About Us

UK WATER INDUSTRY RESEARCH

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.

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 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 captial 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.

Zoë Frogbrook

Strategic Programme Manager

Zoë comes from a background of research, and spent the past 6 years with Scottish Water as their Technical Lead for Catchment Management, and managing the Sustainable Land Management Team. She completed her PhD and post doctorate research specialising in soils and agriculture. This led to roles at a NERC funded research institute, and Natural Resource Wales as a policy advisor.

Mark Jones

Strategic Programme Manager

Mark joined UKWIR in 2016, previous to joining he worked for 25 years at Severn Trent Water where he had various roles and had spent the last eight years as their Wastewater R&D Manager. Mark is a Visiting Professor for Cranfield University and chairs the National Wastewater Technical Network Group for Cranfield University.

Kanika Bahel

Research & Communications Administrator

Kanika has a background in Environmental Engineering. 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.

Alex Mortlock

Sewerage

Severn Trent Water

Ben Nadel

Customer

United Utilities

Chris Royce

Asset Management

Anglian Water

Frank Grimshaw

Regulation

United Utilities

Howard Brett

Wastewater

Thames Water

Jeremy Heath

Leakage

SES Water

John Haley

Drinking Water Quality & Health

Yorkshire Water

Laura Shudall

Sewage Sludge

United Utilities Plc

Mark Williams

Climate Change

Scottish Water

Patrick Campbell

Water Mains and Services

Affinity Water

Paul Linwood

Environment and Quality (Plastics)

Southern Water

Paul Merchant

Water Resources

South West Water

Co-Programme Leads

Andrew Oakes

Leakage

Thames Water

christine murray

Drinking Water

Scottish Water

Jennifer Hughes

Environment and Quality (Plastics)

Thames Water

Linda Hustler

Waste Water

Yorkshire Water Limited

Nick Garnett

Asset Management

Dwr Cymru

Sam Bright

Leakage

Yorkshire Water

Sarah-Jane Westlake

Sewage Sludge

Thames 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

Simon Barnes

Yorkshire Water

Paddy Brow

Northern Ireland Water

Elise Cartmell

Scottish Water

John Casey

Irish Water

David Elliott

Wessex Water

Steve George

South East Water

Tony Harrington

Dwr Cymru

Alison Hoyle

Southern Water

Steve Kaye

UKWIR

Helen Orton

Portsmouth Water

Katherine Owens

United Utilities

Bob Stear

Severn Trent Water

Jason Tucker

Anglian 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.

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.