Mentors

PhD in Civil Engineering and Water Management, Habilitation in Sanitary Engineering, Scientist at BOKU University since 1997. Active in the IWA SGs on Wetland Systems and Resources-Oriented Sanitation since more than 10 years. IWA Fellow awarded in 2014.

I entered the water sector because I care about the environment in general and water quality in particular. After starting at BOKU I have stayed in research because I like to work on new interesting topics and with enthusiastic people. Outside of the water sector I like Jazz music and to spend time with my family.

Gustaf has applied Automation in water, power and industrial process systems and nowadays on the water-energy-food nexus.  He got his degrees at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, and joined the power industry working with nuclear reactors. I got a faculty position in Control in 1967 at Lund University. In 1973 he started applying control for wastewater treatment systems and got fascinated by challenges and opportunities in the water area. He has also worked with the power and process industries applying automation. In his free time he plays the piano and organ.

I joined the IWA-ICA speciality group in 1973 and have served as the editor-in-chief of Water Science and Technology and in the IWA Board of Directors. IWA has bestowed me with the IWA Publication Award, IWA Honorary Member and IWA Distinguished Fellow.  I enjoy mentoring IWA-YWP from all continents to develop their scientific writing skills.

I started as a Post-Doc at Rhodes University looking into Acid Mine Drainage and Wastewater Treatment. Project Manager at the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa. my key task was to manage 32 projects ranging in size from one man teams to teams of 10 or more researchers  Then I moved on to become Director: Environmental Services and Technologies at the Department (Ministry) of Science and Technology, South Africa. My key tasks are to have oversight over the Water and Waste Research, Development and Innovation Roadmaps.  These roadmaps are 10-year plans to transition these sectors into productive socio-economic sectors in South Africa and to grow human capacity within them. I am also the National Designated Entity for the Climate Technology Centre and Networks, the technology transfer arm of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

I entered the water sector due to the topic of my PhD, which was the Passive treatment of Acid Mine Drainage using Sulphate Reducing Bacteria and Lignocelluse.

I have stayed in the water sector, because I can contribute to the well-being of people and the environment.

Outside of the water sector, I enjoy time with my family, playing cricket and going to the theatre (when possible).

Jo started as a  postdoctoral research officer, Cranfield University (UK). The first big career move she made were from Cranfield University (UK)  to postdoctoral research fellow at Rhodes University (South Africa). And her second big career move was from the academic life to working as a research manager at the Water Resource Commission.

“I entered the water sector because I wanted clean up the environment, and help prevent future pollution and I have stayed because you can make a real difference in this sector. You can do something of significance with your life.”

Outside of the water sector Jo likes camping and outdoor photography.

Kevin entered the water sector  because of a special interest in emerging water monitoring technologies, data collection and analysis. He has stayed because the science and management of water is now critical to the development of the southern Africa, and the Western Cape in particular, where lives and livelihood are threatened by water scarcity and poor water quality.

Outside of the water sector I like to explore southern Africa, reading and writing.

I studied chemical engineer in Karlsruhe University Germany (1972-78) from where I received my Dr.-Ing. Degree (PhD) as well (1983). My education was completed as a Post-doc at Stanford University, California for one and a half year in 1983/84.

I started my professional career in ’85 at an engineering and process company in Frankfurt am Main, Germany; I was beginning as a process engineer and became some years later the head of the water and wastewater department, responsible for the design and construction of (industrial) water/wastewater treatment plants worldwide.

From 1999 to Sept. 2016, I was a Full Professor for Wastewater Technology and Water Reuse at Technische Universität Darmstadt. Since than I am retired, but still active mainly as a senior advisor in water reuse projects in Namibia.

The impetus of my work is: Water and Sanitation for all. Science and engineering as part of improving the real (sanitation) world.
IWA helps perfectly to connect with water professionals worldwide.

TG Barnard, Director: Water and Health Research Centre (WHRC), University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa

The impact of water, sanitation and hygiene on human health in developing countries. We study the movement and survival of bacteria in the environment and during infection in humans.

I started out as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at UJ. My first big step in the water sector was starting YWP in South Africa with amazing people. My second step was blindly jumping at the opportunity to lead the WHRC.

I entered the water sector because I was recruited based on my skills set at that time. I have stayed because I fell in love with the water sector and it remains the only sector that influences every aspect of life. Outside of the water sector I like to travel.