Tony’s career has been devoted to the water industry and with a particular focus on innovation. He is a former Executive Director of United Utilities and has led Asset Management, Operations and Engineering functions, as well as business transformation programmes. In his role as Strategic Asset Planning and Engineering Director he led on United Utilities’ £3.6 billion AMP5 capital investment programme and shaped the company’s systems thinking based “Future Concept of Operation”.

With the informal title of Director of Curiosity, he focused on identifying world leading water utility innovation, engaging with hubs around the globe. Tony is a Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield, chairs the Leadership Board of the TWENTY65 Water Research Programme and is co-author of the TWENTY65 Industry Guide for Collaborative Innovation.

He is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and a Director of British Water and of the Water Industry Forum. He serves on the Leadership Council of the UK Water Partnership (UKWP) and was lead author of the UKWP Digital Water White paper. Tony provides strategic advisory services to a wide range of organisations operating across the water sector, from start-up innovators to global organisations.

Tony was invited to the panel due to his experience of innovation and leadership within the water sector in England and Wales and expertise in delivering public value.

Tony on the most exciting opportunities and key challenges for the Water Sector in England and Wales right now…

“Our industry is complex with a diverse range of stakeholders and demanding responsibilities. One message looks to me to be clear, that only through committed collaboration at scale and embracing all water industry stakeholders will we fast track the innovative and new ways of working which customers and society need.

There are both challenges to be tackled and opportunities to be pursued. The combined impact of population growth, an ageing asset base, fulfilling environmental responsibilities, delivering on customer expectations, and responding to climate change and decarbonisation require us to embrace change as never before. At the same time, harnessing the power of the digital revolution provides tremendous cause for optimism that smart technologies intelligently applied at scale can help transform the UK water industry.”