Aquatech convenes Strategic Board to guide brand strategy and future role in water

PRESS RELEASE

Aquatech convenes Strategic Board to guide brand strategy and future role in water

Aquatech Global has convened a Strategic Board to provide independent advice and practical consultancy on the future of the Aquatech brand—and the role it can play in accelerating solutions across the water technology ecosystem. The Board unites leading voices from utilities, industry, finance, consulting and research to help ensure Aquatech’s platform reflects the market’s most urgent needs and opportunities.

Why this matters
Aquatech is asking this Board to:

• Advise on global strategy  that aligns with regional priorities across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
• Pressure‑test and challenge  new ideas so Aquatech remains a trusted, neutral convener for the sector.
• Surface emerging trends —from digitalisation and climate resilience to industrial water reuse and finance—so they are effectively addressed across the Aquatech portfolio.
• Guide market development , including new geographies and year‑round initiatives that extend value beyond live events.

Who’s involved

• Alexis de Kerchove, Senior Director Client Sustainability, Xylem
• Dragan Savic, Global Advisor, KWR Water Research Institute
• Geoff Gage, Senior Partner, Roland Berger
• Karyn Georges, Managing Director, Isle UK
• Lourens Meijer, Global Water Stewardship Manager, Unilever
• Margot D’Ancona-Roesink, Head of Rabo Water, Rabobank
• Martien Beek, Strategic Policy Coordinator Knowledge, Innovation & Export, Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
• Menno Holterman, CEO, Nijhuis Saur Industries
• Nerea Uri Carreno, Founder, N118 Water Consulting
• Ralf Bufler, CEO Europe, CDM Smith
• Wim Drossaert, CEO, Dunea NV

From Aquatech this includes Daan Burghouts, Director Aquatech Global, Gerben Hardeman, Exhibition Manager – Aquatech Amsterdam & Mexico, Tom Freyberg, Director – Strategic Partnerships & Content, Aquatech Global and Annelie Koomen, Brand Marketing Strategist, Aquatech Global.

Working cadence
The Board recently convened in Amsterdam to align on priorities. Ongoing consultations will continue at regular intervals to inform Aquatech’s strategy and programming.

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Aquatech Global Events
Established in 1968, Aquatech Global Events organises the world’s leading trade events for a sustainable water future in Europe, China, Asia, and Mexico as well as the biggest online watertech community. The well-established format covers ALL water-related topics and ONLY water-related topics, from wastewater, clean water, resource & bioeconomy, industrial & corporate water to smart water and water scarcity.

Aquatech Global Events are visited by professionals from all parts of the water industry and attract policy-makers, top-level businesses, specialists, and those who apply the technology in practice. www.aquatechtrade.com

Upcoming events
Aquatech Mexico 2026 | 1-2-3 September 2026
Aquatech China 2026 | 28-29-30 October 2026
Aquatech Asia 2026 | 25-26-27 November 2026
Aquatech Amsterdam 2027 | 9-10-11-12 March 2027

About RAI Amsterdam
Bringing together people expands borders... it inspires! RAI Amsterdam has been bringing different worlds, people and markets together, at home and abroad, since 1893. The RAI is an international exhibition and convention company that organises events in the Netherlands and abroad and operates the RAI Convention Centre in the business district of Amsterdam. Since 2014, RAI Amsterdam has had its own office in Shanghai, RAI China, where it organises several A-brand tradeshows for the Chinese and international markets.
www.rai.nl