Louise is a board member of United Utilities Plc and became CEO of United Utilities on 3 April 2023. Louise was previously Customer and People Director holding a number of senior positions across water, electric and gas utilities as part of the United Utilities Group with roles in business transformation, operations, customer service and people capabilities both in the UK and internationally. Louise has also run services for a number of international well-known utility and retail brands in the USA, Canada and Asia. Louise is an advocate of the power of inclusion and employee engagement to drive superior business performance and is a Non-Executive Director of Engage for Success, Vice President of the Institute of Customer Service and a Chartered Fellow of CIPD. Louise is also a board member of Water UK and WaterPlus Limited.

Louise is also on the Northern Power Women ‘Power List’, and is a member of the 30% Club.

Ian Thompson leads Xylem UK and Ireland and Eastern Europe regions as Managing Director and Vice President, with responsibility for all Xylem businesses. The role brings together all aspects of Xylem’s Water technology solutions, covering their key end markets; water utilities, building services, industrial and environmental. It also includes all associated services, helping customers with key water challenges like sustainability, climate change and operational efficiency. Ian joined Xylem in 2002 and has 25 years’ experience in the water industry in business development, marketing and leadership roles, including Managing Director of YSI in Europe and as the Global Business Development Director for Xylem Analytics, the sensors and measurement division of Xylem Inc.

Arianna Walker is the CEO of a mental health charity (Mercy UK) and a coaching psychologist with an MSc in the Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing. She is a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Coach, a trained Menopause Wellness Practitioner and a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), the American Psychological Association (APA) and the International Society for Coaching Psychologists (ISCP).  Arianna is a regular speaker at national and international conferences and has over 25 years' experience in developing people, leading teams and coaching individuals- especially in the area of mental, emotional and spiritual health and well-being.

Perminder Atwal is a HR Business Partner at Xylem UK and Ireland with a rich history of education and experience in human resources. Perminder holds a degree in psychology, driven by her enduring interest in understanding human thoughts and behaviours. During Parminder’s university years, she gained valuable experience working in a Human Resources (HR) department and pursued a postgraduate degree in Human Resource Management, and earned her professional qualification from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (MCIPD). With 18 years of HR experience spanning manufacturing, engineering, logistics, and now the water industry, Perminder has developed a deep understanding of business and strategy, and her journey has also highlighted the critical role of company culture and psychological safety in driving engagement, business success, innovation, and development. Perminder is passionate about ensuring the accessibility of clean water for all. A trip to India in her early years revealed the harsh reality of limited and unclean water resources, particularly impacting children, which was heartbreaking. This experience fuelled her dedication to helping others and reinforced her commitment to working in a global organisation focused on the social value of water.

Andrew Welsh is the Sales Director - Water Utilities at Xylem UK; he has worked within the Xylem organisation for 17 years, initially as the General Manager of the Instrumentation, Control and Automation division of Xylem. Andrew holds a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Robert Gordons University and has 25 years’ experience in the water industry in operational, business development, and leadership roles. Within his twenty five years’ experience in Operational Technology solutions, Andrew excels at asking the right questions of his customers and develops a deep understanding of their challenges. Andrew uses this knowledge, together with his keen interest in developing new methods of operating assets within the water industry, to provide effective and efficient processes and data which deliver environmental sustainable efficiency and asset longevity.

Ali is an experienced procurement leader who has worked across the public and private sector buying anything from IT equipment to live props for the BBC and has now found a passion for the water sector. She is currently leading the development phase procurement for 2 reservoirs in the Anglian Water region and is closely linked with the work that British Water does with supply chains. She is a champion for developing talent and has been involved with mentoring for a number of years. the impacts of climate change. She has a particular interest in collaborative approaches to water planning, bringing in multi-sector interests and adopting a systems approach to consider wider benefits.