Ofwat appoints judges for £2m Innovation in Water Challenge

Ofwat has appointed a panel of eight judges for its inaugural £2m Innovation in Water Challenge (IWC), part of its new £200m Innovation Fund.

The panel will be chaired by Rachel Skinner – executive director (transport) at WSP Global and president of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The other members are:

• Nicole Ballantyne knowledge transfer manager (manufacturing), Knowledge Transfer Network;

• Myrtle Dawes Solution Centre director, OGTC;

• Chris Newsome director, UK Water Partnership;

• Dragan Savic chief executive, KWR Water Research Institute;

• Adam Scorer chief executive, National Energy Action;

• Lila Thompson chief executive, British Water; and

• Rhodri Williams Wales chair, Consumer Council for Water.

The IWC is open to water companies and new appointees from England and Wales together with partner organisations from inside or outside the water sector. Each winning entrant will receive between £50,000 and £250,000 to progress its idea.

Led by Ofwat, in partnership with Nesta Challenges, Arup and Isle Utilities, the Challenge is looking for collaborative and innovative initiatives that will meet the evolving needs of customers, society and the environment in the years to come. The challenges it seeks to address range from achieving net zero, to protecting natural ecosystems from leakages or pollution and delivering better value for money for water customers in England and Wales.

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