| Creating a More Sustainable Water Sector Conference 2025 Speakers |
George Eustice | Penbroath LtdGeorge Eustice was a Minister in Defra for nine years including three years in the Cabinet. He was responsible for designing and introducing the policy architecture for the post EU era including the Agriculture Act 2020, the Fisheries Act 2020 and the Environment Act 2021. He also developed much of the detail behind the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Biodiversity Net Gain and the statutory targets set under the Environment Act. Prior to becoming a Minister, George was Press Secretary to David Cameron while he was Leader of the Opposition and had four years experience of communication and media management at the highest level in politics. 
George Eustice Managing Director Julian Webster | Affinity WaterWith over 15 years’ experience in the water industry, and a background in design and engineering solutions, Julian is responsible for the technical delivery of ‘Project Zero’ an Ofwat funded project being led by Affinity Water. The project is structured over seven workstreams, these encompass smart metering, innovation and technology, policy and regulation, and the establishment of a Water Credit System. Having worked within Developer Services for over a decade he understands the challenges faced by a growing population and climate change, and is using his expertise on developer customers, regulation, and technical solutions to explore the opportunities water neutrality presents. 
Julian Webster Water Net Zero Engineering Manager Jane Bellard | Weir The AgencyJane Bellard is a marketer with 20 years’ experience, who joined the water industry 5 years ago to help Affinity Water use behavioural nudging in their water bill. Whilst there she created the UK’s most successful water-efficiency campaign, SOS: Save Our Streams along with her now business partner, Miranda Rennie. Jane and Miranda have since created Weir The Agency, specialising in water saving behaviour change campaigns for South Staffs and Cambridge Water, Anglian Water and Affinity Water so far. Their work has saved over 20 billion litres of water to date. 
Jane Bellard Water Saving Behaviour Change Specialist Terry Fuller | Future Water MJJV LtdTerry is currently leading the team constructing the Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire which is the first of its kind for decades. Prior to this Terry was the CEO of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management working to influence policy and practice in the water sector and supporting the professional development of individuals, the demand for skills across the sector and dissemination of knowledge. Terry is a Chartered Engineer and Water and Environmental Manager with expertise in flood and coastal risk management. He feels privileged to have worked in some of the most beautiful places around the world, always with a view to supporting nature recovery as a means of managing flood risk in a way that accommodates and mitigates against climate change and promotes sustainable practices. 
Terry Fuller Project Director Chris Digman | StantecChris works with communities and clients across the UK and internationally to develop and implement ways in which we can continually improve how we manage water in an integrated way. Over the last 25 years he has focused on reducing the impacts of storm overflows on rivers and seas, developed new ways to manage surface water and reduce flooding, while supporting stakeholders form successful partnerships to achieve multiple outcomes. Chris has developed multiple industry guidance documents for CIRIA, CIWEM and UKWIR, related to the management of surface water, the application of nature-based solutions and the evaluation of their wider benefits of NbS. He brings over 25 years’ experience of reducing the impacts of storm overflows on receiving water bodies in the UK. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield, a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management. Outside of work Chris with his co-authors has recently published Urban Drainage 5th Edition. He is a Parish Treasurer for churches on the Manor, Sheffield and is a Public Governor for the Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust. A key focus for his involvement with the trust is on mental health service improvements for the people of Sheffield. 
Chris Digman Executive Technical Director Rob Drury | United UtilitiesRob Drury is the Better Rivers Director responsible for the delivery of over 400 projects and a capital expenditure of over £2bn. Previously Rob has held a series of influential roles on some of the world’s largest and most complex, challenging, and iconic projects. Rob has worked in multiple business sectors in the Construction industry, namely Oil, Gas and Chemical, Aviation, Rail, Pipeline and Telecommunications both in the UK and internationally. 
Rob Drury Capital Delivery Director David Elliott | Ferns Natural CapitalDavid is Director of Ferns Natural Capital Strategy, focussed on water systems for sustainable and resilient rivers and coasts. He has 40 years of experience, including 12 years as Environment & Strategy Director at Wessex Water, he is a pioneer in catchment management and multi-agent catchment-based approaches to improving river health & societal resilience. David is an associate at Sustainability First and Indepen. He founded EnTrade and supported initiatives including Albion Water and Water2business. With 5 years as a Water Environment Policy Advisor, David has influenced key reforms, including the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP). 
David Elliott Director Dr Jo Jolly | OfwatDr. Jo Jolly is the Director for Environment and Innovation at Ofwat. Prior to joining Ofwat, Jo was the Head of Project Futures at the Infrastructure & Projects Authority, and spent 15 years at the Environment Agency in delivery of the flood risk capital programme. 
Dr Jo Jolly Director for Environment Mark Smith | RSKMark is a global water sector specialist and has worked extensively in the water, wastewater and biosolids industries throughout his career. A chemical engineer by profession, he is passionate about process engineering and innovation. As CEO of the Water Research Centre, Mark pioneered many different innovations within the sector and was responsible for driving its acquisition by RSK in August 2020. Since then, he has taken up the role of RSK Group Director for Water and is looking to work internationally with like-minded partners and associates to help them deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals through deploying RSK’s unique abilities to get things done in difficult climates. Mark believes that we have the solutions to most of the world’s water problems; we now need to find the will to implement them. 
Mark Smith Director – Water Sector Amina Aboobakar | The Rivers TrustAmina is responsible for leading on the development of strategic opportunities for The Rivers Trust movement, driving capability and technical expertise growth across the movement, in order to achieve the best possible deals for freshwater, catchments, and people. 
Amina Aboobakar Director of Strategy & Stewardship Leila Swan | Water UKLeila joined Water UK in February 2024 to develop and deliver policies that safeguard the UK’s water resources for future generations. Previously, Leila was a Senior Legal and Policy Advisor for a boutique environmental consulting firm. She has almost a decade of experience at the intersection between strategic policy, environment and sustainable development. Leila holds a Master in Public Policy from the University of Oxford. 
Leila Swan Head of Rivers and Seas Tony Doocey | North HighlandTony Doocey is the Senior Managing Director of North Highland’s Energy & Utilities practice, based in the Northwest. With over 35 years of experience, he has led transformative change across infrastructure-based industries, specialising in technology, data, customer experience, and programme & change management. Recognised as a leader in the consulting industry, Tony was named in ALM Consulting Magazine's 2024 Top Consultants list. In addition to his role at North Highland, he serves as a board member of the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) and sits on the operating committee of Cordence Worldwide. As the leading Change and Transformation consultancy, North Highland turns Vision to Value—helping organisations translate strategy into reality through practical solutions that create lasting impact. The firm’s UK Energy & Utilities practice is committed to driving meaningful transformation across the energy and water sectors. With a strong focus on data-led strategies and sustainable solutions, North Highland helps companies improve operational resilience, enhance customer experiences, and deliver long-term value. In the water industry, the firm champions the use of advanced data strategies to drive smarter water management and operational excellence. 
Tony Doocey Managing Director Energy & Utilities Louise Parlons Bentata | BluemethaneLouise is the Co-founder and CEO of Bluemethane, with expertise in brand strategy, marketing, and innovation. Prior to founding Bluemethane, Louise worked as a consultant, assisting management teams in both global corporations and SMEs with marketing, strategy, and lead generation. Her client experience includes specialist engineering and manufacturing industries. Before establishing her consultancy, Louise held global and national marketing positions at L’Oréal and Johnson & Johnson. She holds an MBA from INSEAD, an MA in Geography from Cambridge University, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business Leadership from Cambridge University. 
Louise Parlons Bentata CEO & Co-Founder Eamonn Prowse | MGISSEamonn brings 40 years of experience working with spatial data with deep expertise in geospatial data acquisition, data capture, data management, earth observation and client management for large-scale spatial services agreements. From early beginnings as a field surveyor to working at the Executive level, he has worked in public and private sectors in a career combining operations, technology and commercial roles, bringing extensive experience operating internationally. 
Eamonn Prowse Commercial Lead Dr Ziye Dai | Severn TrentDai joined Severn Trent in May 2022 and has been working on innovation projects related to the monitoring and abatement of process emissions and digital twins. Previously, Dai was a process engineer specializing in both domestic and industrial wastewater treatment. He also has research experience in resource recovery from wastewater and sludge treatment systems. 
Dr Ziye Dai Senior Innovation Technical Expert Jason Askey-Wood | Firefly Green FuelsJason is passionate about decarbonisation and fighting climate change. He founded Uptown Biodiesel in 2007, becoming London's leading biofuel supplier providing road fuel to council fleets whilst also providing fuel to power buildings such as PwC's UK Head office and 7 More London buildings helping them both achieve the highest BREEAM Outstanding rating. In 2018 Jason sold Uptown to Olleco, the UK's largest producer of biodiesel from used cooking oil where he spent 3 years as Head of Sales and Origination before joining Green Fuels as Managing Director. Jason now provides Firefly with business insight and commercial delivery and is responsible for engaging with the UK's water industry. 
Jason Askey-Wood UK Managing Director Catherine Moncrieff | CIWEMCatherine Moncrieff is a Charted Water and Environment Manager with over 15 years’ experience in the water and environment sector, working across several NGOs including WWF, CDP, The South East Rivers Trust and now CIWEM as their Policy Engagement Manager. She has experience working with corporates and policy makers to bring about systemic change in how water is managed – both globally and in the UK, as well as experience delivering nature restoration projects with local stakeholders. Cat is a trustee of the Chiltern Society and chairs the Chiltern Chalk Streams Project. 
Catherine Moncrieff Policy & Engagement Manager George Warren | Anglian WaterGeorge is the Integrated Water Manager at Anglian Water, where he looks to bring together water resources, wastewater and environmental planning to identify more holistic water management opportunities across the region. He currently leads on the delivery of the Ofwat Innovation funded ‘Enabling Water Smart Communities’ project which looks to identify and address the barriers to delivering integrated water management within new housing development. Prior to joining Anglian Water in 2021, George worked in Local Government and consultancy both in the UK and in Australia. George is a multi-award winner, both personally and his projects, and he truly believes that we need to be looking at the full water cycle if we are to address the challenges facing us all in delivering growth across the UK by managing water more sustainably. 
George Warren Integrated Water Manager Kat Evans | ADASKat leads Business Development in Emerging Markets at ADAS, the UK’s largest independent provider of agricultural and environmental consultancy, policy advice, and research and development. She co-founded ADAS Natural Solutions to address environmental challenges such as climate change, water security, and biodiversity loss with nature-based solutions and sustainable farming practices. By bringing together diverse expertise from ADAS and RSK Habitat Management, plus the wider RSK Group, ADAS Natural Solutions supports clients from project scoping to implementation – enabling evidence-based solutions that deliver multiple natural capital benefits. She established and chaired the RSK Peatland Working Group (2021-2024), to advance knowledge-sharing and partnerships on innovation in peatland restoration and lowland agricultural peat - supporting businesses, landowners and NGOs to meet environmental and regulatory goals. 
Kat Evans Associate Director Jason Winslow | RSK Habitat ManagementJason Winslow is Technical Director at RSK Habitat Management, specialising in the restoration of rivers and wetlands. With over 15 years’ experience delivering large-scale and complex habitat restoration projects, Jason has led dozens of initiatives across rivers, wetlands, peatlands, and other priority habitats. His expertise spans both public and private sectors, working with Tier 1 contractors, NGOs, and government agencies to develop and implement nature-based solutions that restore ecological balance while delivering measurable environmental benefits. At RSK Habitat Management, Jason leads a multi-disciplinary team delivering end-to-end environmental solutions, from strategic planning and design to on-the-ground implementation and long-term management. His work focuses on working with natural processes to enhance biodiversity, mitigate flood risks, and improve water quality. As a Non-Executive Director of the UK River Restoration Centre, Jason is deeply engaged in shaping best practices in river and wetland restoration. Jason’s projects have received multiple industry accolades, including two UK River Prizes and several CIEEM Best Practice Awards. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences, sharing insights on innovative habitat restoration techniques and nature-based solutions. 
Jason Winslow Technical Director Michelle Ashford | IndepenWith over 30 years of experience in the water sector, Michelle Ashford has worked as both a senior regulator and a strategic leader, driving collaboration and innovation across the industry. As a chartered civil engineer and experienced management professional, she has played a key role in shaping policies, fostering trust among stakeholders, and championing forward-thinking approaches to water management. As Chair of the Water Sector Multi-capitals Network Steering Group, Michelle advocates for a holistic, long-term approach to decision-making, ensuring the sector is equipped to tackle the pressing challenges of climate change, resilience, and sustainability. She continues to challenge conventional thinking, helping organisations navigate complexity and build a more resilient, sustainable future. For Michelle, the future of water and wastewater services is about more than just infrastructure—it’s about accountability, intergenerational equity, and the courage to adapt. The choices made today will define the sector for generations, and she remains committed to driving meaningful change to meet the needs of both society and the environment. 
Michelle Ashford Director |
