How we're run

Heather Skilling is a water and sanitation specialist with 30 years of experience in the management and technical execution of water security, sanitation and hygiene programs and research activities in 30 countries across all regions, including 13 of USAID’s High Priority and Strategic Priority Countries.  She specializes in working with utilities, municipalities, and small-scale providers at the local, national, and regional levels to expand, improve, and sustain urban and peri-urban service delivery. Lead for WASH with DAI’s Environment Sector unit.

Mala is Senior Clinical Fellow at the Dept of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London and has extensive experience in strengthening health systems and workforce development for public health in the UK, India and SE Asia. She is a campaigner on the health aspects of climate change and is passionate about the integration of WASH and health policy and delivery, which are key elements of WaterAid’s Global Strategy.

Heidi has been Chief Executive Officer of the Northumbrian Water Group since 2010. The Group delivers water and waste water services serving a population of 4.2m. Prior to that she was Managing Director of Northern Rail, the UK’s largest train operation company. Heidi has considerable experience at Chief Executive level of strategy development and is a great advocate for and supporter of WaterAid.

Manuel is a former President of the Water and Sanitation Regulatory Council of Mozambique. The majority of his career was spent working for the Mozambican Government in water supply and sanitation. Manuel has vast international experience through his work with the World Bank, WHO and UNICEF and through his presidency of Aquashare – a network of water professionals from across Portuguese-speaking countries.

Matt is CFO of global real estate partnership Knight Frank, with more than 500 offices and 19,000 people across 60 territories, and a strong presence throughout Asia and Africa. Prior to this he was CFO for Arup for 13 years, an employee owned firm of consulting engineers and planners known for its innovative and sustainable design, with an annual revenue of £1.6bn. Matt trained as a planner before qualifying as a chartered accountant.

Peter worked for Anglian Water for many years before taking the helm as CEO in 2013. His previous roles include Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Prior to that, he held positions within the international division, including Regional Director for Europe and South America. Peter is a past Chair of both Water UK and the Institute of Water. He is a committed supporter of WaterAid and, under his leadership, Anglian has been a major contributor.

Alyson has had a long career as a legal adviser; in private practice with Clifford Chance, and since 1996 at GE, a leading global high-tech industrial company. Throughout her years at GE she’s worked predominantly with its energy businesses, largely in global roles, based in the UK, the USA, and for the last seven years in Paris, France. She’s currently the General Counsel for GE Renewable Energy, which includes Onshore and Offshore Wind products, Hydroelectric equipment and Grid Solutions.

Guido is Executive Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Previously, he was CEO of Paris-based CDC Climat Asset Management; Director and Partner at South Pole Carbon Asset Management in Zurich; led the Millennium Development Goal Support Team at UNDP; and served as Policy Advisor and Associate Director of the UN Millennium Project in New York. He holds a PhD and Masters in Economics, as well as a Masters in Physical Chemistry.

Hilary is a chartered accountant and has a portfolio of independent roles within international organisations, where she specialises in financial management, audit, risk and governance. These organisations include CGIAR, a global partnership that focuses on the transformation of food, land and water systems globally, and where she is a board and audit, finance and risk committee member of all13 entities; the Church Commissioners as chair of the Audit and Risk Committee; the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN as a member of the Oversight Advisory Committee and is Treasurer of Medical Aid for Palestinians, a UK charity. Prior non-executive appointments include roles within the CGIAR, UNDP, ILO and UNESCO and senior executive positions in World Health Organization, UNICEF and Kleinwort Benson. 

Ashvin leads The Rockefeller Foundation’s Power & Climate program, aimed at scaling up energy access and accelerating an inclusive energy transition in emerging markets. Recently, led the creation of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, a multi-billion-dollar effort supported by major philanthropies, development investors and specialized energy organizations aimed at advancing transformational projects on distributed renewable electrification, grid-tied renewables, and fossil fuel transitions in 80+ energy-poor nations.

Nina joined the board in 2023. She has spent the majority of her 40-year career growing and marketing advertising and communications agencies both in the UK and across the globe.  She believes in solving brand challenges with creativity.

She now divides her time between being a Non-executive Director, Trustee, Consultant, and mentor. She is passionate about all things on the diversity agenda.

Mamadou, an agricultural economist and development expert, is the Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). He joined ACBF from VISA, where he served as Vice-President, Global Head of Inclusive Growth and before that as Regional Head of Social Impact for the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa Region. Prior to joining the Rockefeller Foundation, Mamadou served as Oxfam’s Regional Director for West Africa.

Sanjay has more than three decades of experience in large multinational commercial organizations like HSBC and GE performing global leadership roles, including CEO and CFO roles in Asia and Europe. He is currently the Global Head of Business and Transformation Costs, HSBC Global Commercial Banking. Sanjay has charity board experience in the UK (including Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee).

Simi is a geographer, water expert, climate change and environment professional, women’s rights campaigner and poverty alleviation specialist and founded several private sector and social sector organizations, networks and platforms. And is the founder of Hisaar Foundation and the co-founder of Panjwani-Hisaar Water Institute and Every Woman Treaty. Currently, the Vice Chair of the International Water Management Institute, Board Director of Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited and the Convener of the Think Tank on the Rational Use of Water.