World water experts gather in Abu Dhabi for International Water Summit

Reed Exhibitions, organizer of the International Water Summit, hosted by Masdar, has unveiled an impressive line-up of speakers, moderators and attendees for the first edition of the event which will bring together over 5,000 influential business leaders, policymakers and scientists to tackle the urgent challenges of wastewater and water access and security.

Opening the first day sessions, which include a Ministerial Panel, Interview Sessions, Interactive Panel Discussions and Spotlight Interviews, will be H.E. Dr Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, UAE Minister for Environment and Water; H.E. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary General, Gulf Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf; Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jabar, Managing Director and CEO of event host Masdar; H.E. Razan Kahlifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi; Abdullah Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Electricity & Water Authority; Wim Roels, CEO of principal sponsor Borouge; and Nick Carter, Director General, Regulation and Supervision Bureau Abu Dhabi.

Other world water authorities participating at the International Water Summit include Anthony Cox, Head of Division, Environment and Economic Integration, OECD; Andre Fourie, CEO, World Business Council on Sustainable Development; Michel Jarraud, Chair, UN Water; Irina Bokova, Director General, UNESCO; H.E. Dr Mohamoud Abu-Zeid, President, Arab Countries Water Utilities Association; Daniel Lavanchy, Cahriman, Swiss Water Partnership; Beleke Debele Negewo, Senior Water Resources Specialist, World Bank; Uschi Eid, Vice Chair of the UN Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water; Dr Corrado Sommariva, President, International Desalination Association; and Dr Peter Gleick, President, Pacific Institute.

A steering committee consisting of senior representatives from the UAE Ministry of Water and Environment, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, Regulation & Supervision Bureau and the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Service Company is guiding the International Water Summit, which is being held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Mohammad El-Ramahi, IWS Executive Steering Committee Secretary, Chairman of the Technical Committee and Head of Utilities, Engineering and Operation at Masdar, said the first International Water Summit has attracted the world's preeminent water agencies, academics and practitioners to Abu Dhabi for this crucial event "Water scarcity and sustainability is a major issue that both governments and businesses are addressing collectively."

"We have assembled some of the most influential and experienced people in the water sector for the inaugural International Water Summit, and their willingness to participate and share their wisdom and ideas shows the passion that they have for finding sustainable solutions to the critical issues we are facing," said Mr El-Ramahi.

Other world-leading organizations that have confirmed their participation are UN Habitat, the Global Water Operators' Partnership Alliance (GWOPA), the National Food Security Program of Qatar, the Stockholm International Water Institute, the Public Utilities Board Singapore and Masdar Institute.

Also providing speakers for the International Water Summit are water solution innovators and developers such as Suez Environment, Veolia Water, CH2MHILL, NASA, Befesa Agua, the King Abdulla University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Xylem, Metito, Acciona Agua and Hyflux.

The International Water Summit (15 -17 January 2013) will be co-located with the World Future Energy Summit as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (13-17 January 2013).