Hendrik Swart has focused on sustainable water technologies since the start of his academic career, earning a Master's in Water Technology from the Wetsus Academy. At REDstack, he contributed to the development of the electromembrane stack, transitioning from R&D to process engineering. Now, as a Sales Engineer, he helps bring this technology to market, enabling industries to save water, chemicals, and reduce costs. At Aquatech, he will discuss solutions for the industrial sector.

Sales Engineer, REDstack BV

ogram Manager R&D – Industry 4.0 (De Watergroep)

Senior aquatisch ecoloog en waterkwaliteitsadviseur bij Witteveen+Bos
Wat is waterkwaliteit? Voor wie en wat is het belangrijk en hoe verbeter je het? Dat zijn vragen die Marloes al sinds jongs af aan bezig houden.
Als afgestudeerde Wageningen ging ze aan de slag bij waterschappen en Witteveen+Bos. Hierbij specialiseerde ze zich in de KRW en alles wat hier betrekking tot op heeft. Hoe doe je een goede analyse, welke tools zet je in? Hoe kom je tot beleid, hoe formuleer je maatregelen en voer je deze uit. Maar ook hoe geef je VTH vorm, en hoe toets je nu aan de KRW. Marloes is op alle vlakken werkzaam en geeft onder meer cursus over de KRW. Laat je dus verwonderen.

Senior aquatisch ecoloog en waterkwaliteitsadviseur bij Witteveen+Bos

Jorien has joined Orb as Chief Scientist after obtaining her PhD on biostability and microbial monitoring of drinking water at Ghent University in 2023. She is an expert in online monitoring technologies and focuses on applied research and development of microbial sensors for utilities, industry and reuse applications for Orb.

Chief Scientist, Orb

Mark Mainzinger is the Product Manager at Fluid Equipment Development Company (FEDCO). FEDCO supplies pumps, energy recovery turbochargers, and innovative solutions for RO applications. Mark is responsible for managing FEDCO’s product lines including design enhancements, product line maintenance, and launching new products. Mark joined FEDCO in 2021 as an Applications / Project Engineer where he was responsible for managing critical and technically challenging projects and applications.

Product Manager, Fedco USA

Daniele Strongone is the General Manager for AWC Europe, the Spain-based division of American Water Chemicals (AWC) looking after the EMEIA and APAC regions. He is also the President and one of the Co-founders of the Water Positive Think Tank. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Napoli Federico II (Italy) and a Master’s Degree in Chemical and Bioprocesses Engineering from the Engineering School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain). With a passion for sustainability and experience in Europe, Australia, Africa and Middle East, he has worked in several areas of the water treatment industry such as chemicals, equipment, drinking water and wastewater project management, leading business strategies and growing revenue. His biggest mission is to help leaving a positive impact on the water resources.

General Manager, American Water Chemicals (AWC)

Johan holds a degree in Industrial Engineering in Chemistry and a post-master's degree in Environmental Sciences. Since 2000, he has worked as a researcher specializing in water technology at VITO, contributing to various industrial sectors. Over the years, he has participated in numerous research projects (e.g., FP7, H2020, IWT-VIS, and open calls), which have helped him build extensive technological expertise. Currently, he serves as a Business Developer within the Water Team at VITO. In this role, he facilitates collaboration between researchers and industry, helping to address water challenges and accelerate water-innovation.

Business Developer Unit Water & Energy Transition, VITO

Since 1992, I have been committed to technological innovation, product research and development, and production in the clean drinking water industry, accumulating over three decades of experience in the development and manufacturing of clean drinking water products and equipment. Currently, I serve as the Vice President and Chief Research and Development Officer at Angel Group, where I lead cutting-edge research on advanced clean drinking water technologies and the development of innovative products. Driven by the mission to enhance consumers' quality of life, I focus on delivering comprehensive clean drinking water solutions.
Since 2012, I have successfully launched several industry-leading core technologies, including high-performance, long-lasting reverse osmosis membrane technology; antibacterial nano-crystal whisker activated carbon with superior antibacterial properties; super activated carbon that effectively removes residual chlorine and heavy metals; folded filter cartridge technology that enhances water flow; next-generation flat ultrafiltration membranes; APCM filtration membranes; UVC-LED sterilization technology; and counterbalance pump technology. These innovations have achieved international leadership and have been successfully commercialized. My contributions have not only driven technological advancement but also involved me in the formulation of multiple national and industry standards, addressing critical gaps in the clean drinking water sector and significantly advancing the industry's technological progress and standardization. To date, I have obtained 79 patent authorizations and published five papers in SCI-indexed international journals.
Awards: - Second Prize of the Science and Technology Award from the China Membrane Industry Association (twice) - Gold and Silver Awards at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions in Switzerland (3 Gold and 3 Silver Awards) - Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards at the International Exhibition of Inventions in Nuremberg, Germany (3 Gold, 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze Awards) - Gold and Silver Awards at the Asian International Innovation and Invention Awards (3 Gold and 3 Silver Awards) - Gold and Silver Awards at the Silicon Valley International Invention Fair in the United States (2 Gold and 2 Silver Awards)

Vice president, Shenzhen Angel Drinking Water Industrial Group Corporation

Co-Founder & COO (Riverkin)

CEO, VWMS GmbH (Coliminder)

Nil Llopart Aguado has extensive experience in the field of desalination, having worked at Acciona Agua since 2016 within the desalination and new technologies group. He began his career as an operator at the Tordera pilot desalination plant, where he supported various projects, both internal and European funded project (LIFE DREAMER, INTEGROIL H2020, etc.), as well as in other regions and sectors. Currently, he serves as a project manager in Acciona's innovation department, participating in and contributing to the optimization of desalination processes through data analysis and pilot plant demonstrations, as well as occasionally contributing to their design.

RD project manager

Sonia Vila Cremer a Water Industry Expert with 15+ Years of Experience, joined DuPont Water Solutions in 2012 as Application Development Engineer. After progressed through various roles in Application Development, R&D, and Technical Service & Development (TS&D), supporting FilmTec™ RO/NF products and DuPont™ IntegraTec™ Ultrafiltration across diverse market segments, Sonia is currently leading a team of experts in innovative water technologies, including MBR, UF, RO, and IX, providing strategic product selection and design support, plant start-up assistance, operational follow-up, and troubleshooting. Apart of this Sonia spearhead the laboratory responsible for service provision and product complaint evaluations in the EMEA region.
Sonia is also Passionate about bridging sustainability with cost-effective water solutions through collaboration and expertise.

EMEA Technical Service and Development Leader, Dupont

Michael P. Mormino, VP Sales & Marketing of the ENPRESS GROUP™, leads this group of companies in their product and business development efforts. Mike has served in many volunteer roles with the Water Quality Association and has been actively involved since joining the industry in 2001, currently serving on its Board of Governors.  The ENPRESS Group™ is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of advanced liquid filtration solutions. As a premier conglomerate in the filtration industry with five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, ENPRESS Group™ unites several top-tier companies including ENPRESS, essef, Applied Cartridge Systems, and United Filters International.  The Group is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge, patented products that set the standard for performance, filtration efficiency, and water conservation. All ENPRESS Group™ products are proudly Made in the USA, ensuring superior quality and reliability for diverse global markets. Mike has an MBA from Case Western Reserve University in Entrepreneurship and is active in his community and an avid runner, fisherman, and golfer.  He lives in Hudson, OH with his wife Amanda and their four children.

Vice President Sales & Marketing, ENPRESS GROUP of Companies: ENPRESS LLC, United Filters International, essef, Applied Cartridge Systems

10+ Years active within gas and water as a consultant, entrepreneur and board member in various companies.
Co-founder of DALI Pipeline Monitoring DALI is a pipeline monitoring solution aimed at optimizing water asset management and increasing network resilience, by providing real time information about a pipeline’s performance and integrity, using fiber optic sensing.
Co-founder and CEO of Fiberflux Fiberflux develops the hardware needed to implement (fiber optic) cables inside of pipelines, as a part of DALI Pipeline Monitoring, but also stand alone for fiber communication networks or other applications.
Board member of a gas and water solutions company focused on pipe systems and leak detection services.

Co-owner, DALI Pipeline Monitoring

Birte Raes, a chemical engineer passionate about sustainability, has spent the past five years at Aquafin, the Flemish wastewater company, driving innovation in water quality, micropollutants, and reuse through local and European R&D projects. Straddling both science and fieldwork, she bridges cutting-edge research with real-world application. Committed to a holistic approach, she advocates for clean water and environmental protection through integrated, forward-thinking solutions.

Researcher, Aquafin

Corine Houtman works as a Toxicologist at The Water Laboratory in Haarlem, the Netherlands. Her work is devoted to the investigation of the presence and toxicology of contaminants in the aquatic environment and to the management of the Water Laboratories own research program. With her studies, she advises the drinking water companies with respect to chemical water safety issues. She also a researcher at the department of Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment A-LIFE, VU University Amsterdam.
She has a MSc in environmental chemistry and toxicology (Leiden University, Wageningen University) and a PhD on effect-directed analysis of endocrine disruptors in the aquatic environment (2007, VU University Amsterdam). During the PhD, she obtained the national and European registration as Toxicologist (ERT). After having worked as project leader at BioDetection Systems and as a toxicologist at the Netherlands Forensic Institute, she has worked at the Water Laboratory for over ten years now. Her main fields of interest are emerging contaminants in water, bioassays, effect-directed analysis and risk assessment of chemicals.

Toxicologist, senior researcher chemical water quality, Het Waterlaboratorium, VU University Amsterdam

Over 10 years of experience as a researcher at the Desalination Technology Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. Successfully, I have led multiple research projects as a principal investigator, contributing to advancements in desalination technologies and water treatment. My efforts have been recognized and I have been nominated by the global prize for innovation in desalination and the 8th edition of King Hassan II great world water prize.
 
Expertise
• Atmospheric Water Harvesting: participateDevelopment of device to extract water from air in arid regions. • Metal-Organic Framework Synthesis: Innovation of materials and devices to capture harmful gases contributing to acid rain. • Polymer and Ceramic Membrane Synthesis: desalination and water treatment technologies to improve efficiency of membrane and reduce the environmental impact of traditional methods. • Micro - Nano plastics in Water: Development of advanced detection methods and mitigation strategies for sustainable water management.

Researcher, King abdulaziz city for science and technology

With 18 years of experience working in the water sector, Ruben Wentink has developed a strong reputation as a strategic advisor in the Dutch water industry. As a strategic advisor for five years, he has focused on advising drinking water companies on critical topics such as the impacts of climate change on drinking water, strategies for reducing water consumption and navigating the complexities of water governance.
In the last two years, Ruben has shifted his focus to stormwater management, at FieldFactors,  leveraging his expertise to address climate impacts in urban environments. His work spans cities, sports facilities, and industries, where  innovative strategies are developed to mitigate the challenges posed by increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
This holistic approach to sustainable water management helps to create resilient water systems for the future.

Snr. Business Developer, FieldFactors

Vishal is a Research Analyst at BlueTech Research. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Singapore. During his PhD and post-doctoral work, Vishal conducted research on membrane technologies for desalination and industrial wastewater treatment. Before joining BlueTech, he worked as an Incubation Manager at a Singapore government supported startup incubator, supporting the commercialization of innovative water technologies.

Research Analyst, BlueTech Research

Senior Market Director, Niras

Vice-President Business Development, Atoco

From a young age, Kris has been fascinated by the purity and movement of clean water, which inspired him to pursue a career dedicated to environmental sustainability. His passion led him to study Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences, with a personal mission to make the world a better, more sustainable place.
With nearly 20 years of experience in various technical, process, and sales roles within the water treatment sector, Kris has established himself as a true water expert. His deep knowledge spans biological wastewater treatment, process and potable water filtration, and water reuse. Additionally, Kris is well-versed in biogas production, nutrient recovery, and heat valorization, making him a versatile professional in environmental technologies.
EXPERTISE AND SPECIALIZATIONS
• Over 20 years of experience in the water treatment sector • Specialist in biological wastewater treatment, water filtration, and water reuse • Expert in biogas, nutrient recovery, and heat valorization.

Director, Nuoro

EMEA Business Development Lead - Power & Utilities

Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer, Aqua Positive

Professional with extensive international experience in the water treatment industry, with knowledge on the use of specialty chemicals as well as monitoring and control instrumentation.
Diana began her career working in the United Kingdom in the specialty chemicals industry for industrial water treatment systems, reverse osmosis and Geothermal applications, where her passion for preserving the integrity of water treatment facilities under challenging operating conditions emerged.
This experience fueled her interest towards the use of monitoring and control technologies for KPI´s in water treatment systems. Working now for Pyxis Lab. North American engineering company focused on the development of online monitoring instrumentation, she continues to contribute to optimizing processes, preserving facilities and sharing innovative solutions to service companies and water doctors, whom she has been supporting from the start.

Vice-President Commercial - EMEA & LATAM

Managing Director/ Co-Owner, Rainboo

Xylem

VP Client Success (Daupler)

Xylem VUE

Cathy Swanson, Director of Business Development, Emerging Markets with Purolite™ Resins, Ecolab
Based in Southern California, Cathy has specialized in treatment with ion exchange for 18 years. She serves as Vice Chair of the AWWA Ion Exchange Committee Meeting and co-chair of its Subcommittee that is writing a standard for single-use resins including PFAS, perchlorate, and chrome VI to be published Feb 2025, and a regenerable resins standard to be published in 2026.  Her project portfolio includes both remediation and drinking water sites.  She received her BS in Chemical Engineering at Northwestern University in the Chicago area and her MBA from UNC Chapel Hill.

Director of Business Development, Emerging Markets , Ecolab, Purolite Resins

Program Manager Infra 2025 (Vitens)

Sustainable Water & Green Energy

I’m a Spanish engineer with over 25 years’ experience specializing in wastewater projects and project management. My journey began in Spain, where I started working as a process designer and project manager, primarily focusing on industrial wastewater treatment systems.
For the past 15 years I’m living in the Netherlands, Amsterdam, where I’ve been involved in managing projects related to wastewater, drinking water and water governance. My expertise lies in the realms of sustainability and innovation, area’s I’m deeply passionate about. 
In essence, my goal is to deliver tangible results and driving positive change within the realm of water management, using my expertise and leadership skills to make a meaningful impact in this crucial field.
I am currently working between my two countries. In Spain, I focus on industrial water management in collaboration with Arcadis. In the Netherlands, I work as a water expert, collaborating with the water boards. Trying to integrate the knowledge from both countries.

Water matter expert, Arcadis Spain

Liang-Shin Wang is a PhD candidate in Biopolymer from Water Theme at Wetsus and Eindhoven University of Technology. Her research focuses on a renewable semi-crystalline biopolymer, polyhydroxyalkanoates, with the aim of integrating the polymer recovery process with solution processing to membranes and films. Her experience has been on projects related to polymer properties modulation, membrane formulation, and performance analysis.

PhD Researcher, Wetsus

Guillaume Clairet holds a Physics Engineering degree from Laval University, an MBA from the University of San Diego, and is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Canada. In his early career, Mr. Clairet worked on projects involving groundwater remediation for the Canadian National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS). Since joining H2O Innovation in 2004, Guillaume has held multiple positions of increasing seniority in project management, sales, innovation & strategic business development. He has served in his current role as Chief Operating Officer of H2O Innovation since 2015 and he remains active in many industry associations (IDRA, WateReuse, WEF and AMTA). Mr. Clairet has previously served for 8 years on the Board of Directors of the International Desalination & Reuse Association (IDRA). He is currently a mentor for the Imagine H2O water start-up accelerator and is also actively involved as a General Partner of the specialized fund investing in water technology companies: Cycle-H2O.

COO, H2O Innovation

Shayna joined SWAN in 2020 driven by her passion for collaborating for a resilient world. She held the role of Events Director, overseeing annual conferences, partner events, and international webinars, and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer, helping programmes and strategic initiatives run smoothly. Shayna also acts as the organisation’s focal point for the global SWAN Digital Twin Work Group and SWAN Interoperable Utility Group. Before joining SWAN, she completed an MBA specialising in environmental sustainability.

COO, SWAN Forum

Mirvahid is a PhD researcher at the University of Twente and Wetsus. His research combines numerical and experimental methods to develop innovative designs for reducing friction in pipelines and to study the underlying mechanisms of surface-water interactions. Collaborating with industry leaders like Vitens and Wavin, he focuses on creating biomimetic designs, such as riblets, and predictive models to enhance energy efficiency in water distribution and hydraulic systems.

Director (Blueprofs) & Energy Management  Project Coordinator (Waternet)

Dutch Water Board De Dommel

Kyle Postmus has over 11 years of experience in the water treatment industry and serves as the Global Program Leader for water treatment products, overseeing the certification of residential and commercial water treatment devices and municipal filters. He has been with NSF since 2013 and is an active observer on the DWTU (drinking water treatment units) Jand Public Drinking Water Equipement Performance Joint Committees.
Previously, Kyle served as NSF’s Test Technician for the Drinking Water Treatment Systems Lab, Project Manager in Water Treatment Chemicals and Filtration Media, and Senior Technical Manager of the DWTU Program. These teams help ensure the quality and safety of products used across the water industry.
His areas of expertise include:
Water quality issues and regulations NSF/ANSI standards and the standards development process Technical sales support and operational optimization Residential POU and POE water treatment devices

Global Program Leader - Water Treatment and Biosafety Cabinetry, NSF

Dr.-Ing. Markus Busch is an expert in Environmental Engineering with a focus on water, microbiology, and separation technologies. With over 25 years of industry experience in global technical leadership, he has worked in Germany, Switzerland, and Spain. Since 2022, he has served as Global Technology Manager at Lanxess Material Protection Products in Germany. Previously, he was Application Leader for Industrial Preservation at Dupont & IFF Microbial Control.
25+ years industry leadership in water technology  - Industrial microbial control:         water, paper, O&G, anti-fouling, preservation  - RO, NF, UF membranes, ion exchange  - Germany, Spain & Switzerland  - LANXESS (previously Dow, Dupont, IFF)  - Technical, regulatory, projects, organizations
Doctorate, "integrated UF/RO system development" Wroclaw University of Science & Technology
Master (Dipl.-Ing.), "anti-scalant evaluation" Technical University Berlin and Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

Global Technology Manager, Lanxess

Paul Buijs holds a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology. He is active in water since 1990, in roles varying from research to consultancy and from sales to management. Paul has extensive experience in conventional water treatment, including desalination pretreatment and brackish and seawater reverse osmosis systems. From early 2018 to end of 2021, he was Center Liaison Officer for the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC)in Saudi Arabia, where he set up industrial scale translational research, working together with both governmental and private stakeholders. In 2022, he founded FirstWater Consultancy FZ-LLC (1st:water), based in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE). 1st:water focusses on innovation acceleration, validation and valorization, water treatment design and optimization, and strategic partnership development.

Founder, 1st:water

President, Ion Exchange (India) Ltd.
Responsible for Technology, Heavy Industry & Environment Business, Corporate Marketing, Corporate Diversification and Communication.
Mr. Ajay Popat pursued his engineering degree in Plastics Technology from the Plastic & Rubber Institute, UK and Masters in Business Administration specializing in Marketing & Strategy with honors from NMIMS Institute. He has also been conferred with a Fellowship by Indian Plastics Institute in 2007.
He has more than 40 years of experience in Strategy, Business & Organisation Development with leading organizations like Resins & Plastics Ltd. (then a subsidiary of Asian Paints Ltd.), Pidilite Industries Ltd. and Ion Exchange. He had an extremely successful career track record with Pidilite industries from 1983 to 1994 where he grew from the position of Sales Representative to All-India Sales Manager with successive promotions and career progression every year.
Associated with Ion Exchange since 1994, he has spearheaded several initiatives in developing and successfully commercializing proprietary, advanced & sustainable technologies for purification & separation in water, wastewater treatment and more recently in areas of renewable energy in compliance with legal, environmental, economic and social requirement of our country. During his tenure, Mr. Popat successfully conceived the idea of a separate Environment Management business, which he formed through a joint venture between Ion Exchange and a leading Belgium company. Under his leadership as a CEO of this joint venture (and then elevated to the Board of the Company), Mr. Popat created a leadership position for the joint venture, leading to his elevation as the President of the parent company, Ion Exchange (India) Ltd. where he is responsible for Corporate functions in Technology, Marketing, Communications, Heavy Industry Business Verticals, Environment Division and Corporate Affairs.
Mr. Popat is active in promoting the cause of water industry through active participation with the Water and Environment Council in CII, FICCI, Bombay Chamber of Commerce, Indian Environmental Association, Water Quality Association – India Task Force, Process Plant and Machinery Association of India (PPMAI) and other trade bodies. He is a Director in the governing bodies of these organizations and leads CII’s Core group on Promotion of New and cutting–edge Technology for Waste Water Management. He has chaired and delivered more than 100 papers on the subject of Sustainable Environment Management practices. He continues to play an active role to facilitate industry & its associated initiatives to achieve efficiency and excellence in water and energy management practices benefiting all stake holders.
He likes to read, socialise, pursue indoor & outdoor sports activities and pursue lifestyle improvement activities for the benefit of self, associates and the society.

President, Ion Exchange (India) Ltd.

Wouter van Gerwen is a Value Engineering facilitator at Bilfinger Engineering & Consultancy with over 30 years of experience in the process industry. He is currently involved in the connection between innovative start-ups and corporates with challenges in the current era of transition.

Value Engineering Facilitator, Bilfinger Engineering & Consultancy

Involved since 2019 in the development of a multiclient industrial water supply and wastewater treatment facility owned by North Water BV in the area of Delfzijl, The Netherlands. From conceptual design of the water utility plant in the early days of the project, through the actual realization, involved in many aspects of the project. Part of the plant is taken into operation and we expect the full plant to be operational in 2025.

Process technologist, North Water

Joost is co-owner and managing director of Paques Biomaterials. He is also member of the supervisory board of (previously family owned) Paques Holding b.v., as well as board member with a few organisations like Suspacc and BEstart. In the past, Joost was executive leadership team member of Paques Global, managing director of Paques Europe and business developer at Paques Environmental Technology in Shanghai. Before that he worked at Accenture for 4 years. Joost studied at Delft, University of Technology and at Insead Business School in Fontainebleau, France. Paques Biomaterials is leading in the field of development and realization of PHA installations on the basis of organic waste streams. Paques Biomaterials uses naturally present micro-organisms and work from the BioBizz hub in Balk.

Managing director, Paques Biomaterials

Dr. Ir. Harrie Besselink 
Director BioDetection Systems BV. (BDS)
 
Harrie Besselink is Director of  the Product and Application Unit (PAU) at BioDetection Systems BV. He obtained his Master’s degree in Molecular Science, orientation Biochemistry/Toxicology at Wageningen University, the Netherlands. His PhD degree in Environmental Toxicology he also obtained at Wageningen University, the Netherlands. After working at Wageningen University and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (IVM), he joined as pioneer of bioassays BioDetection Systems in 2001 as Head of Laboratories. Managing contract analyses, technology transfer and training courses is his daily business. Furthermore, he is specialized in validation and valorisation of bioassays (e.g. OECD and ISO). In addition, he is an international expert in assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in environmental and biological samples using biological analysis techniques and key innovator in the development of application tools for various CALUX bioassays. He participated in various national and international/European research programs, such as TECHNEAU (bioassays), DEMEAU (WWTPs), AQUANES (alternative WWTPs). Currently, he is participating in EU PROMISCES (focussing on PFAS), EU SafeCrew (focussing on DBPs), and EU OneBLUE (focussing on Safe Urban Water).

Director BioDetection Systems (Product and Application Unit (PAU))

Sandro Hansen is a seasoned sanitary and environmental engineer with over two decades of experience in water and wastewater treatment systems across large industrial and sanitation sectors. He holds postgraduate degrees in business management and water desalination and reuse, complemented by certifications in machine learning and artificial intelligence. His career encompasses consultancy roles in Latin America, Europe, and Africa. Currently, as an application specialist at Turing, a company specializing in digital solutions for water systems, Sandro leverages his expertise to enhance operational safety and efficiency. Turing's platforms, such as TOP Clear, provide digital solutions throughout the water lifecycle, aiming to reduce total water costs and improve reliability.

Application Specialist, Turing

Head of Country, Samotics

Chris is the Director of Strategy and Insight at Isle and has over 15 years’ experience in industry. Chris looks after Isle’s Technology Scouting and Market Insight teams to provide clients with support on emerging market dynamics, new venture growth and innovation strategies.
He is experienced in working with innovators to bring their solutions to the water industry. His work spans across the lifecycle of new ventures, having supported teams seeking investment, piloting and developing new products and implementing mature solutions at an enterprise scale. He is also the Chief Commercial Officer for METzero, a wastewater treatment technology provider.
Chris previously worked at Bristol Water (UK) as the Head of Business Improvement and Innovation. He developed the company’s innovation framework and founded a business incubator to support startups bringing their new solutions to the industry.
Prior to Bristol Water, Chris worked for Baringa Partners supporting a range of Utility clients across the UK with operating model improvement projects. Chris holds a 1st class Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath.

Director of Strategy and Insight, Isle Utilities

Panos has over a decade of experience in industrial wastewater treatment and sustainability, specializing in tailored solutions for complex water challenges. He has led sales and strategy for high-value projects across Europe. As Head of Industry – Europe at Isle, he helps businesses adopt cutting-edge water technologies and advance their corporate water sustainability goals.

Head of Industry - Europe, Isle Utilities

Application Technology Manager

Nebojša Ilić is a chemical engineer deeply committed to environmental protection and sustainability. He specializes in advanced water treatment, with a focus on functional nanomaterials and hybrid treatment processes. Nebojša holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Belgrade, Serbia.  His academic journey included research stays in Germany and Thailand, where he explored diverse topics such as developing novel nanomaterials for methanol sensing, UV-blocking, and targeted cancer therapy. Nebojša's Ph.D. research at the Technical University of Munich focused on developing novel nanomaterials for removal of PFAS from water and providing insights into the fundamental forces governing the adsorption process. Furthermore, he investigated ultrasonic cavitation as a potential method for destroying concentrated PFAS streams and conducted preliminary environmental impact assessments of different PFAS treatment train strategies. Before co-founding SUIKI,  Nebojša honed his entrepreneurial skills in a well-known battery recycling startup, conceptualizing and testing various water treatment solutions for lithium carbonate purification and production. Currently, Nebojša is spearheading technology development and co-founding SUIKI, an internal startup within TDK. SUIKI is driven by a mission to rapidly develop and deploy innovative solutions for complex water treatment challenges, starting with destruction of PFAS in-situ using electrochemical oxidation. Nebojša's dedication to impactful research is reflected in his publications in prestigious journals like "Chemical Engineering Journal" and "Advanced Materials."  His combined expertise in chemical engineering, process optimization, and early-stage deep tech startups positions SUIKI as a leader in delivering transformative environmental solutions to the market.

Co-Founder, Head of Technology, SUIKI (by TDK)

Round Table 7, CEO, Valuing Blue B.V.

SALT Doctors

A passionate professional with more than decade of experience in closing the water loop in various types of challeging industrial and municipal wastewater streams with proven delivery of innovative recycling concepts. Talent for identifying the most cost-efficient solution for the client to build up a resilient and sustainable environment. 
Dimitra has developed innovative treatment solutions for mainly light & heavy industries and municipal applications, leveraging her deep technical knowledge and commitment to advancing water treatment technologies.
She is primarily working with leading industrial companies worldwide in water efficiency studies, wastewater treatment assessments and technology due diligence. Hence, her strong technical / commercial background contributes to an excellent understanding of the water market trends.

Senior Technology Consultant, Isle utilities

Mathematics graduate. Before joining Canal de Isabel II in 1992, Javier worked for Andersen Consulting and Isdefe (Spanish Ministry of Defence). Currently working for Canal de Isabel II, he carried out duties as R&D analyst, Head of Software Development and IT. Since 2007, as Deputy Director of Instrumentation, Control, Automation, Telecommunications, Metrology, the Control Centre and Digital Transformation. Javier is also a member of IWA’s Governing Assembly, IWA’s Strategic Council and leads EUREAU’s Joint Working Group for Innovation.

Deputy Director –  Telecontrol (Canal de Isabel II)

Antonia is an Environmental Engineer with a M.Sc at Politecnico of Turin. She is currently based in Switzerland, and she works for Isle Utilities as a Technology Consultant within the industrial team.  She has working experience on water usage within many production processes, ranging from F&B, to O&G, textile, chemical and many more. She has expertise in water treatment technologies, utilities and is very passionate about water neutrality and water stewardship. Before joining Isle, she worked at Philip Morris International and Siegried on innovative treatment technologies pilot projects, applied to wastewater, wastewater recycling and cooling towers.

Technology Consultant, Isle utilities

Wouter is an environmental engineer with over 12 years of experience in sustainable water technology, resource recovery, and waste stream reuse. He is a results-driven advisor who values technological solutions and human processes. Passionate about making the world a better place, he has worked on phosphorus recycling and set up numerous projects on organic waste valorization. Since 2022, he has worked at LeAF, previously at Arcadis, Nutrient Platform, and REWIN West-Brabant.

Senior Consultant, LeAF

Kaustub Singh is a research engineer in the R&D of Royal FrieslandCampina, specializing in membrane driven separation and purification technologies. He earned his PhD from Wageningen University, working on electro-driven water purification and resource recovery. In addition, Kaustub has contributed to the field redox active flow batteries. His work in water desalination and energy storage has appeared in several publications and multiple filed patents. At FrieslandCampina, he continues to advance (electrochemical) membrane separation technologies to support sustainable industrial processes such as side stream handling and valorization.

Research Specialist, R&D, Royal Friesland Campina

Research Manager, Bluetech

Vice President and General Manager, McEwen Copper

Throughout my career, I have been active for 27 years as a project, process, and maintenance professional. My passion for energy and water management has driven me to develop innovative solutions and implement sustainable practices. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to efficiency, I have successfully completed numerous projects. My expertise and dedication make me a valued professional in the sector.

Capex Manager,  Puratos NV

Ragne Pärnamäe is a Scientific Project Manager at Wetsus, specializing in electrochemical membrane technologies at the water-energy nexus. She holds a MSc in Chemical Engineering from Aarhus University and is currently pursuing a PhD at Wageningen University & Research, where her research focuses on alkaline water electrolysis and nickel-based hydrogen evolution catalysts.

Scientific Project Manager

César is a sanitary engineer with over ten years of experience in the water technology sector. As a Senior Technology Consultant at Isle Utilities, he  is responsible for delivering innovative solutions in water for industry projects. He supports internal teams in providing high-quality advice on wastewater reclamation, water stewardship, and cleaner production for manufacturing sites.

Senior Technology Consultant, Isle Utilities

(PhD, Materials Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany) joined Kurita Europe GmbH in 2017 worked several years in Research and development as Innovations manager in water treatment with focus on boiler water, cooling water and geothermal applications. Since 2025 responsible as local technical manager in Benelux area.

LTM Manager BENELUX, Kurita

Dawaco

Program Manager Digital Twin Distribution Network (Brabant Water)

Boom Chicago is an international creative group based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, that writes and performs sketch and improvisational comedy at their theater on the Rozengracht.
The group performs their own shows and hosts outside productions at their theater on the Rozengracht. The venue with three theaters also houses Boom Chicago for Business, and the Boom Chicago Academy and InterActing, their program for teenagers with autism.
Shows performed at Boom Chicago examine a range of subjects including privacy, the role of technology, Europe, the extreme right, Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn, 9/11, social media, the gig economy, AI and the Metaverse.
Comedy Central News (CCN), a news show on the Dutch Comedy Central TV channel, was created by Boom Chicago

The world-class improvisers

I´m glady to introduce myself
My name is Norbert Rademacher. I´m a HACH Application Development Manager and hold a degree in electrical and enviromental engineering.
I´ve been advising and supporting HACH customer for almost 30years this year with my expertise in industrial water applications and water cycle management.

Application Development Manager, HACH

As an experienced professional in water quality and sustainable water management, I have significantly enhanced my expertise through active participation in the Water Platform Brabant and the Water Bank initiatives. Collaborating within the Circular Water Working Group of the Water Alliance, I focus on promoting green-blue water applications and optimizing (rain)water usage to conserve resources for future generations. Additionally, I contribute to the development and application of sensors and AI-driven data platforms to improve water quality monitoring and decision-making. My work aligns with the transition towards a circular water economy, promoting innovation in sustainable water solutions. More details at https://waterplatformbrabant.nl/ and https://www.microlan.nl/ and my profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joepappelsmicrolan/

Managing Director, microLAN / OSD

As the CEO of REDstack BV, Paula leads a company dedicated to addressing some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. From water treatment to CO2 capture and resource scarcity, REDstack is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions that make a tangible, lasting impact.
REDstack develops and produce the world’s most advanced and efficient ElectroMembrane stacks. REDstack's technology is revolutionizing industries by enabling the harnessing of clean water, the recovery of valuable resources, and supporting the reuse of chemicals.

CEO, REDstack

Global Advisor on Digital Sciences (KWR)

Business Developer National, Water Alliance

Dr. Alexander Finnegan is a postdoctoral researcher at Wetsus (the Netherlands), focusing on reducing microplastic pollution and advancing circular economy practices. His experience has been on projects related to plastic recycling, and quantifying environmental microplastics found in water and air. He obtained his PhD from the National University of Singapore in 2022 with a thesis titled “Freshwater and Atmospheric Plastic Pollution in Southeast Asia”.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Business Development Manager Mexico,  Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Product manager of Aquasuite OPIR, a virtual operator for drinking water treatment and distribution. Engineer who enjoys pragmatic solutions for complex challenges, especially if it contributes to a better society. I strongly believe that for a true impact on society, cooperation is key. Background: MSc in mechanical engineering.

Product manager drinking water Aquasuite®, Royal HaskoningDHV

Bart is a Hach Application Development Manager for drinking water and desalination applications for the region EMEA. He holds a bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering of Hogeschool van Utrecht, The Netherlands. Bart joined Hach Company in 2016 as sales engineer for the municipal market in The Netherlands and joined the EMEA ADM team in 2021. Before joining HACH, Bart worked in sales and product management roles with pumps, analyzers and integrated solutions.

Application Development Manager, Hach (Dr. Lange Nederland B.V.)

Sales Engineer for customised clean- and waste water solutions with more than 15 years of experience in the industrial and municipal sector.

Sales Engineer, DAS Environmental Expert GmbH

Smartvatten

Christos Charisiadis is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Brine Consulting, a firm dedicated to delivering innovative, sustainable solutions in water management, with a focus on Water Reuse. Brine Management, and Resource Recovery. With over 8 years of professional experience spanning technical research, strategic business development, and project implementation, Christos brings a unique combination of technical expertise and strategic vision to address water challenges globally.
Through Brine Consulting, Christos works to bridge the gap between technical solutions and market-driven outcomes, helping organizations implement cost-efficient and scalable water management systems. His approach combines a deep understanding of water treatment technologies with a focus on sustainable impact, delivering actionable results for industries seeking to navigate complex water challenges.
Christos is passionate about advancing solutions that integrate circular economy principles, ensuring water projects are not only compliant but also drivers of innovation, resource recovery, and environmental responsibility.

Founder & Principal Consultant, Brine Consulting

Partners voor Water

Ben began his journey at Aqua Membranes in testing, gaining hands-on experience with membrane technology and design. What started as a technical role quickly evolved into a deeper passion for understanding how innovation can drive real-world solutions. This foundation in the lab paved the way for Ben’s current role as product and marketing manager, where he combines his background in environmental planning and design with a focus on building strong relationships and sharing compelling stories.
In his current work, Ben collaborates with engineers, researchers, and customers to deliver cutting-edge water treatment solutions that are both effective and sustainable. He is proud to be part of Aqua Membranes’ mission to revolutionize reverse osmosis technology and make clean, sustainable water more accessible. Ben looks forward to sharing insights and ideas from his journey in this rapidly evolving industry and discussing how we can continue to innovate for a better future.

Marketing Manager, Aqua Membranes

Jan van den Broek, MSc is managing director of NSI Byosis BV. He is co-founder of the company that he started in 2009 after having started his own engineering and project management company in 2006. Byosis became part of Nijhuis Saur Industries in 2022. He holds an degree of the University of Groningen in Chemical Engineering. In his previous life he held several positions in engineering and management and was a.o. plant manager of a large scale powerplant for a company now known as Engie. He is passionate about process technology and sustainable solutions, however learned in practice, while growing his business, that economy is always a bigger driver than sustainability is. The best solution therefore is a solution that is not only a more sustainable one, but also the one that suits a customer’s business purposes. In his presentation he will deep dive into technical and economical criteria for the advanced ammonia recovery technology Byosis has developed.

Co-founder/managing director, Byosis, part of the Nijhuis Saur Industries

I am a consultant helping manufacturers and other organizations with product certification strategies focusing in the areas of POU / POE, Drinking Water Treatment, and Municipal Distribution. 
I am a voting member of the NSF Joint Committee on Drinking Water Treatment Units.
Leveraging the unique knowledge developed over 24+ years with NSF, while authoring over 200 trade publication articles, and presenting dozens of seminars around the globe, I can assist with deep technical understanding and a proven ability to craft bespoke solutions for specific situations and aspirations.

Consultant, Rick Andrew Consulting Services

Dr. Liviu Mantescu is the founder and CEO of Watergenics GmbH in Berlin. 
He wrote extensively on natural capital, ecosystem services, and the challenges of industrial wastewater treatment.
Liviu’s book “Margins and Nature: Effectiveness in Environmental Governance” (forthcoming) deals with these challenges.

Founder, Watergenics

EZMEMS

Manager Environmental Technologies, Clariant

Mr Wilbert Menkveld has a BSc. degree in Chemical engineering from Saxion University, Enschede and a MSc. degree in Environmental Technology and Urban Environmental Management from Wageningen University & Research Center in the Netherlands. He has more than 27 years of experience in design, engineering and optimisation of water and biomass plants for many different markets.
He worked from 2002 until 2013 as senior industrial wastewater expert and manager industrial water treatment at Witteveen+Bos Consulting Engineers in the Netherlands. In 2013 he started as Director Innovation & Technology at Nijhuis SAUR Industries in the Netherlands. Since 2023 he is Chief Technology Officer for SAUR and it’s industrial division Nijhuis Saur industries. He is as CTO responsible for Innovation strategy, development of new technologies/solutions, market introduction and technology selection for water and resource projects.

CTO Saur / Nijhuis Saur Industries

Van Leur studeerde aan de Wageningen UR Bodem, Water en Atmosfeer. Ze kwam in 1994 via een stage bij Meteo Consult terecht, waar ze bijna vijf jaar weerberichten voor kranten, radio en televisie verzorgde. Ze werkt freelance sinds april 1997 als weervrouw voor de televisiezenders van RTL.
Naast haar werkzaamheden voor televisie schrijft ze artikelen en columns over haar kennis en ervaringen en verzorgt ze lezingen over weer, klimaat en duurzaamheid. In oktober 2011 maakte ze als weerkundige deel uit van Solar Team Twente tijdens de World Solar Challenge: een zonne-auto race van ruim 3000 km dwars door Australië. Ook hierover werd een televisieprogramma gemaakt.
Twintig jaar lang presenteerde Van Leur het weerbericht bij de nieuwsuitzendingen van RTL 4. Op 30 juni 2017 deed ze dat voor de laatste keer. Vanaf 5 juli 2017 presenteerde ze de wekelijkse weerrubriek Wat een weer bij RTL Late Night.

Meteoroloog, Helga van Leur

Dr. Christine Kleffner is a process engineer with over 10 years of R&D experience in membrane technology. She specializes in the innovative application of membrane processes for energy efficient treatment and concentration of saline process and wastewater, striving to develop sustainable technical solutions for the industrial implementation of a circular economy.

Professor of Sustainable Process Engineering

Dr Pablo Pereira-Doel is the director of the Undergraduate Hospitality Programmes at Surrey Business School, the lead of the Institute for Sustainability's Water literacy and sustainable water behaviour programme, and the co-director of the Human Insight Lab. 
After several years in the hospitality/tourism industry in Spain, France, The Gambia, and the UK, he is now an applied social scientist who uses sustainability-oriented innovations, consumer nudging, persuasive communication, design thinking, and experimental research methods to create pro-environmental behaviour change. His consumer and industry testing research contributed to developing a smart water-saving technology to nudge users to take shorter showers.
Pablo's problem-solving transdisciplinary research has involved partnerships with several companies in the hospitality industry (e.g. Scandic, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, TUI, Hostelling International, and others) and beyond (e.g. Aguardio ApS, Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, L'Oréal, and the UN Environment Program).
His research has been funded through internal scholarships, an ESRC SeNSS Industry Engagement Fund, three ESRC Impact Acceleration Funds, a UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund, and an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship. Pablo is the first researcher in the UK to be awarded an ESRC postdoctoral fellowship in hospitality/tourism.

Water literacy and sustainable water behaviour programme lead, Surrey Business School & Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey

Tenair

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