the last
seven years. A civil engineer for forty years, she became the first female president of the IWA in October 2016. Currently the global VP for professional relations at SUEZ Environnement, her career in the water sector spans four decades, beginning in 1977 at the French Public Water Authority, Seine Nomandie, as an engineer working on drinking water research.

5 JOSE DIAZ-CANEJA, DIRECTOR GENERAL, ACCIONA AGUA, SPAIN

Jose Diaz-Caneja took up the role of director general of Acciona in 2014, leading the company to report a 57 percent boost in revenue to €708 million for the water division in 2016. He holds an MSc in civil engineering from Madrid Polytechnic University and an MBA from IESE Business School. He first joined Acciona’s international business development department in 2002.

4 PROFESSOR JOHN LIENHARD, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(MIT), US

Author of 200 peer reviewed publications and holding more than 20 US patents, Professor Lienhard is a global thought-leader on water purification and desalination. During three decades on the MIT faculty, he has supervised over 85 graduate theses, as well as focusing on thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer. He joined MIT immediately after completing his PhD in the Applied Mechanics and Engineering Science Department at UC San Diego.

3 RAJIV MITTAL, MD & GROUP CEO, VAT TECH WABAG, INDIA

Mittal has set out audacious goals to make WABAG a one billion euro company within the next few years in an industry he often refers to as a “sunrise sector”. Under Mittal’s stewardship, WABAG enhanced its multinational presence and made various strategic forays into developing/emerging markets - including Latin American market. For the latter, the company secured a $98 million project in Ecuador to deliver the 230,000 m3/ day Las Exculsas wastewater treatment plant. The company has emerged as a leading multinational in both the municipal and industrial sectors, especially oil & gas, by bagging major projects from some of the most respected corporates in the sector.

2 JEAN-LOUIS CHAUSSADE, CEO, SUEZ, FRANCE

This year Jean-Louis Chaussade oversaw the monumental acquisition of GE’s industrial water business for €3.2 billion, which has been rebranded as SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions to help build the company’s footprint in the US. Although he has been CEO of SUEZ since 2008, Jean-Louis Chaussade has risen through the ranks of the giant French firm, having joined Degrémont in 1978. He has an engineering degree from ESTP (1976) and holds a Master’s degree in Economics.

THE MODERN DAY GAUDI OF WATER?

Carlos Cosín Takes Top Spot in Top 25 Leaders

A known figure in the international desalination community, Carlos Cosín has re-emerged with vigour from Abengoa Water to lead Almar Water Solutions. Here he speaks to WWi about people who have inspired him and what he thinks it takes to be a good leader.

WWi: Firstly, how does it feel to not only be considered one of the Top 25 Water Leaders of 2017 but then finishing top place?

Carlos Cosín, CEO, Almar Water Solutions

CC: As you can imagine, to be finish in top place is something amazing because I haven´t realized the impact of my work in the water community. I have not done anything specifically more than trying to work every day with professionalism toward my team and my targets. I always look to the future with optimism and the wish to do new things better every single day.

WWi: What does it take to be a successful leader in the global water industry?
CC: I suppose successful leadership has its own set of characteristics, not just related to the water industry. Apart from my engineering degree, which provided me with a fundamental technical background, I find that one´s character and drive leaves the biggest footprint and creates leadership opportunities. I always search for new ideas to improve and collaborate with others. People need a positive and empowered atmosphere to work well and contribute to a brighter future. I have never been afraid to change and embrace new ideas and projects when I see the regular activity starting to be a commodity and easy to implement. I prefer to find new avenues, using new approaches to achieve more. I also believe it’s important for a leader to keep a very open mind. I never reject a discussion about my point of view and I love to be convinced and adopt new angles and perspectives. This behavior is a good way to grow as a person and enrich your values.

WWi: What do you think you learned from your time at Abengoa and how will it help in leading Almar Water Solutions?
CC: My career is much more than the 11 years leading Abengoa into the water industry and making it a major player. In fact, the good success I had was derived from the expertise and knowledge my team and I developed while working for companies like US Filter, Veolia and others. Without this extensive background, Abengoa Water would not have had the rapid success it did. What I learned in leading Abengoa Water is how to adapt to a changing market over eleven years in four different organisation structures. For example, the big change from engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) to build-ownoperate- transfer (BOOT) that we accomplished with Abengoa Water was unique at the time.

WWi: Which other leaders, both in and outside of the water market, inspire you and why?
CC: I had the good fortune to begin my career working for a man that to me was a great leader. He taught me how to create a company, resist during crisis moments, work hard, believe in myself and to never give up hope for a successful future. He helped to form and strengthen my entrepreneurial mentality, which has guided me over these years. Inside the water market, the US Filter team created by Dick Heckman and Andy Sidel has always inspired me to think big. They were clearly the pioneers and leaders of the international water industry. WWi: For young professionals finishing university or engineering training and considering their options, why should they join the water market? CC: The water market is not only about water or engineering, it is about sustaining the principal resources humanity needs to exist: energy, water and food. The social component of the water industry is one that comforts me in my daily work. Young professionals who want to contribute their time to developing and creating sustainable resources for human life will find rewarding benefits in the water industry. The industry as a whole is still not matured and therefore offers great opportunity for young professionals to make a difference in meeting the grand challenges of the next century. I’d like to point out that young professionals seeking to learn more about our industry could do so by joining the International Desalination Association´s Young Leaders Program and the soon to be established internship program.