Who we are

UKWIR is responsible for facilitating the shaping of the water industry's research agenda, developing the research programme, procuring and managing the research and disseminating the findings. 

Our Vision

Water is the key to life itself and is vital to our communities, businesses and the environment.  Our ambition is to create a platform for research and innovation that meets the challenges of the water industry, involving key stakeholders to deliver real outcomes and benefits to the sector. A Summary Document highlighting examples of our work to date and also our plans for the coming year can be found below in our Annual Review 2020/21 document.

Annual Review 2022/23 

 

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Delivery of a successful research programme requires input from our members (the water companies of the UK and Ireland) in defining their needs, steering projects and applying the outputs in order to secure the anticipated benefits. 

Members benefit from collaboration on research projects of common interest and elimination of duplication in research, enabling them to get more value for their investment.

UKWIR relies on the involvement of our members their Regulators and the organisations who collaborate with us.  There are many opportunities to work with UKWIR, you can get in touch by using the details at the bottom of this page.

Contractors that wish to work with us can find more information by clicking this link

Meet the team


UKWIR TEAM BOARD MEMBERS PROGRAMME LEADS MEMBERS COLLABORATORS

We are a small team based in London, working with and supported by our members. The team’s main role is developing the research programme, procuring and managing the research and disseminating the findings.

The team also arranges meetings and other events relating to UKWIR research areas and Big Questions.

Steve Kaye

Chief Executive Officer

Steve Joined UKWIR in September 2018. Before joining UKWIR Steve held key roles at Anglian Water in capital delivery, operations and as Head of Innovation.

He is a chartered mechanical engineer and has worked in the water industry for about 27 years. He has an MBA from City University in London and is a Visiting Professor at Imperial College.

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.

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.

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

Asset Management

South West Water

Dan Green

Carbon

Wessex Water

Donna Rawlinson

Sewage Sludge

Northumbrian Water

Jeremy Heath

Leakage

SES Water

Jim Strange

Regulation

Nortumbrian Water

Keiron Maher

Drinking Water Quality & Health

Severn Trent

Mark Craig

Sustainable Wastewater

Severn Trent Water

Nick Mills

Sustainable Wastewater

Southern Water

Richard Amos

Water Resources

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

Samuel Fox

Zero Interruptions

United Utilities

 

Co-Programme Leads


Alison Edwards

Welsh Water

Andrew Smith

Asset Management

Yorkshire Water Limited

Ashleigh Sheppard

Zero Interruptions

South East Water

Brad Evans

Water Resources

South East Water plc

Brad Evans

South East Water

Daniel Haire

Regulation

South Staffordshire Water plc

Doug Spencer

Zero Leakage

Anglian Water

Joanna Cooke

United Utilities

Johnathan Burke

Zero Waste / Resource Recovery

Southern Water Limited

Keiron Maher

Drinking Water Quality & Health

Severn Trent

Mark Wilkinson

Customers

Northumbrian Water Limited

Michael Gerardo

Welsh Water

Mike Foley

Zero Waste / Resource Recovery

Wessex Water

Paul Merchant

Water Resources

South West Water

Sharon Evans

Drinking Water Quality & Health

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

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

Thomas Bridgewater

Affinity Water

Elise Cartmell

Scottish Water

Gary Curran

Northern Ireland Water

Tony Harrington

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

Suvra Jans

Thames Water

Steve Kaye

UKWIR

Paul Kerr

SES Water

Caroline O'Reilly

Uisce Éireann

Ben Roche

Yorkshire Water Limited

Bob Taylor

Portsmouth Water

Jason Tucker

Anglian Water

Richard Walwyn

Severn Trent

Matt Wheeldon

Wessex Water

Mark Worsfold

South West 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


Many of our projects involve collaboration with other organisations, including Regulators, government departments, research bodies and academic institutions.  The engagement between water industry practitioners and collaborators provides a more diverse knowledge base and greater influence regarding research outcomes, funding and resources.

 

Contact The Head Office

Address

1st Floor,

3 More London Riverside, London

SE1 2RE

Registered in England - Registered No. 2862807

Tel: 44(0)203 283 4052
E-mail: mail@ukwir.org.uk

For queries regarding report orders, please contact:
website@ukwir.org

Details of parking in London can be found at
www.masterpark.org.uk

Travel information for London can be found at
www.tfl.gov.uk or by calling 020 7222 1234

 

UKWIR can also be found on LinkedIn and Twitter