Patrick Child is the Acting Director-General in DG Environment at the European Commission, overseeing the EU’s zero pollution strategy, chemicals legislation, urban agenda, and innovation for environment. He is also Mission Manager for the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. From 2016–2021, he was Deputy Director-General in DG Research and Innovation, focusing on clean energy, climate tech, and Horizon Europe. He has led international initiatives like Mission Innovation and GEO. Previously, he held senior roles in the European External Action Service and served as Head of Cabinet to two External Relations Commissioners. He began his EC career in 1994 after studying mathematics at Cambridge.

He is known as the Innovation Leader for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (“DC Water”), Dr. Robert Bornhofen is tasked with formulating and executing a comprehensive strategy across the entire organisation. He is a recognised speaker at various national and global water conferences with a focus on innovation. As an academic, Robert teaches innovation strategy at Cornell University and the University of Maryland. His past industry experience includes such well-known companies as IBM, Citibank, & Delta Air Lines. Robert holds two U.S. Patents for original & patentable technologies.

After 5 years as a construction manager in the private sector, Goncalo is in AdP Group in Portugal for more than 20 years. Started in SIMARSUL (wastewater treatment operator in the south area of Metropolitan Lisbon), where later became head of Construction Department. In 2018 started a new division responsible for development and implementation of Asset Management System. In 2022, started a new role in AdP VALOR as a strategic planning expert for the AdP Group companies. Nowadays, Goncalo is head of Asset Management in Aguas do Tejo Atlantico (the biggest wastewater utility of AdP Group).”

Katy is a water industry professional with over 10 years of experience at United Utilities, one of the UK’s largest listed water companies. Strong background in wastewater network operations and asset maintenance programme delivery, with current role as Operations Manager in the newly formed Rainwater Management function at UU with a focus on maintenance strategy creation for our new SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) asset base. Key experience in efficiency challenges and the support of onboarding new technologies into the business, leveraging benefit and promotion of application to a wider audience.

Koldo Urkullu is a senior mechanical engineer from the Bilbao School of Engineering with extensive expertise in infrastructure management, energy, and water systems. He is the Director of Operations and Asset Management at the Bilbao Bizkaia Water Consortium (CABB), leading modernisation, energy efficiency, and telecommunications projects. Previously, he was Deputy General Manager at Global Energy Services, overseeing the construction and maintenance of wind and solar farms worldwide. Additionally, he was a professor at the Bilbao School of Industrial Engineering, teaching courses on fluid mechanics and hydraulic system management. His expertise spans corporate strategy, asset optimisation, and technological integration.

Pete is the Carbon and Circular Economy Architect in Severn Trent’s Innovation Team. He has a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Sheffield and a master’s degree in water and wastewater engineering from Cranfield University. Pete has worked in R&D and innovation in the water industry for 25 years and has played a key role in developing and implementing Severn Trent’s wastewater treatment strategy. His current focus is on low carbon, low energy, resource recovery technologies to help Severn Trent deliver on its commitment to be net zero carbon emitters by 2030. He was the architect of the ‘Net Zero Hub’.

Hamish holds a Masters in Chemistry and is a Chartered Scientist. With 17 years’ experience in the water industry ranging from analytical testing, method development, management, international consultancy, laboratory design and now programme manager for research and innovation - net zero, he has a broad understanding of the overall industry and the relationships between the different drivers in water and wastewater management. Now he has a focus on investigating innovative approaches to tackling process emissions measurement and mitigation, as well as other net zero enabling innovations. He is supporting Scottish Water’s net zero team to reach their strategic target of going beyond net zero by 2040.

Geoff is the Head of Strategic Asset Planning at Anglian Water, accountable for developing, monitoring and reporting on strategic plans for water and wastewater infrastructure, for related evidence and advice, and for resource trading. Geoff is also a Non-Executive Director of Water Resources East, the regional, multi-sector membership organisation pioneering new approaches to managing water resources. Prior to joining Anglian Water in 2017, Geoff spent 16 years in consultancy, advising on infrastructure climate risks and adaptation for international finance institutions, government departments, environmental agencies and utility companies. Geoff has a PhD in hydro-climatology from UEA, is a Chartered Scientist, and a Fellow of CIWEM and the Royal Meteorological Society.

Andrea Guerrini is the Commissioner of ARERA (2018–2025), Italy’s Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment. He is Vice-President of WAREG and a Bureau Member of the OECD’s Network of Economic Regulators. From 2016 to 2018, he was President of ASA S.p.A., the water utility of Livorno. A professor (on leave) at the University of Verona, he has led EU-funded research projects and co-founded WaMaTeRC, the Water Management and Technology Research Centre. He also designed the drinking water tariff methodology for the Autonomous Province of Bolzano.

Alex works for The River Trust with responsibility for establishing the Water Stewardship service, which aims to help business and others work collaboratively to deliver sustainable solutions for water at a catchment scale. He is the UK lead for the Courtauld 2030 commitment for collective action on water for the UK food and drink industry and a founding member of the Riverscapes partnership with the Woodland Trust, National Trust and Beavers Trust. Before joining The River Trust`s he worked at WWF -UK and before that spent 14 years at Defra and Natural England working on the design and delivery of agri-environment schemes.