How we're run

Mohamed is a former Prime Minister of Guinea and a retired United Nations Assistant Secretary General. He was the first elected Director General of the African Risk Capacity and held senior roles at the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). He also chaired the United Bank for Africa in Guinea. He was appointed to the WAi Board in 2024. 

Andrew Towle joined the WAi board in January 2023 on his appointment as Chair of the WaterAid America board. Andrew grew up in India and Thailand, and has spent his professional life creating value for some of the world’s best-known consumer goods companies, including Procter & Gamble, Heinz, Georgia-Pacific, and Kellogg’s. He was the CEO of private equity-owned Urnex Brands. Andrew is currently a partner at NGN Investment Partners. 

Andy joined the board in October 2020 and is Chair of WaterAid UK. He holds a number of Chair, Non-Executive Director and advisory roles, including at WWF-UK, the DEC, the Lowell Group, Airtel Africa and Link Administration Holdings. He is passionate about how technology transforms business and daily lives, and global sustainable development. Andy was President of UK Space, CEO of BT Global Services, CEO of Logica and Chair of Digital Catapult. 

Martin joined the board in June 2022 and is a retired engineering and technology professional. He was VP for Strategy and Business Development with DRS Technologies Canada Ltd, and held senior positions with Allen Vanguard, Cubic Field Services Canada, and Lockheed Martin Canada. He is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario. He has lived in Papua New Guinea, working on health infrastructure.

Karlene is Chair of WaterAid Australia, appointed in 2021. She is Managing Director of Maywald Consultants and holds a broad portfolio of board positions including chairing the CRC for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agriculture, Food and the Environment; the Peter Cullen Environment and Water Trust; and the Cancer Council SA. She is a Director of the Australian Water Association and is the South Australian Water Ambassador.

Mala is Senior Clinical Fellow at the Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, and has extensive experience in strengthening health systems in the UK, India and SE Asia. She campaigns on the health aspects of climate change, and is passionate about the integration of WASH and health policy and delivery. Mala was appointed to the WaterAid UK board in 2017 and to the international board in 2018.

Michael, who is the Secretary General of Centerpartiet in Sweden, is Chair of WaterAid Sweden and joined the WaterAid international board in June 2023. He has run companies with a focus on social issues and development, and has been active within the City of Stockholm, Stockholm County Council, the Red Cross, and other non-profit organisations. He was one of the founders of the green liberal think-tank Fores, and its first board Chair.

Hiroaki is Institute Professor of Chuo University's Research and Development Initiative and a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo. He has a doctorate in engineering from the University of Tokyo and engages in research on urban water infrastructure and conservation. He is the director of the IWA, and the chairman of the Japan Society on Water Environment, the Japan Water Works Association and the Japan Sewage Works Association.

Sumit Bose is Chair of Jal Seva Foundation (WaterAid India) and an Associate Board Member of WaterAid international. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1976 and has held senior roles in the Ministries of Finance and Human Resource Development, and was Vice Chair of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. He is Chair of the Board of Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, and Public Interest Director of the Bombay Stock Exchange.