Ofwat and Nesta Challenges have revealed the judging panel for the inaugural £2 million Innovation in Water Challenge, which aims to help tackle the biggest challenges facing the water industry.
Led by Ofwat, in partnership with Nesta Challenges, Arup and Isle Utilities, the Challenge is looking for initiatives that will meet the evolving needs of customers, society and the environment in the years to come. The challenges it aims to address range from achieving net zero, to protecting natural ecosystems from leakages or pollution and delivering better value for money for water customers in England and Wales.
The inaugural Challenge is the first of two launching this year as part of Ofwat’s £200 million Innovation Fund which will support initiatives that the water sector would otherwise be unable to invest in or explore – with each winning entrant receiving between £50,000 and £250,000. It is open to water companies and NAVs (new appointments and variations) from England and Wales together with partner organisations (which may be outside of the water sector).
The challenge’s judging panel includes: Knowledge Transfer Network’s Knowledge Transfer Manager (Manufacturing) Nicole Ballantyn, OGTC’s Solution Centre Director Myrtle Dawes, UK Water Partnership’s Director Chris Newsome, KWR Water Research Institute’s CEO Dragan Savic, National Energy Action’s Chief Executive Adam Scorer, WSP Global’s Executive Director (Transport) & Institution of Civil Engineers’ President Rachel Skinner, British Water’s Chief Executive Lila Thompson and Consumer Council for Water’ Wales Chair Rhodri Williams.
The judges’ breadth of expertise will bring insights from both water and other sectors, as well as an nderstanding of innovation itself and customer concerns.
Ofwat’s Senior Director, John Russell said: “We have a fantastic panel of judges working together with us on this Challenge – drawing expertise from a number of sectors and disciplines that, together, will bring invaluable insight to the judging and assessing process. We believe partnerships and collaboration are at the heart of meeting the challenges facing the water industry – and we are looking forward to receiving new and exciting ideas that will help change the sector for years to come.”
