GWOPA Steering Committee Elections 2026

Dr Asief Alli

Programme Manager — Rand Water Academy & AWSISA

Rand Water

South Africa

Rand Water is a leading public utility in South Africa and across Africa, playing a vital role in advancing sustainable water supply, institutional strengthening, and sector innovation. The organisation actively promotes capacity development for critical skills within the water and sanitation sector, aligning closely with GWOPA's mission of peer-to-peer learning and improved utility performance.

Dr Asief Alli brings a strong blend of strategic leadership, technical expertise, and sector-wide influence through his roles as Programme Manager at the Rand Water Academy and the Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA). At Rand Water Academy, he has successfully led the design and implementation of capacity development programmes that strengthen technical skills, build sustainable talent pipelines, and align with organisational and national priorities.

Complementing this, his work at the AWSISA demonstrates his ability to convene high-level dialogues, facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement, and drive collaboration across Africa and the Global South. Together, these experiences position him to effectively bridge policy, practice, and innovation, making a meaningful contribution to GWOPA's objectives of utility strengthening and knowledge exchange.

Rand Water and Dr Asief Alli offer a powerful combination of institutional strength and individual leadership. Their participation will enhance African representation, contribute practical utility insights, and support the expansion of impactful Water Operators' Partnerships (WOPs), reinforcing a shared commitment to sustainable and equitable water and sanitation services.

Ms. Christabell Ashiono

Principal Legal Officer & Company Secretary

Kakamega County Water and Sanitation Company (KACWASCO)

Kenya

KACWASCO is a Public Water and Sanitation utility and an active institutional GWOPA member. KACWASCO embraces the tenets of GWOPA — key among them a strong linkage for peer-to-peer learning that has helped the company improve operational efficiency through sharing experiences with other water service providers. Upon successful participation in WOP1, KACWASCO emerged as the best improved utility. The Water Regulatory Board IMPACT 17 ranking placed the utility at position 5, a great improvement from the previous position 39. Key achievements include the reduction of Non-Revenue Water and enhanced service provision in low-income areas. The company was ranked best in the Lake Victoria North region.

Ms. Christabell Ashiono is a seasoned employee and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with extensive experience of over 10 years in the water sector, in advocacy, human rights and institutional development. She serves as the Company's Principal Legal Officer and Company Secretary and is the head of resource mobilisation. She is an individual member of GWOPA and a moderator in the WOP communities of practice. With her networks, leadership skills, competencies, experience and knowledge, the Company's representative can serve well as an ambassador for GWOPA not only in Kenya but also in other countries or communities through her established linkages with peer Water Service providers and other partners in the water sector.

Mr. Geofrey Hilly

Managing Director

Tanga Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (Tanga UWASA)

United Republic of Tanzania

Tanga Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority is the public utility mandated to provide safe water supply and sanitation services to residents of Tanga City, Muheza, Pangani and Mkinga Townships in Tanzania. The Authority focuses on planning, operating, and maintaining water and wastewater infrastructure to ensure reliable, efficient, and affordable services, emphasising service quality, environmental protection, and institutional sustainability. Through infrastructure investment, capacity strengthening, and customer-focused operations, the Authority contributes to public health improvement, urban resilience, and sustainable development.

Tanga UWASA is known for issuing a pioneering local-currency green bond (USD ~20.8 million) for water infrastructure in Tanzania, proving that creditworthy utilities can attract unsubsidised private capital without sovereign guarantees. The Tanga Water Infrastructure Green Bond was listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) on 15 May 2024, and cross-listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE) on 17 October 2024. The Green Bond won an IJGlobal Award 2024 as Water Deal of the Year Africa, recognising it as the most outstanding financing or refinancing of a greenfield water project. Tanga UWASA is known for its good governance, performance, and ethical compliance in all its aspects.

Eng. Patrick Kayizzi

Engineer / Partnerships Liaison Officer

Ministry of Water and Environment — Eastern Umbrella of Water and Sanitation (EUWS)

Uganda

The Eastern Umbrella of Water and Sanitation (EUWS), one of six regional water utilities under Uganda's Ministry of Water and Environment, presents a strong candidacy to represent Eastern and Southern Africa on GWOPA's Steering Committee. EUWS's mandate includes the operation and maintenance of rural and peri-urban piped water and sanitation systems, currently serving over 1.5 million people in Eastern Uganda. Its active engagement in Water Operator Partnerships is evidenced by the successful implementation of EU-WOP Phase I as a beneficiary/resident partner, alongside Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (lead/supporting partner) and WaterAid UK as additional partner. This collaboration has positioned EUWS as a supporting partner in the upcoming EU-WOP Phase II, where it will support Karamoja Umbrella (resident partner) alongside WaterAid Sweden (additional partner).

Eng. Patrick Kayizzi is a Civil Engineer with an MSC in Water and Sanitation Engineering, currently serving as the Partnership Liaison Officer spearheading business development with a focus on partnerships, mentoring peers, and driving institutional change. His extensive exposure to diverse roles in his 14-year career has facilitated his transition from early career to a more stable mid-career phase, bringing a valuable blend of a broad practical skill set, strategic thinking, consistency, adaptability and leadership maturity relevant to varied Water and Sanitation utility contexts within the region. EUWS's participation on the Steering Committee will contribute practical insights from WOP implementation, strengthening GWOPA's governance, strategic direction, and regional advocacy efforts.

Mr. Golden Manyanga

Director of Operations and Technical Services

Luapula Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC)

Zambia

Luapula Water Supply and Sanitation Company is a committed and results-driven water and sanitation utility with a strong track record of improving service delivery, operational efficiency, and knowledge sharing. The organisation actively aligns its work with the principles of the Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA), particularly in promoting peer-to-peer collaboration, capacity development, and sustainable utility performance.

Dr. Eng. Steven Mwale

Managing Director

Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited

Zambia

Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company (NWSC) is a committed and experienced member of GWOPA, with a proven track record in advancing utility performance through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation. NWSC has actively participated in Water Operators' Partnerships such as EU-WOP SEWATSAN (continuing to Phase 2), WATERWORX under the Dutch Vitens Evides, and GIZ NEWZA project, including regional engagements with utilities in Southern and Eastern Africa demonstrating both a willingness to learn and the capacity to mentor others. NWSC brings practical, results-driven experience in improving service delivery, non-revenue water management, and institutional strengthening. The company's long-standing partnerships, including collaboration with utilities in Malawi and knowledge exchange platforms across Kenya and beyond, highlight its commitment to GWOPA's mission.

Dr. Eng. Steven Mwale provides strong leadership backed by technical expertise and strategic vision. As Managing Director, he has led reforms focused on operational efficiency, customer service improvement, and sustainable water management. His leadership style emphasises collaboration, innovation, and capacity building — key values aligned with GWOPA's objectives. Dr. Mwale also brings regional insight, having engaged in cross-border initiatives and sector dialogues that contribute to policy and operational improvements. Together, NWSC and Dr. Eng. Steven Mwale offer a balanced combination of hands-on utility experience, regional engagement, and forward-looking and transformational leadership.

Mr. Timothy Wanjohi

Low-Income Consumers Manager

Nakuru Water & Sanitation Services Company Ltd (NAWASSCO)

Kenya

Timothy brings strong technical, institutional, and partnership experience in advancing inclusive and climate-resilient sanitation within an urban utility context. At NAWASSCO, he has played a key role in strengthening sanitation service delivery across both sewered and non-sewered systems, supporting the transition toward CWIS as a practical framework for equitable and sustainable urban sanitation. He has significantly contributed to the development and operationalisation of sanitation data systems, planning, and evidence-based decision-making across the sanitation value chain. Among faecal sludge management initiatives are private sector engagements such as training artisans and masons on improved capture and containment design technologies, manual pit emptiers on improved emptying technologies and supporting pro-poor service expansion mechanisms that enhance access in low-income areas.

Timothy serves as Vice Chair of the Pro-Poor Task Group under the Water Services Providers Association (WASPA) in Kenya, where he spearheads peer-to-peer learning among utilities on inclusive sanitation interventions, pro-poor service delivery approaches, and practical implementation strategies. His involvement in promoting blended financing approaches such as sanitation levy financing further demonstrates his commitment to developing scalable and sustainable sanitation service delivery models. He has been working with research institutions under the PRE4WASH Kenya collaboration framework to institutionalise knowledge products such as CWIS approaches and blended financing concepts, to translate global guidance into locally implementable solutions.

Mrs. Faustina Boachie

Chief Manager, Low Income Customer Support

Ghana Water Ltd

Ghana

Ghana Water Ltd brings to the GWOPA Steering Committee the perspective of a large public utility working every day to expand inclusive urban water services under real operational constraints. As Ghana's sole government-owned urban water utility, GWL serves about 14 million people through 84 water systems and operates nationwide through 15 regional offices and 103 district offices. GWL is also an active GWOPA institutional member and participant in multiple Water Operators' Partnerships across Africa and beyond.

Mrs. Faustina Boachie, Chief Manager of the Low-Income Consumer Support Department and GWOPA focal point for the utility, combines senior utility leadership with deep field experience in pro-poor service delivery, institutional development, gender-responsive practice and partnership-building. She helped grow Ghana Water's low-income function from a one-person desk into a department with strategic relevance across the utility. Under her leadership, pro-poor connection programmes have exceeded targets, strengthened utility-community relations and helped extend services to underserved urban communities. She has also contributed to utility-to-utility learning through GWOPA, including the EU-WOP partnership with Guma Valley Water Company in Sierra Leone, and has shared Ghana's experience on human rights to water, social connections, innovative financing and South-South WOPs in GWOPA platforms.

Mr. Gbati Yawanke Wake

General Director

Togolese Water Company — Société Togolaise des Eaux (TdE)

Togo

The Togolese Water Company (TdE), a state-owned company, is responsible for the production and distribution of quality drinking water, in sufficient quantities and at a lower cost in urban and semi-urban areas, and for the management of collective domestic wastewater treatment. As a founding member and member of the Executive Committee of the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWA/AAEA), the TdE has benefited from the AAEA and the WOP from several advantages for the improvement of its performance since 2014 with notable results: construction of a new water analysis laboratory, capacity building, and ISO 9001 certification.

The strategic vision of the TdE is that of a modernised universal public service, which aims to become a reference drinking water operator oriented towards customer satisfaction, an essential lever for Togo's economic and social development, a major player in climate resilience, and a model of performance and governance in the public sector. Being part of the GWOPA Steering Committee would be a great opportunity for the TdE to contribute to the ideals of access to drinking water for all with a view to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Steering Committee would be a holistic framework for forward-looking reflection, structured consultation, sharing of knowledge and experience, and strategic orientation — favourable to new opportunities for the sector in West and Central Africa.

Mr. Aguinaldo Ballon

Director President

Companhia Estadual de Águas e Esgoto do Rio de Janeiro (CEDAE)

Brazil

CEDAE is one of Brazil's leading public water utilities, with extensive experience in providing water supply and sanitation services in complex and densely populated urban environments. CEDAE operates the largest continuous water treatment plant in the world and provides drinking water to approximately 10 million people. Its trajectory is marked by continuous efforts to expand access, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen resilience in the face of climate and socio-economic challenges.

Through its participation in cooperation initiatives and knowledge exchange programs, CEDAE has developed a strong commitment to the principles that guide GWOPA: solidarity, peer-to-peer learning, and capacity development among water and sanitation operators. CEDAE is particularly motivated to contribute to strengthening South-South cooperation and to amplifying the voice and experience of Latin American utilities within the global network. Mr. Aguinaldo Ballon, Director-President of CEDAE, brings extensive leadership experience in the water and sanitation sector, with a strategic vision focused on innovation, governance, and sustainable service delivery. His active engagement and institutional perspective will support informed decision-making and effective collaboration within the Steering Committee.

Mr. Bartolo Omar Beato Díaz

General Director

Corporación del Acueducto y Alcantarillado de La Vega (CORAAVEGA)

Dominican Republic

CORAAVEGA is the public water and sanitation utility serving La Vega Province in the Dominican Republic, responsible for delivering essential services within its jurisdiction. As a committed member of WOP-LAC, the institution values the principles of solidarity, peer support, technical cooperation, and knowledge exchange that define the Water Operators' Partnerships model and contribute to strengthening public water and sanitation services.

Eng. Bartolo Omar Beato Díaz brings solid sector experience, institutional leadership, and valuable regional engagement. His professional background includes service at the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRI) and the National Institute of Potable Water and Sanitation (INAPA), as well as his role as founding Director General of CORAAVEGA from 2010 to 2020. He currently serves again as Director General for the 2024–2026 term. He also represented CORAAVEGA on the ALOAS/WOP-LAC Steering Committee during 2015–2018, gaining direct experience in regional governance and cooperation among operators.

Eng. Harold Molano

Engineer Director, Project Execution Unit

EMAPAG-EP — Guayaquil Municipal Water and Sewerage Company

Ecuador

EMAPAG-EP seeks to become an active member of the GWOPA alliance, basing its interest on three strategic pillars. Strengthening through Exchange (WOPs): as the regulatory body for Ecuador's most populous city, EMAPAG-EP recognises Water Operator Associations as the ideal tool for capacity building — to adopt best practices in water efficiency, climate resilience, and sustainable management based on principles of solidarity and technical cooperation.

Leadership in Sanitation and SDG 6: Guayaquil is nearing a historic milestone — becoming the first city in Latin America to treat 100% of its wastewater. EMAPAG-EP intends to share this technical and political roadmap with other operators, positioning its successful model as a replicable benchmark across the continent. Urban Resilience and Sustainability: due to its coastal location and vulnerability to El Niño, stormwater management is critical. The company seeks to exchange knowledge on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to strengthen flood mitigation. EMAPAG-EP is committed to being a proactive actor, transforming its challenges into lessons of shared resilience for the international water community.

Eng. Khaldon Khashman

Secretary General

Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA)

Jordan

Eng. Khaldon Khashman is a highly respected leader in the water and wastewater sector, bringing over 45 years of experience in utility management, institutional development, and regional cooperation. Since 2009, he has served as Secretary General of the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA), where he has transformed the organisation into a leading regional platform for knowledge exchange, peer-to-peer learning, and technical cooperation. Under his leadership, ACWUA has supported utilities in addressing key challenges such as non-revenue water reduction, energy efficiency, digital transformation, and capacity development, contributing to improved service delivery and operational excellence.

Eng. Khashman's extensive professional background includes Secretary General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Chairman of Miyahuna (Jordan Water Company), CEO of water administration in the northern governorates (now Yarmouk Water Company), and board member of the Water Authority of Jordan. At the international level, he is a member of the UN-Water Strategic Advisory Group on SDG 6 monitoring, the International Water Association (IWA), and Sanitation and Water for All (SWA). He is also a member of the Mega Cities Alliance. Known for his practical and results-oriented approach, Eng. Khashman strongly advocates for South-South cooperation and the expansion of Water Operators' Partnerships, and is committed to promoting inclusivity, supporting the engagement of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in the water sector.

Rifaat Abdel Wahaab

Head of Sector — Research & Development

Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW)

Egypt

The Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW) is a leading utility in the Global South, representing the realities faced by many water operators worldwide, including rapid population growth, water scarcity, financial constraints, and the need for continuous service improvement. Its participation helps ensure that GWOPA's policies and initiatives remain inclusive, practical, and globally relevant.

HCWW has demonstrated strong commitment to sector reform and capacity development, achieving progress in operational efficiency, reduction of non-revenue water, and enhancement of service quality. The utility has also actively engaged in regional and international cooperation and is well positioned to contribute to GWOPA's knowledge-sharing platforms, supporting both North–South and South–South collaboration, particularly within Africa and the Middle East.

Operating in a water-scarce environment, HCWW offers valuable insights into climate resilience, resource management, and innovative approaches to addressing water stress. Its strong institutional framework and government backing ensure stability, continuity, and long-term commitment to sector development, making it a valuable contributor to the governance and strategic direction of GWOPA.

Mr. Sanjay Banka

Executive Chairman

Banka BioLoo Limited

India

Banka BioLoo Limited is a new breed of decentralised private water operator. For the last 14 years, Banka Bio has focused on treating wastewater and used water at source, bringing the small-scale utility concept onto the global agenda primarily run by private players. The Bioloo, the flagship solution, is an affordable onsite sanitation system wherein the fecal matter is converted to water and biogas in a multi-chambered bio-digester tank with the help of bacterial culture. Since its inception, Banka Bio has contributed to the global WASH architecture through advocacy and representation at global forums, conferences and events.

Sanjay Banka is the Executive Chairman of Banka BioLoo Limited and Banka Earth Foundation and a strong propagator of SDG 6. With academic background in sciences, humanities, human rights, law, and business management, he has a strong understanding of the society, economy and the polity, along with technology and sustainable development, with a focus on water and sanitation. He is a prolific writer and speaker, has authored many pieces on sustainable WASH, spoken extensively including at the UN, and mentors budding entrepreneurs and supports students in their WASH-related research.

Mr. Kitch Bawa

Executive Secretary

Pan African Association of Sanitation Actors (PASA)

Senegal

A committed voice for the formalisation and professionalisation of non-sewered sanitation operators — Africa's largest but least visible frontline workforce in the fight for SDG 6 — is what the Pan-African Association of Sanitation Actors (PASA) brings to GWOPA's Steering Committee. PASA is strengthening the institutional ability of thousands of operators to provide safely managed sanitation through its continental NSS Operator Certification Protocol, which is in compliance with ISO 30500, ISO 24521, WHO FSM Guidelines, and the N'gor Declaration. This is exactly the kind of competency-based, bottom-up, practical, and peer-solidarity-based local capacity development that GWOPA's strategy advocates.

As an institutional member of the Private Utilities constituency, PASA connects community-level NSS operators with government recognition, funding, and contracting frameworks in 31 African member states, bridging the gap between informal service delivery and formal utility systems. This South-South strategy of certification and information exchange is similar to GWOPA's own WOP concept, which emphasises developing capacity internally rather than replacing it. GWOPA's goal to scale inclusive, sustainable water and sanitation services for everyone would benefit greatly from PASA's Steering Committee representative's extensive field experience in NSS service delivery, regulatory engagement, operator development, and multi-stakeholder convening across Africa.

Ms. Lungi Biyela

Utility Partnerships Senior Advisor

WaterAid UK

United Kingdom

WaterAid works in 22 countries across Africa, Asia, South America and the Pacific region, working together with governments, local partners and communities towards a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. In the Global Strategy 2022–2032, WaterAid is focusing on strengthening national and local WASH systems to support the acceleration towards universal, sustainable and safe WASH. It recognises service providers, such as utilities, as an integral actor within the WASH system, and thus supports the human and organisational capacity strengthening of service providers, local and national authorities. Sanitation and Water Operator Partnerships (SWOPs) are WaterAid's main delivery model for capacity strengthening of utilities in the countries where it works. WaterAid has been facilitating SWOPs since 2017, currently has 3 SWOPs in Southern Africa and 1 in South-East Asia, and has been an Additional Partner to 2 WOPs in Nepal and Uganda in the EU-WOPs Phase 1 Programme.

WaterAid is a strong candidate for the GWOPA Steering Committee because of its sustained commitment to strengthening the capacity of water utilities through peer-to-peer cooperation. It works closely with utilities across diverse operating contexts to improve financial sustainability, service quality, and operational resilience, with a particular focus on equitable access and sustained capacity development. This experience aligns directly with GWOPA's mission to promote WOPs as a proven mechanism for utility transformation and sector collaboration.

Mr. Francis Kiura

Manager, Research Strategy and Planning

Tana Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA)

Kenya

The Tana Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA) is a state corporation under the Government of Kenya, mandated to develop and manage bulk water and sanitation infrastructure to enhance service delivery and water security. As part of its mandate, TWWDA also provides capacity development and technical support to over 20 water service providers within its jurisdiction, covering five counties in central Kenya. This direct engagement with utilities positions the Agency strongly within the Water Operators' Partnerships (WOPs) framework championed by GWOPA. Operating in a climate-vulnerable region, TWWDA brings practical experience at the intersection of infrastructure development, utility strengthening and climate resilience. The Agency has demonstrated leadership in strategic planning, performance management and resource mobilisation, aligning its interventions with national priorities and global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The TWWDA representative combines extensive experience in institutional strengthening, policy development and results-based management with prior hands-on 5 years' experience working within a water utility. This blend of utility-level insight and strategic oversight enables meaningful contributions to GWOPA's governance, knowledge-sharing and advocacy functions. TWWDA is committed to advancing peer-to-peer learning, South-South cooperation and strengthening utility performance, particularly in addressing financing gaps, climate change and rapid urbanisation. By joining the Steering Committee, TWWDA seeks to contribute practical, experience-driven perspectives to shape inclusive and impactful global WOPs, while strengthening collaboration among asset holders, utilities and development partners.

Ms. Euphresia Luseka

Leave No-One Behind Co-Theme Leader

Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN)

Switzerland

RWSN strengthens utility performance through partnerships by addressing a persistent system gap: the limited integration of rural, small-town, and underserved service contexts within utility-led models. For GWOPA, where peer-to-peer partnerships are central to improving governance, financial sustainability, and service delivery, this perspective ensures that WOPs deliver measurable results while advancing Leave No One Behind (LNOB) and the human rights to water through operational, system-wide approaches. RWSN brings together professionals to raise standards of knowledge, evidence, technical competence, and policy influence in rural water supply.

RWSN nominates Euphresia Luseka, who brings the systems leadership required for effective Steering Committee engagement. She has supported the establishment and strengthening of several Water Operators' Partnerships across Africa, while working with utilities, regulators, and ministries to address institutional, regulatory and political economy constraints. Her approach links utility performance improvement with policy, regulation, financing, and climate resilience, while advancing LNOB and human rights-based approaches as part of service delivery systems. She combines governance insight, diplomatic engagement, and the ability to convene diverse actors to move from pilots to scalable, accountable solutions. RWSN is committed to contributing to GWOPA as a collective platform advancing resilient, inclusive utilities delivering measurable results through partnerships and systems transformation.

Mr. Benjamin Mandell

Global Utility Partnerships Lead

Water.org

United States of America

Water.org is a global nonprofit organisation working at the intersection of water access, utility finance, and institutional strengthening. Through its infrastructure and blended finance work, Water.org partners with public water and sanitation utilities, development finance institutions, donors, and governments to mobilise capital, improve utility creditworthiness, and support long-term service delivery in emerging and climate-vulnerable contexts. This approach aligns closely with GWOPA's emphasis on peer learning, solidarity-based partnerships, and strengthening the enabling environment for utilities. Many public utilities that Water.org currently partners with are active members of GWOPA, making the alliance a natural platform for deeper collaboration and shared learning across regions.

Benjamin Mandell brings professional expertise in utility partnerships, infrastructure finance, and cross-sector coordination. In this role, he works closely with public utilities to address challenges related to governance, investment readiness, climate resilience, and access to blended and commercial capital. Participation on the Steering Committee would allow him to contribute a financing-informed perspective to GWOPA's strategic discussions while supporting the collective priorities of its utility members. Together, Water.org and its representative are committed to advancing GWOPA's mission by supporting stronger utilities, deeper collaboration, and practical pathways to universal access to water and sanitation.

Dr. Mahreen Matto

Team Lead

National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)

India

The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, brings over four decades of experience as a premier national think tank committed to promoting integrated solutions for urban India. NIUA has consistently advanced research, innovation, and policy support across the urban sector, with a strong focus on water and sanitation. Through its work in knowledge exchange, policy formulation, and capacity building, the institute has played a catalytic role in strengthening urban local bodies and enabling inclusive, sustainable urban development. NIUA's leadership of the Sanitation Capacity Building Platform (SCBP) reflects its commitment to fostering city-to-city learning, cross-sectoral collaboration, and scalable solutions aligned with global sanitation priorities.

Dr. Mahreen Matto brings over 15 years of multidisciplinary experience in urban water and wastewater management across South Asia and Africa. She combines technical expertise with strong experience in capacity building, research, and policy advisory. Her leadership spans diverse initiatives — from sanitation safety planning with the World Health Organization to collaborative programmes with global partners such as the Gates Foundation and WaterAid. Her work reflects a deep understanding of both grassroots realities and high-level policy frameworks. Dr. Matto's portfolio of over 25 publications and practitioner-oriented outputs demonstrates her ability to translate knowledge into actionable guidance. Her experience in fostering partnerships across governments, research institutions, and international organisations aligns closely with GWOPA's objectives.

Ms. Elisabeth Nahimana

Research and Knowledge Management Specialist

ESAWAS Regulators Association

Zambia

ESAWAS's core purpose is to support WASH regulatory systems strengthening in African countries in order to improve sector governance, accountability requirements, service provision performance, quality of service standards, affordability and sustainability of services and capacity development to execute mandates. ESAWAS is a strong candidate for the GWOPA Steering Committee as it brings insights and experience on how to structure effective regulation to improve the performance of service providers and as an accelerator towards achieving the SDG 6 targets for universal access for water and sanitation.

Mr. Federico Perotti

Project Manager

HYDROAID — Water for Development Management Institute

Italy

HYDROAID is a training and research Association whose founding members and stakeholders are water providers and regulators, universities and public authorities located in the Piedmont Region in the north-west of Italy. The organisation has 27 years of experience in training and capacity development in the water sector: a network of 9,000 students, water sector technicians and managers who participated in courses, 62 international projects and 25 partnerships around the world. The Association integrates in its action and learning programmes the diversified competences of its members. HYDROAID has been engaged in WOPs since 2022 — the Turin (Italy)/Odisha (India) project — and has been working on new proposals in the current GWOPA/UN-Habitat Call for Proposals 2025/26.

Federico Perotti is a water engineer with 30 years' experience in NGOs and international cooperation. He has worked at HYDROAID as Project Manager since 2012, coordinating capacity development projects and WOP activities mostly in Ethiopia and India. He already participated in 2 GWOPA in-presence events in Bonn — including the 2025 General Assembly — and to several online GWOPA webinars and meetings, and has been the focal point for the Turin/Odisha WOP initiative in 2022–2025. Thanks to his experience and the blend between technical competences and well documented experience in cooperation, he would be a valuable resource within the GWOPA Steering Committee.

Mr. Ikenna Ugwu

Coordinator

Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWARI)

Nigeria

Network of Water Rights Initiative (WASH Rights Network) is a strong candidate for the Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance Steering Committee due to its proven leadership in advancing inclusive, rights-based, and collaborative approaches to water and sanitation governance in Nigeria. As a multi-award-winning national network of civil society organisations, NEWARI plays a unique convening role, mobilising diverse WASH actors to strengthen partnerships, share knowledge, and drive collective impact. NEWARI's core approach, anchored in human rights to water and sanitation, ensures that service delivery prioritises equity, accountability, and the needs of underserved populations.

NEWARI has demonstrated strong alignment with GWOPA's strategic objectives through nationwide WASH assessments, policy advocacy, and accountability initiatives. NEWARI also brings deep experience in capacity building and knowledge management, having trained stakeholders on human rights to water, climate justice, and sanitation practices. NEWARI amplifies voices from the Global South, ensuring that grassroots realities inform global water governance. Through the Steering Committee, NEWARI will contribute to scaling impactful partnerships, strengthening South-South collaboration, and advancing equitable access to safe water and sanitation, leaving no one behind.

Prof. Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy

Executive Director

International Water Association (IWA)

United Kingdom

The International Water Association (IWA) would be honoured to serve on the GWOPA Steering Committee. IWA's mission is to grow and empower a global network of water and allied professionals, channelling that collective expertise to develop and disseminate knowledge and good practices, drive innovation, build capacity, nurture leadership, and support action on the SDGs, climate change, and the post-2030 agenda. This mission is closely aligned with GWOPA's important role in strengthening utilities and advancing peer-to-peer cooperation. Under its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, IWA has placed additional emphasis on utilities as a key strategic cohort, recognising their central role in delivering resilient, inclusive and sustainable water services. With more than 9,500 members across over 140 countries, and with utilities representing IWA's second-largest membership segment, IWA brings a broad and diverse utility perspective that spans regions, contexts and professional disciplines.

IWA would be represented on the Steering Committee by Prof. Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy, IWA's Executive Director. Kala is an internationally recognised water professional with extensive experience in urban water management, water security, capacity development, and global development partnerships. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with leading international institutions, bringing both strategic vision and practical understanding of the challenges utilities face worldwide. The participation of IWA, represented by Prof. Vairavamoorthy, would bring to the Steering Committee a strong combination of global reach, sector credibility, technical expertise, and a deep commitment to utility strengthening and inclusive sector progress.

Prof. Dr. Claudio Valsangiacomo

Professor

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland — Centre for Development and Cooperation (SUPSI)

Switzerland

SUPSI has a long-standing commitment to strengthening water and sanitation services through applied research, capacity development, and international cooperation. This commitment is reflected in the ongoing Water Operators' Partnership supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The partnership links the water utilities of Hawassa (Ethiopia) and Lugano (Switzerland), together with their respective universities — fully aligned with the principles of solidarity, peer learning, and non-profit cooperation that define the GWOPA Charter.

Claudio brings extensive experience in WASH and public health across both development and humanitarian contexts. As a long-standing member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit, he has completed around forty emergency deployments worldwide, combining technical expertise with strong operational leadership. Holding a PhD from ETH Zurich, he has served as a public health microbiologist, humanitarian WASH specialist, and consultant for WHO, UNICEF, and SDC, integrating scientific rigour with practical field experience. Since 2007, he has directed the SUPSI Centre for Development and Cooperation, promoting innovation, evidence-based approaches, and capacity development in diverse international settings. At the 2025 GWOPA Congress in Bonn, Claudio organised and moderated the session "The Art of Partnering", fostering dialogue and exchange within the WOPs community. His engagement reflects a deep understanding of GWOPA's mission and strategic priorities, and his contribution would strengthen collaboration between utilities and academia while enhancing the visibility and effectiveness of WOPs.

Mr. Chris Williams

CEO

Safe Water Network

United States of America

Safe Water Network (SWN) is honoured to submit its candidature for the Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance Steering Committee. SWN has been an active participant in GWOPA processes, including engagement in Steering Committee sessions and contributions at the GWOPA 6th Global WOP Congress. Through this involvement, SWN has developed a strong appreciation of GWOPA's mission and the critical role that operator-to-operator partnerships play in strengthening sustainable and inclusive water services globally.

SWN brings a practical, operator-focused perspective grounded in more than a decade of experience supporting decentralised and community-based water service models in underserved urban and peri-urban communities. SWN works closely with public utilities, local governments, civil society organisations, and community operators to strengthen operational capacity, improve service delivery, and build financially and environmentally sustainable water systems. Chris Williams, CEO of Safe Water Network, brings over 30 years of global experience in water, urban development, and community-led economic development across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including leadership roles within the United Nations and global water sector institutions. His experience spans water and sanitation systems strengthening, housing finance, land tenure, and local governance — providing a strong foundation for contributing to GWOPA's strategic direction. If elected, SWN would support strengthening cross-regional knowledge exchange, elevating community and decentralised operators within GWOPA's work, and advancing partnerships that translate directly into improved and equitable water services for all.