Day One: 20 May 2025

Moderator:Zaid Railoun, Specialist, Power & Sustainable Solutions, Standard Bank Group, South Africa

Darshana Myronidis, Group Director of Sustainability, Virgin Group Head Office, UK

Discussion Points:

-  Water demand management in agriculture – Improving efficiency in irrigation and water use.
-  Plastic manufacturing and water use – Balancing water consumption with sustainability.
-  Mining and water security – Addressing water-intensive processes in extractive industries.
-  Hospitality industry water stewardship – Water conservation initiatives in hotels and resorts.

Speakers:

• Matthew Cheney, C&I: Business Development Manager, Hall Core Water, South Africa
• Belvana Abeli, FDI Portfolio Manager: Green Economy, Wesgro, South Africa
• Juzer Jangbarwala Chief Technology Officer: Renewables & Water, Endeavour, USA
• Mpho Makgata, Water & Wastewater Consultant, ERWAT, South Africa 
• Natasha Ramikirpal, Group Lead: Water Security, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, South Africa

This session will explore how interconnected water, energy, and food demands are influencing water security strategies within commercial and industrial operations.

Discussion points:

-  Understanding the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Challenges and Opportunities
-  Case Study: Water-Efficient Practices in Agriculture and Beverage Production
-  Securing Water Resources in Energy-Intensive Industries
-  Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Water Use Across Interlinked Sectors
-  Balancing Water Security with Energy and Food Production Demands

Speakers:

• Ysaac Akinin, Head of Special Projects, Jabu Logistics, Zambia
• Alvino Wildschutt-Prins, Programme Manager & Exco Member: Infrastructure Pipeline Delivery & Management, Infrastructure SA, South Africa
• Jesston Williams, Executive Director, Tangelic, USA [Digital]
• Daniel Viviers-Rasmussen, Head of Sustainable Sourcing and Impact, Newforesight, South Africa

Chairperson: Errol Bryce, Group Commercial Director, VUKA Group 

Hon. David Mahlobo, Deputy Minister, Department of Water & Sanitation, South Afica 

Bringing into Focus the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Tiger Brands' Commitment to Sustainable Manufacturing

Ramateu Mofokeng, Chairperson, AWSISA, South Africa*

Chairperson: Sophie Hasell, Chief Revenue Officer, AfriGIS, South Africa

-  NGO Perspectives on Water Stewardship
-  Building Partnerships to Achieve Water Sustainability Goals

Speakers:

• Nicholas Igwe, Global Head, Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), the Global Private Sector Constituency Steering, Nigeria
• Diana Sibanda, Group Head of Sustainability, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, South Africa
• Jane Reddick, Programme Manager: Water and Sustainable Agriculture, Green Cape, South Africa
• Peter Varndell, Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD Business Foundation, South Africa

Chairperson: Natasha Ramikirpal, Group Lead: Water Security, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, South Africa

How smart water metering is revolutionising water management by improving efficiency, reducing water losses, and ensuring accountability

Theuns Tait, Product Manager, Conlog

-  Tariff and sanitation impact on business: How public sector water pricing and sanitation models influence private sector operations.
-  Policy enablers: Building a regulatory framework that de-risks reuse adoption and integrates circular economy principles.
- Communication for reuse adoption: Insights from national research on public perceptions and strategies to improve acceptance
-  Revenue management for water service providers: Aligning water costs with operational sustainability
-  Decentralised water reuse technologies: Opportunities for off-grid industrial users to reduce pressure on municipal systems
-  Greywater reclamation: Sector-specific applications in food production, manufacturing, and beverage sectors

Speakers:

• Jay Bhagwan, Executive Manager: Water Use and Waste Management, Water Research Commission, South Africa
• Gary Fahi, Head of Business Development, Impact Water Solutions, South Africa
• Ntombizanele Mary Bila- Mupariwa, Provincial Head: Western Cape, Department of Water and Sanitation, South Africa
• Phillipa Rodseth, Executive Director, Manufacturing Circle, South Africa

Chairperson:   Hilton Baartman, Digital Energy Director: Anglophone Africa, Schneider Electric, South Africa 

Discussion Points:

-  Water Shedding: Navigating Water Shortages in South Africa
-  Utility Water Tariffs and Public Sector Strategies for Sustainable Pricing
-  Public-Private Partnerships in Utility Water Delivery – Case study on tariff structuring.

Speakers:

• Shyam Misra, Group Managing Director, Siza Water, South Africa
• Sherif Kafafi, Chief Executive Office and Managing Partner, Alsharif Group Holding (ASG), Saudi Arabia
• Dan Naidoo, Regional Manager Operations at Umgeni Water Umgeni Water, South Africa
• Kennedy Chihota, Managing Director, ERWAT, South Africa
• Ashton Mpofu, Senior Technology Consultant, Isle Utilities, South Africa

Chairperson:   Amgad Elmahdi, Regional Manager for MENA region, Green Climate Fund, Australia

-  Landscape of water investment in Afric
-   A look at current investment trends and financial models / How DFIs and private investors are shaping water security projects.
-  Public-Private partnerships in water infrastructure – Enhancing collaboration between governments and investors.
-  Exploring the role of climate finance in addressing water security challenges.

Speakers:

• Mike Smith, Director, Talbot, South Africa
• Douglas Anthony, Former VP & Finance Director, American Water Enterprise, USA 
• Bothwell Manikai,  Head: Coverage – Transport, Logistics & Bulk Water; and Principal – Infrastructure Financing, South Africa & International, Investment Division, Development Bank of South Africa, South Africa
• Rudy Roberts, Founder & CEO, Mega Water Corporation, South Africa 
• Emmanuel Khomela, Executive Manager Infrastructure Planning and Projects, ERWAT, South Africa
• Peter Thompson, Managing Director, Umgeni Water Services 

Facilitator: Debbie Donaldson, Founder, because YOU’RE worth it, South Africa

Interactive democracy of learning session: During this session, delegates will actively participate in the discussion process, contributing their ideas and perspectives, making decisions collectively, and essentially treating the conference session as a miniature democratic society, fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and a sense of shared agency in the learning experience