Susheel Arora - CEO of the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA)

Susheel Arora serves as the CEO of the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA), spearheading Canada’s first Indigenous-owned and operated water and wastewater service organization. He was instrumental in establishing the Governance and Operations framework for this groundbreaking model, addressing the longstanding inadequacies in water and wastewater services for First Nations communities in Atlantic Canada. His leadership is driving a transformative governance structure that challenges and reshapes a system that has been in place for over 150 years. This model embodies the First Nations' pursuit of self-determination and control over a vital resource essential for public health and environmental protection.

Under this visionary governance framework, AFNWA has made remarkable strides within just two years, enhancing infrastructure, water quality, and wastewater services across member communities. The organization is actively engaged in several industry-recognized programs and initiatives designed to further elevate the quality of life in member Nations, ensuring resilient and sustainable services for future generations.

Previously, Susheel held the role of Director of Operations at Halifax Water, where he gained over 20 years of experience in water management. During his tenure, he led the One Water initiative, a holistic approach to wastewater and stormwater collection, water distribution, treatment, and biosolids management in the Halifax region, advocating for the integrated value of water systems.

Susheel is also deeply involved in broader utility initiatives such as Integrated Resource Planning, IT Master Planning, Rate Making, Asset Management, and Capital Planning. A dedicated professional, he is a member of Engineers Nova Scotia and holds two master's degrees—one in Environmental Engineering and another in Applied Sciences. He further refined his leadership acumen through the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Committed to advancing the water and wastewater sector, Susheel actively contributes to organizations such as the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the International Water Association (IWA). His participation in national committees and expert panels reflects his commitment to shaping industry advancements.

A steadfast advocate for First Nations water issues and the "One Water" approach, Susheel champions holistic, sustainable water management and efficient service delivery, striving to create meaningful and lasting change in the field.

Nina Braid

Nina is an Aboriginal woman from far-north South Australia. She has over 15 years’ experience working in and with communities for conservation and environmental purposes, including as a project manager at the Indigenous Land Corporation. She also brings a wealth of experience from her roles with AFL SportsReady, Red Dust Role Models and National Indigenous Pastoral Enterprises. Nina is currently working as the Aboriginal Partnerships Manager with Yarra Valley Water and the 2022 Victorian Water Professional of the Year. Nina is also currently deputy chair of Trust for Nature and director for the Australian Water Association..

Susan Bell Chiblow

Dr. Susan (Sue) Bell Chiblow is Anishinaabe, born and raised in Garden River First Nation. She has worked extensively with First Nation communities for the last 35 years in environmental related fields. Sue has a B.Sc. in Biology, M.Sc. in Environment and Management, and her PhD in Environmental Science with a focus on N’bi Kendaaswin (Water Knowledge). Sue is a Vanier Scholar and Assistant Professor at the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph. She has been appointed as a Commissioner by Canada to the International Joint Commission in January 2024.

Sue loves being on the water and you will often find her in the bush harvesting.

Geoff Cooper - Chief Executive at Te Waihanga

Geoff Cooper is the Chief Executive at Te Waihanga. He has a background in global policy having worked for the United States Federal Reserve, the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, and the United Nations. He is a former Chief Economist for both PwC and Auckland Council, where he worked on infrastructure, housing, regulation, and financial policy, including business case development for Auckland’s City Rail Link. At Te Waihanga, Geoff was previously the General Manager of Strategy where he had purview over research capabilities, the National Infrastructure Pipeline, and development of the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy. He holds a Master of Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University.

David Cunliffe - Principal Water Quality Specialist South Australian Department for Health

David is the principal water quality specialist with the South Australian Department for Health. He is a regulator with over 40 years of experience dealing with public health aspects of drinking water, wastewaters and recreational waters.

David has been a member of WHO and Australian water quality committees for 25 years and has contributed to a range of national and international guidelines on drinking-water quality, safe use of wastewater and recreational water quality. David has championed risk-based approaches for managing water safety.

David has been a leading contributor to a range of WHO publications on management of water quality and dealing with specific contaminants including lead, toxic cyanobacteria and microplastics. He has also contributed to a broad range of public health research. David is a member of expert water quality committees in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Nerina Di Lorenzo GAICD

Dr Di Lorenzo is the Managing Director of Melbourne Water which provides drinking water, treats wastewater and manages catchments in the greater Melbourne region.  

She holds extensive experience in the water and local government sectors, including as CEO of Merri-bek City Council for five years preceded by holding infrastructure executive portfolios.

Dr Di Lorenzo commenced her early career in the oil industry working on the platforms in Bass Strait. 

Raveen Jaduram BE(Hons), ME, F.ENZ, CMInstD

Raveen is a dedicated infrastructure leader, with 40 years of experience in the water environment and infrastructure.  Raveen is currently the chair of the boards of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga and Water Services Authority Taumata Arowai.  He is also a director of Auckland Transport and Corde Limited.  He is Chair and director of a number of private and family businesses in New Zealand and Fiji.Raveen is a past President of Water New Zealand and has held chief executive and directorships in private and public sectors in Australia and in New Zealand.

Jiuhui Qu

Prof. Jiuhui Qu is a professor at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (RCEES, CAS), and a distinguished professor at Tsinghua University. He is a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), a foreign member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE), a fellow of the World Academy of Sciences for developing countries (TWAS), and a distinguished fellow of the International Water Association (IWA). Prof. Qu is one of the foremost leaders in advocating and developing water pollution control technologies in China. His significant contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the First Prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award of China, the Sustainability Award by the Nobel Sustainability Trust, the IWA Global Project Innovation Award, and the IWA East Asia Regional Project Innovation Award.

Katherine Richardson, PhD, D.Sc. - Professor of Biological Oceanography at the University of Copenhagen

Katherine Richardson, PhD, D.Sc., is a professor of biological oceanography at the University of Copenhagen and a leading expert on Earth system science. She is a core developer of the Planetary Boundaries framework and currently leads an interdisciplinary research centre on ocean, climate, and society. Her work focuses on the links between the water cycle, climate change, and biodiversity loss in shaping sustainable futures.

Jamie Sinclair

Jamie Sinclair was appointed chief executive of Watercare in June 2025, following an extensive career in both the public and private sectors across New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Prior to stepping into his current role, Jamie served as deputy chief executive and chief corporate services officer at Watercare, where he led finance, people and culture, legal, and health and safety functions.

A qualified accountant with a degree in management studies from the University of Waikato and a postgraduate diploma in environmental management, Jamie brings a unique blend of financial expertise and environmental insight to the role. His career has spanned audit, change management, and executive leadership, including seven transformative years with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, where his positions included chief executive of the Trust.

Jamie is passionate about people, partnerships, and performance. He is leading Watercare through a period of significant change as it becomes a financially independent and fully regulated utility. With a $13.8 billion investment plan over the next decade, Jamie is focused on delivering for Aucklanders while strengthening relationships across the sector, with mana whenua partners and key stakeholders.

Professor Te Maire Tau - Upoko Ngāi Tūāhuriri

Te Maire is Pou Whakarae of the University of Canterbury, where he heads the Office of Treaty Partnership.

Te Maire belongs to Ngāi Tahu, the principal tribe of the South Island, and lives in Tuahiwi, the largest village of that tribe. Te Maire is the Upoko (Director) of Ngāi Tūāhuriri (the tribal group of the Tuahiwi region in Canterbury) and Co-Chair, Te Kura Taka Pini (Ngāi Tahu Freshwater Management Group).

During his years as an undergraduate and later as a postgraduate student at Canterbury, Te Maire helped iwi leaders with their land claim to the Waitangi Tribunal, with a particular emphasis on traditional food-gathering practices. As a specialist historian on oral traditions, tribal genealogies and indigenous knowledge systems, Te Maire was used as an expert witness and historian for the settlement of the Ngāi Tahu Claim - the largest settlement in its day between Māori and the Crown for lands wrongfully taken.

Since then, he has had several publications dealing with oral traditions and the relationship between indigenous knowledge systems and how they intersect with western science. Te Maire’s research interests include the philosophy of knowledge, oral traditions, myth, indigenous development / tribal economies, water rights, and history.

Craig Thew

Craig is the Group Manager of Infrastructure for Hastings District Council. 

Craig has over 33 years’ experience in Civil Engineering for local and central government agencies.  

In his current role Craig has been involved with the Hastings DC cyclone responses, and now recovery with the wider regional recovery infrastructure planning and Local Water Done Well Initiative.