In this session, we focus on the most recent innovations in wastewater reuse, net zero, sludge treatment and handling, nutrient generation and recovery to allow end-users to be up to date with the latest trends and ways to meet their net zero goals and circular economy ambitions. Isle Group is an independent technology and innovation consultancy with a specific focus to accelerate innovation in the water sector, supporting over 200 water utilities and industrial end-users in their efforts to drive innovation in their organisations, by implementing innovation strategies and identifying, evaluating and adopting emerging technologies and innovative best practices in the most cost-effective way.

Top 10 emerging technologies in Wastewater Treatment & Resource Recovery

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

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

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

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

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

Co-Founder & COO (Riverkin)

Mae provides strategic environmental and infrastructure policy expertise to a diverse range of corporate, municipal, and nonprofit clients. Prior to becoming a contract lobbyist, Stevens worked on Capitol Hill in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Throughout this seven-year tenure, she focused most of her time on the intersection of water, equity, and affordability, and generally how to make cities and towns even better for the people who live and work there. 
Most recently, she served as Environmental Policy Advisor to Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), handling the Senator’s responsibilities as a senior member of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, including staffing the Senator during the crafting and passage of the FAST Act and the 2016 and 2018 Water Resources Development Act bills – the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act and America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) respectively. The WIIN Act served as the congressional response to the Flint, Michigan water crisis, and created new grant programs for water infrastructure. Following WIIN in 2016, the passage of AWIA in 2018 marked the most significant revision to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in over two decades.

Chair of Water Practice, Banner Public Affairs

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

Wellness and wellbeing
With over two decades of experience as a hospitality and wellness advisor and constructor I have been at the forefront of the Dutch sauna and wellness market, developing the business and promote high-end resorts, wellness centers, and sustainable hospitality solutions. From 2001 to 2024 I specialized in creating innovative and eco-conscious environments, integrating water management, energy efficiency, and guest experience optimization.
Transition 24
Building on this expertise, John has now transitioned into the role of Business Developer at Bluecon, where he focuses on decentralized wastewater treatment solutions with a special focus at hospitality and tourism. Leveraging his deep understanding of the hospitality sector’s water challenges, he works on implementing cutting-edge water purification technologies that enhance sustainability and operational efficiency for hotels, resorts, and wellness facilities, as well as small comunities and rural areas worldwide.
Challenge
At Bluecon we took the challenge to make the transition needed to provide the more than 80% of rural areas in the world who don't have acces to any wastewater treatment or sanitation. The Bluecon method is really the key to bring solutions for all the areas where it is too cold, hot, far away, too low in occupancy or with too much fluctuation in wastewater volume. We believe that together with the traditional centralized biological treatement plants and our partners and competitors, we can clean up all the water in the world!

Business developer decentralized wastewater treatment, Bluecon international bv

Alexander is a project manager at Antea Group and expert in water management, specializing in water strategies, disaster risk management, and sustainable industrial practices. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, they drive impactful solutions in environmental resilience, regulatory compliance, and circular resource use.

Project Manager water and climate, Antea Group

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

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)

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

Vice President and General Manager, McEwen Copper

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

Diego Bleeckx, an engineer in chemistry & bioprocesses, is a specialist in industrial wastewater treatment. At Waterleau, he has designed advanced wastewater treatment plants across multiple continents and managed international projects. As Growth Leader for PFAS removal, Diego focuses on innovative solutions to eliminate "forever chemicals" from industrial water streams. His expertise and global perspective make him a passionate advocate for sustainable water management and environmental stewardship​.

Growth Leader – PFAS Removal, Waterleau

Enterprise Product Sales (Bentley)

Steven Lam is Head of Technology at Gradiant, a water technology company that strives to treat the toughest waters. Over the past 14 years he has developed technologies related to thermal desalination, OARO, semi-batch ro, advanced oxidation processes, PFAS removal, and many more. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and specializes in thermodynamics and product commercialization.

Head of Technology, Gradiant

Director International Sales Chromafora, Chromaforma

Irene Marian is a Technical Sales Consultant with a degree in Chemical Sciences and over 15 years of experience in the water treatment and desalination industry.
 
She began her professional career in the pharmaceutical industry at Lilly Co., where she developed a focus on excellence and continuous improvement. 
 
Over 17 years ago, she joined Adiquimica, an international Spanish company specialized in water treatment products and services. Initially representing their commercial interests locally, her role soon expanded to include national and international business development, as well as developing transversal business lines such as IAQ. 
 
Working in business development, she found her passion in membrane technology, particularly reverse osmosis, and today combines her experience in the municipal sector with industrial demands to achieve increasingly greater water recoveries. 
 
Currently, she specializes in client and project management, sales, business development, and technical expertise within Adiquimica's Technical-Sales Department.

Sales Consultant, Adiquímica

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)

Owner & Director, Influx Search

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))

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

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

Sales, Krohne

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)

SALT Doctors

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

Nicholas Nelson is the Director of Innovation and Technical Marketing at Omya International for Consumer & Environmental Solutions, responsible for the development of products and solutions for water, air and consumer applications based on natural minerals.

Director of Innovation and Technical Marketing for Consumer & Environmental Solutions, Omya International

Research Manager, Bluetech

Vanessa has a degree in European studies, specialized in business and communication, a master’s degree in international commerce and an MBA. At Isle Vanessa works as principal consultant in Isle´s European office, she is based in Spain. Vanessa has a broad experience in delivering new technologies for pipeline condition assessment and leak detection to utility clients around the globe.    
She has a broad experience in managing R&D projects for new technologies focusing on the client´s needs and expectations and the market up-take of these technologies. She furthermore has extensive experience in project management with clients in Europe, South America and the Middle East. Through her active participation, she has been able to establish a robust network of connections and gain a comprehensive insight into the requirements and obstacles encountered by utilities throughout the world, along with the emerging technologies that align with various demands.

Principal Consultant, Isle Utilities

Program Manager Digital Twin Distribution Network (Brabant Water)

In his role as Application Technology Manager with LANXESS, Dirk develops new applications for ion exchange resins in th field of battery metals, waste- and drinking water.
Prior to joinging LANXESS in 2016 Dirk pursued a Post-Doc at Harvard University, with a main focus on ion exchange resin for pharmaceutical applications. Dirk obtained his PhD in 2013 in polymer chemistry.
 
He is the author of 25 reviewed articled and 10 patents. His work was awarded by the Konrad Adenauer and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Application Technology Manager, Lanxess

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

Global Advisor on Digital Sciences (KWR)

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

Johannes M. Koch has been working for more than 15 years in the moblity, automation and smart infrastructure business, currently being Vice President of Thermal Energy and Water Metering Solutions / CEO Germany for Landis+Gyr, a leading global provider of integrated energy management solutions. He is also member of the Board of Directors at ZVEI (German association of the electro and digital industry).
 
Prior to his current role he worked in different senior leadership roles at Siemens with focus on infrastructure and water business. 
From his career Johannes brings deep expertise in developing businesses, forming strategic alliances, transforming traditional to new business, and optimizing business /portfolio structures. Johannes holds a master in law and a bachelor in business administration from the University of Bayreuth (Germany).

Head of Business Unit Heat & Water Metering, Landis Gyr

Sr. Water Treatment & Integration Engineer, Shell

Alejandro Sturniolo, Head of Sustainability Strategy at Aqua Positive and General Secretary of the Water Positive Think Tank 
Work History:
Alejandro Sturniolo began his professional journey at Unitek Argentina in 1998 as a chemical engineering intern. In this role, he worked as Project Manager and was responsible for after-sales service, gaining valuable fieldwork experience.
By the age of 28, after advancing to the position of Applications Engineer, Alejandro acquired a 50% stake in the company, becoming a major partner. When 70% of Unitek was acquired by RWL Water, an enterprise founded by Ronald Lauder, one of the creators of Estée Lauder, Alejandro was appointed Director of Business Development for South America. This collaboration subsequently led to the formation of Fluence Corporation, where he sold his remaining stake in Unitek and assumed the role of Vice President of Marketing and Sales until July 2020. From 2021 to 2023, Alejandro worked at H2O Innovation as Global Head of Water Reuse.
Alejandro is currently the General Secretary of the Water Positive Think Tank, where he has focused his research on water positivity since 2021. He is also a former VP of the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) and has held leadership positions at the Latin American Desalination and Reuse Association (ALADyR) and the Argentine Desalination and Water Reuse Association (ADRA). His expertise is reflected in over 30 international publications.
Education:
<ul>
<li>Chemical Engineer, National University of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina</li>
<li>Postgraduate in Marketing from Belgrano University, Buenos Aires, Argentina</li>
<li>Postgraduate in Negotiation and Leadership, FASTA University, MDP, Argentina</li>
<li>Business Sustainability Strategy, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA</li>
<li>Neuroscience for Business, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA</li>
</ul>
Vision Statement:
It is my greatest desire to be part of the change, connecting water with the needs of present and future generations. We possess detailed data on water needs, but we often repeat it as if problems will resolve themselves. This is my mission and the path I chose for my career. Water is my passion, and my motto is: “Sharing apocalyptic forecasts is easy; anticipating them is the great challenge.” If we can purify a glass of seawater with less energy than an internet search, no one should be thirsty. This is why I embrace the challenge. As I see it: “We are not just facing a water crisis, but also a crisis of knowledge.”

Head of Sustainability Strategy, Aqua Positive

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

Jochen Kallenberg brings extensive expertise in water treatment processes and chemical engineering, complemented by an advanced degree in marketing. With over 25 years of experience in the water treatment industry, he has developed deep knowledge in desalination, membrane technology, media filtration, and applications for the mining sector. His career includes roles at globally recognized membrane and mineral technology companies. He currently serves as Director of Water Treatment at Dryden Aqua in Switzerland. For the past four years, Jochen Kallenberg has been a board member and the acting Vice President of the European Desalination Society.

Director Water Treatment, Dryden Aqua

Simone Callioni has worked in the water treatment industry since 2001, filling various technical, sales, and business development roles. His career began in Italy and expanded across Europe before he took on roles in the Middle East, India, and the United States. His 20+ years of experience have given him extensive knowledge of water treatment technologies and their use in industries such as biofuel production, oil and gas, mining, power generation, food and beverage, and more. Currently, he is the Global Lead Project Development Manager for the decarbonization industry at Aquatech, based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Global Lead Project Development, Aquatech

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

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

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

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

I am a molecular biologist-microbiologist with an interest in applying microorganisms to environmental and industrial processes. During my PhD research, I have focused on aerobic granular sludge, a biofilm used in biological wastewater treatment. I studied the microbial activity and composition of the biofilm and the conversions of organic macromolecules during the wastewater treatment process. I am interested in combining advanced techniques to study mixed microbial communities and their in situ behavior. With a little help from microorganisms, I hope to contribute to transitioning to a sustainable society.

Process Engineer, CIMICO

Marthe de Graaff works as a senior process engineer at Evides Industriewater on several topics relating resource recovery. She also has experience on full scale industrial wastewater treatment plants as a process advisor. In this presentation the new installation at Yara will be presented where nitrogen rich wastewater is upgraded to be reused again to produce fertilizers.

Senior process engineer, Evides Industriewater

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

Juan Cifuentes is a Technical Manager at Energy Recovery, Inc., with extensive experience working in wastewater treatment and reverse osmosis desalination. Prior to joining Energy Recovery, Juan held several engineering roles for large EPC firms focused on commissioning, operations and maintenance, and procurement, including managing process and engineering design of wastewater treatment and desalination plants. Juan has worked on water treatment projects around the world, including in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and China. He has a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Oviedo.

Technical Manager, Europe & Middle East, Energy Recovery, Inc

Vice-President Business Development, Atoco

Founder & CEO, Orb

Pamela Moussa is a PhD researcher in the field of biofilm control and sustainable disinfection methods for drinking water systems. Affiliated with Wetsus and the University of Groningen, her work focuses on identifying natural, sustainable compounds to safely manage microbial contamination in water distribution systems. Her research aims to replace traditional chemical disinfectants, like chlorine, with non-toxic alternatives, understand their mechanism of action, and produce a cost-effective disinfection protocols to be used in contingency situations.

PhD Researcher, Wetsus

Has over a decade of experience scaling water startups and driving adoption of innovative technology into the water industry across the residential, commercial and industrial markets. Joshua has held a number of leadership roles, spearheading the growth of new technology and supporting international brands globally. His expertise spans sales and service, growing from an R and D base, helping him become a key force in delivering sustainable, high-performance water treatment solutions. He holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of York.

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

Xiao Zhang is a PhD researcher at Wetsus and University of Twente. Her research focuses on developing stable polyelectrolyte multilayer nanofiltration membranes, which are designed to perform effectively under harsh process conditions, such as high salinity and extreme pH. These advanced membranes aim to provide solutions for the efficient treatment of various industrial streams.

Manager Sales, CirTec, part of the Nijhuis Saur Industries

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)

AQC项目经理, Project Manager, Aquatech China

CEO (Fluid Analytics)

Director, Allied Waters / EnergyLabNL

Arian Edalat is a chemical engineer and an award winning water tech entrepreneur. He has a Ph.D. from University of Bradford in UK and two decades of experience in design, engineering, construction, operations, maintenance, troubleshooting and optimization of industrial and municipal membrane-based water treatment processes as well as technology development and commercialization. 
His unique and diversified experience expands from developing a concept from bench scale through field pilot and large-scale commercialization and deployment. 
He has delivered over 60 cutting-edge and challenging water treatment solutions across the globe. 
Arian is also a graduate of UCLA’s Anderson School of Management’s Executive Management Program

Co-Founder & CEO, Active Membranes, Inc.

cientific Technical Lead & Flood Modeler,  RSS-Hydro

Co Founder & CEO (Flowless)

Manager Sales, Econvert, part of Nijhuis Saur Industries

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

Senior Sales Consultant, Aquatech Global

Burcu is leading the Global Water Technology Group and over the years, she has led several projects ranging from feasibility studies to commissioning and troubleshooting of treatment plants for various industries. Based on her knowledge and experience Burcu was named a Fluor Fellow in the field of water and wastewater treatment. Since 2020, she serves as vice chairwoman of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AiCHE)  for the Netherlands/Belgium section.

Process Engineering Manager – Fluor Fellow, Fluor Corporation

Gerrald Bargeman obtained his MSc and PhD degree at the University of Twente, and worked for Shell R&D and NIZO Food Research before joining AkzoNobel in 2002. At AkzoNobel and its divested businesses Nouryon and Nobian, Gerrald held scientific and leadership roles. Currently, he is Process Technology Specialist and part-time professor at the University of Twente, where he holds the chair “Membranes for Harsh Conditions”. Gerrald is (co-)author of approximately 50 peer reviewed journal publications.

Process Technology Specialist and Part-time Professor Membranes for Harsh Conditions, Nobian Industrial Chemical B.V

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

General Manager of Innovation and Ventures at MEKOROT water company. Responsible for managing the Group's CVC, including deal flow, portfolio management, DD and Strategy. Responsible for Mekorot's R&D efforts including international partnerships.  A lawyer and Economist with a MBA from INSEAD and a MA in Philosophy

General Manager of innovation and Ventures, Mekorot National Water Company

Engineer by vocation, with experience in renewable energies, space structures and now in wastewater treatment, particularly in advanced digital control solutions with artificial intelligence. I like to keep up to date with new technologies and keep learning new things.

Digital Solutions Sales Technician, CIMICO

Stefan Schmidt studied mechanical engineering at the University of Siegen and started working for the SMS group GmbH in 1996. Over 25 years of experience in fluid & piping engineering of rolling mills and other plants for steel industry led finally into taking care of water solutions. Today Mr. Schmidt is part of the Water Treatment team of the SMS group developing new perspectives on the steel industry water footprint.

Water Expert at SMS group / Steel Industry

Tim van Hattum is Head of the Green Climate Solutions Programme at Wageningen University & Research and one of the initiators of The Netherland 2120. He is keynote speaker and author of the book the Only Planet Climate Guide for the 21st century. Tim is an expert in water management, climate adaptation and nature-based solutions with 25 years of experience as consult, policy advisor and researcher.

Head of the Green Climate Solutions Programme. Wageningen University & Research

With nearly 25 years in Sales & Business Development, Wayne focuses on Industrial Water Treatment at HPNow. Using his previous experience with Xylem and Evoqua, along with already established connections, his primary focus is on Data Centre Cooling and Light Industry applications.

Head of Industrial Sales – Europe & Middle East, HPNow

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

Tenair

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