All water award entries will be put through a rigorous two-stage judging process, reviewed by our panel of independent experts.

Ceris Van de Vyver
Head of water consulting, UK - Isle Utilities
Ceris is a water industry professional with over 20 years proven scientific expertise in clean water, wastewater and an in-depth knowledge of public health and water quality. She has held senior management positions in several water companies, was an Inspector read more
Dr. Ana Soares
Senior lecturer in biological engineering - Cranfield Univeristy
Dr Ana Soares is a Senior lecturer in Biological Engineering at Cranfield University in the UK. Dr Soares research explores the underpinning science required to develop and manage bioreactors employing new biological organisms, cultures or pathways in order to optimise read more
Hayley Monks
Founder - Women's Utility Network (WUN)
Hayley is highly motivated, inspirational and energetic individual. An excellent speaker with a strong commercial acumen and creative thinking, she thrives on driving and delivering transformation by creating effective follow-ship. Having worked in senior executive roles and with a ‘can read more
Lila Thompson
Chief executive - British Water
Lila is responsible for British Water’s strategic direction. Lila was formerly responsible for the delivery of British Water’s international services leading scoping visits to a wide range of markets including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Morocco, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, China and India. read more
Marcus Rink
Chief inspector - Drinking Water Inspectorate
Marcus Rink is the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water, appointed in August 2015. He has worked in the Department of Environment, (DEFRA), in various roles for over 20 years. As Chief Inspector he provides independent scrutiny of the water industry read more
Mark Smith
Managing director - WRc

Martyn Hopkinson
Managing director - MH20 Consultancy
Now an Independent Consultant Martyn has some 40 years experience in the water and wastewater industry, progressing from early site based supervisory roles to holding senior operational management and ultimately board positions with contracting organisations delivering water and wastewater services read more
Nicci Russell
Managing director - Waterwise
Nicci has been Managing director of Waterwise since March 2017. Prior to this, from January 2013, Nicci was a Director at Ofwat, where she led Ofwat’s work on resilience and independent regulation and its relationship with the UK and Welsh read more
Paul Hickey
Deputy director - Environment Agency
Paul Hickey is a Deputy Director at the Environment Agency with oversight of Water Resources for England. He is responsible for the protection and improvement of the natural environment. This remit includes water quantity monitoring including the national hydrometric service, read more
Phil Beach
Chief executive - Energy & Utility Skills
Phil joined Energy & Utility Skills in September 2020, bringing with him a breadth of experience in the regulatory and education sector. In his previous role as Executive Director for Vocational and Technical Qualifications at regulator Ofqual, Phil led the reforms for read more

Sarah McMath
CEO - MOSL
Sarah has vast experience of the water industry, having worked in a variety of roles across a number of technical, asset management and operational teams at Thames Water. Sarah was previously Managing Director of Water at Thames, before becoming Managing read more
Steve Kaye
Chief executive - UKWIR
Steve is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and has worked in the water industry for around 30 years. His career started in manufacturing sector. Later working in the water utility industry, Steve held key roles in Engineering, Operations, and Innovation. He has supported and led various open innovation platforms and networks in the sector, helping to engage read more
Steve Youell
Chair - Institute of Water
Steve has worked in the water industry for 20 years, originally joining Portsmouth Water as a Laboratory Technician, and holding a number of other roles including Water Quality Scientist and Distribution Project Manager. He joined DWI in 2014 as an read more
Susan Robinson
Fellow - Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

Susanne Baker
Associate director, climate, environment and sustainability - Tech UK

Tom Stephenson
Pro vice chancellor, research and innovation - Cranfield University
Professor Tom Stephenson is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) and currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Cranfield University. He leads relationships with research funders, including strategic partnerships with industry. Responsibilities for innovation encompass exploitation of intellectual property (IP), encouraging start-ups and business incubation through Cranfield Eagle Labs, a partnership with read more
Tony Conway
Director - Conway Water Consulting
Tony is a former Executive Director of United Utilities. In a career of over thirty years he has led Asset Management, Operations and Engineering functions, as well as business change, transformation and regulatory programmes. As Strategic Programmes Director, with the read more
Trevor Bishop
Director - Water Resources South East (WRSE)
Trevor has been Director at WRSE since January 2019. As Organisational Development Director for WRSE Trevor’s key responsibilities include strategy/policy, engagement and business management. Trevor is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Exeter. Prior to his current role read more