Advisory Board

The Aquatech Asia Advisory Board brings together leading experts from government, academia and industry. Their insights help shape the strategic direction and programme of Aquatech Asia and ensure the event reflects the key developments in the regional water sector.

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Alwin Commandeur

Business Development Director for Southeast Asia, Haskoning

Alwin Commandeur is Business Development Director for Southeast Asia at Haskoning, where he focuses on developing strategic partnerships and sustainable infrastructure projects across the region. With extensive experience in international business development and water-related projects, he works with governments, utilities and private sector partners to advance resilient water management and infrastructure solutions in Southeast Asia.

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Bruno Lhopiteau

BlueBee - Digital & Monitoring Expert

Anish Gimire

Dr. Anish Gimire

Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering and Management at the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)

Dr. Anish Gimire is Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering and Management at the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). His work focuses on sustainable water management, environmental engineering and capacity building in the water sector. He collaborates with academic institutions, governments and industry partners to advance innovative and resilient water solutions across Asia.

Dr. Thanaporn Piam

BKK based member of Stockholm Environment Institute

Duane Schlicht

Nijhuis Saur APAC

Kai Zhao

Kai Zhao

Vice President, ANGEL Group

Mr. Kai Zhao has been dedicated to the research and development of key technologies and innovative products in the drinking water purification industry since 1992, with over 30 years of experience. He currently serves as Vice President of ANGEL Group, where he leads the strategic planning and implementation of core water purification technologies. Guided by the principles of health, sustainability, and global responsibility, he focuses on translating cutting-edge scientific research into scalable, market-oriented, high-quality solutions that provide safe, healthy, and reliable drinking water for users worldwide.

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Mathijs de Boer (1)

Mathijs de Boer

Head of International Desk Asia, Rabobank

As Head of the International Desk Asia at Rabobank, he supports Dutch companies in their operations and strategic expansion across Asia. After living and working in Shanghai from 2019 to 2025, he brings extensive regional knowledge and firsthand experience of Asia’s rapidly developing markets and evolving supplychain dynamics.

Mathijs acts as a bridge between Dutch headquarters and Asian subsidiaries, working closely with entrepreneurs, Dutch embassies, and other key regional stakeholders.

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Joost van Ettro

Head of Mission and Head of the Political and Economic Affairs, Netherlands Embassy Bangkok

Joost van Ettro is Deputy Head of Mission and Head of the Political and Economic Department at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangkok. A career diplomat with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2003, he has held postings in Uganda, Zambia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Palestinian Territories. His work focuses on strengthening political and economic cooperation between the Netherlands and Southeast Asia.

Peter Jansen

Peter Jansen MSc.

COO World Waternet

With a background in environmental engineering and over 25 years of experience as a consultant, Peter Jansen knows his way around the water sector. Currently, he is the COO at World Waternet, the international water cycle company based in the Netherlands with water-related projects in 10 countries. This role gives him the opportunity to be involved in innovations on (drinking) water, sustainability, climate change, energy, food security and waste(water).

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Victoria Elema

Victoria Elema

Lead International Water Cluster / Netherlands International Water Ambition

Victoria Elema is Team Lead International Water Affairs at the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. In this role, she works on strengthening international collaboration and advancing the Netherlands’ global water strategy. She brings together governments, businesses and knowledge institutions to address water and climate challenges worldwide and to promote innovative and resilient water management approaches. Through her work, she contributes to international partnerships that connect policy, expertise and practical solutions across the global water sector.

Victoria Elema

Victoria Elema

Lead International Water Cluster / Netherlands International Water Ambition

Victoria Elema is Team Lead International Water Affairs at the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. In this role, she works on strengthening international collaboration and advancing the Netherlands’ global water strategy. She brings together governments, businesses and knowledge institutions to address water and climate challenges worldwide and to promote innovative and resilient water management approaches. Through her work, she contributes to international partnerships that connect policy, expertise and practical solutions across the global water sector.