30 years of driving the water
research agenda
UKWIR has been driving the research agenda in the UK and Irish water sector since 1993. We are incredibly proud of our extensive history with over 1,000 reports already published, but there is still more to do.
The sector is facing unprecedented challenges, with increasing and changing water demands, ageing and leaking infrastructure, and ambitious environmental targets to meet. Our mission is to share actionable research that empowers the high-quality decision-making and investment planning currently needed in the water sector. We want to help deliver healthy, reliable and affordable water services that benefit everyone, while protecting the environment for future generations.
Testing new technologies and developing industry tools
UKWIR research comes in a variety of forms, across different levels of technology readiness - from academic research to support for early-stage proof of concept. Some projects result in the creation of a service or a tool, which can then provide a standardised approach to the sector based on research. For example, our Carbon Accounting Workbook, which is widely used across the water sector to calculate operational greenhouse gas emissions.
Collaborating to solve the problems that matter
UKWIR is uniquely positioned to provide a unified industry response to research, as we partner with all the water utilities in the UK and Ireland. We have also built up an extensive network of key stakeholders to collaborate with; these include regulators, government departments, research bodies, academic institutions and NGOs. The provision of water services is complex, and collaboration brings fresh ideas and challenges current thinking to help us deliver breakthrough research. When selecting research projects, we work closely with our member to ensure our focus is always on the most critical environmental and social challenges.
Meet the Team
Our greatest strength is the expertise of our team
UKWIR TEAM BOARD PROGRAMME LEADS / CO-PROGRAMME LEADS MEMBERS
At UKWIR, we know that the people behind our organisation are what makes it so successful. Our highly talented workforce has decades of specialist research knowledge and project management experience working in water research. We are uniquely positioned to provide a unified industry response to research as we partner with all water utilities in the UK and Ireland. We work closely with water company representatives who provide expert, industry insight across each of our Big Questions, leading and driving forward our programme of research and ensuring our work directly meets the current and future needs of the industry.
We have also built up an extensive network of key stakeholders to collaborate with, these include regulators, government departments, research bodies, academic institutions and NGOs. Together we deliver indispensable insights into the water sector that can be relied on and trusted in making big decisions and planning new investments for a resilient future.
Mike Rose
Chief Executive Officer
Mike is recognised for driving innovation, new solutions and technology adoption within asset-intensive industries in the UK and internationally. A Chartered Management Consultant with a Masters in Water, Energy and the Environment. He brings a passion for working collaboratively with diverse groups to accelerate the realisation of exceptional outcomes that improve the communities and environment we all rely on.
Carol Ham
Office Manager
Carol is the first point of contact for UKWIR's members and customers, is well-known amongst UKWIR's members and has been with UKWIR for a number of years. She manages the website and the UKWIR Annual Programme, as well as the day-to-day tasks of the head office.
Mandy Fletton
Senior Programme Manager
Mandy joined UKWIR in January 2016. Her role is to drive UKWIR’s research programme forward as well as providing support to UKWIR's Project Managers and developing collaborative relationships with external organisations.
Mandy was educated at Hull and Anglia Ruskin Universities, is a Chartered Chemist and gained experience in the analytical, regulation, drinking water and wastewater operation areas of the industry with Anglian Water before joining UKWIR.
Jenni Hughes
Strategic Programme Manager
Jenni started her career at Thames Water in 2012, joining on the Operations Graduate Programme. She has delivered Thames Water’s Chemical Investigations Programme since 2014 and supported many of UKWIR’s projects related to chemicals and plastics.
She holds a Masters in Environmental Science and Technology from Lancaster University.
Oluseyi Onifade
Strategic Programme Manager
Olu started her career in the Water industry working for Laing O’Rourke on Thames Water’s Victorian Mains Replacement Programme before moving to South East Water. Olu spent 10 years with South East Water doing various roles of which the last 4 years were spent delivering the flagship Compulsory Metering Programme in which more than 90 percent of South East Water’s domestic customers had a water meter fitted.
Olu holds an MSc qualification in Project Management, Finance, and Risk from City University, London.
Anna Staples
Strategic Programme Manager
Anna started her career in academic research before joining Anglian Water where she worked for 16 years, first as a drinking water quality scientist, and then as a project manager delivering projects across many areas of the Water business stream. Anna joined UKWIR in March 2024, her role is to manage the Drinking Water, Carbon Reduction and Circular Economy programmes.
She is a chartered scientist and holds a PhD in analytical chemistry from the University of Bristol.
Freya Caldwell
Research and Communications Co-Ordinator
Freya has a background in Environmental Humanities and, prior to joining UKWIR, worked in marketing and communications within the Greentech space. She coordinates and assists with the development of UKWIR’s programme of research projects, company communications and the management and distribution of research reports.
UKWIR is a truly collaborative organisation, driven by an influential Board of Directors, each of whom are Directors or senior managers of water companies. Our Research Programme is validated by our Board, ensuring our work is kept focused on current and future requirements.
Chairman of the Board
Richard Warneford Northumbrian Water |
Board Members
Grant Batty United Utilities |
Elise Cartmell Scottish Water |
Gary Curran Northern Ireland Water |
Suvra Jans Thames Water |
Tim McMahon Southern Water |
Caroline O'Reilly Uisce Éireann |
Robin Price Anglian Water |
Bob Taylor Portsmouth Water |
Richard Walwyn Severn Trent |
Matt Wheeldon Wessex Water |
Mark Worsfold South West Water |
Our team of Programme Leads are experienced practitioners, drawn directly from our members. Their involvement and guidance is key to ensuring our research programme delivers effective outcomes that address both today's and tomorrow's issues.
Ben Ward South West Water |
Dan Green Wessex Water |
Donna Rawlinson Northumbrian Water |
Jeremy Heath SES Water |
Keiron Maher Severn Trent |
Mark Craig Severn Trent Water |
Nick Mills Southern Water |
Richard Amos South West Water |
Samuel Fox United Utilities |
Co-Programme Leads
Alison Edwards Welsh Water |
Andrew Smith Yorkshire Water Limited |
Ashleigh Sheppard South East Water |
Brad Evans South East Water |
Brad Evans South East Water plc |
Daniel Haire South Staffordshire Water plc |
Doug Spencer Anglian Water |
Joanna Cooke United Utilities |
Keiron Maher Severn Trent |
Mark Wilkinson Northumbrian Water Limited |
Michael Gerardo Welsh Water |
Mike Foley Wessex Water |
Paul Merchant South West Water |
Sharon Evans Dwr Cymru Welsh Water |
All of the Water Companies in UK and Ireland are members of UKWIR. Their staff volunteer their time to get involved with UKWIR projects. Their experience is invaluable when helping to identify key industry challenges and in steering projects to a successful conclusion.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Associate Members
 |
 |
Open sharing of reports
to maximise impact
UKWIR annually invest over £4 million in water research projects, covering a wide range of topics such as how to achieve ambitious net zero carbon goals and understanding the problems caused by PFAS chemicals. To maximise the impact of these reports, we have adopted a policy of open sharing on the majority of our research, so that it can be disseminated as widely as possible in the water sector. We also acknowledge that there is great public interest in the water sector, as it is critical to the quality of everyone’s life. See our list of key research topics to gain an understanding of the range of subject areas we explore.