International Water Association appoints new executive director

The International Water Association (IWA). has appointed internationally recognised water resource management expert, Kala Vairavamoorthy, as executive director.

Vairavamoorthy takes up his position on 25 September 2017, and will be based in the IWA’s Global Operations Office in The Hague, Netherlands.

“He has a particular interest in urban water issues, combining a strong engineering background with practical international experience.” said the IWA.

He has published extensively and has a strong international profile working closely with the World Bank, African Development Bank, UN-Habitat, Global Water Partnership and the European Union.

Commenting on the appointment, Diane d’Arras, president of the International Water Association, said: “His wide scientific, managerial and cultural experience will be invaluable in shaping the IWA’s future strategy. In particular, how we as a global network of water professionals can be instrumental in achieving the water-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Vairavamoorthy is joins the IWA from the International Water Management Institute, where he was the deputy director general for research.