The Executive Exchange

In this special 70th episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark talks with Pete Perry, Chief Executive of Welsh Water, as he approaches the twilight of his career. Pete recounts his journey from joining the company as an apprentice to leading it, highlighting Welsh Water's unique not-for-profit structure. He discusses his proudest achievements, including health and safety improvements...

In this inaugural 2026 episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark reflects on the journey and impact of the podcast over the past year. Through an interview by Dr. Jo Burgess, Piers discusses the origins of the Exec Exchange, its focus on human leadership stories within the water sector, and highlights some remarkable interviews. The episode provides a comprehensive review of the learn...

In this special Christmas episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, Dr. Jo Burgess talks with Professor Don Cowan from the University of Pretoria. Don shares his experiences and insights as a polar explorer and scientist in the dry valleys of Antarctica. The discussion covers various aspects of life and work in the polar regions, including the unique challenges of water use, waste management, and envi...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark talks with Alessandro Reginato, General Manager of CAP Evolution at Gruppo CAP in Milan, Italy. Alessandro shares his extensive experience in water and waste management across various countries, including Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Mexico, before returning to Italy. The discussion covers the diverse challenges and foc...

In this Christmas special episode of Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark converses with Ed Mitchell, Chief Executive of Water and Sanitation for Urban Populations (WSUP). They discuss the profound impact of shared sanitation on child health, focusing on a notable study conducted in Maputo, Mozambique. The conversation delves into Ed's career in water and sustainable development, the mission and achiev...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark interviews Claus Homann, the Chief Strategy Officer at Aarhus Vand Water Utility in Denmark. Claus shares his journey from consulting engineering to strategic roles at Aarhus Vand, where he has worked for 15 years. The discussion focuses on Aarhus Vand's innovative 'Teal Initiative,' a radical approach to organizational structure that...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark welcomes Rob Thompson, General Manager at OC San in California, for his third appearance. The discussion centers around innovative approaches to biosolid management in the water sector. Rob introduces the challenges faced in Southern California regarding biosolids including transportation issues and regulatory pressures concerning PFAS...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark interviews Reinhard Hübner, the Chief Executive of SKion Water, about his remarkable journey in the water sector. Reinhard shares his background in various industries and how an unexpected opportunity led him to SKion Water. He details the company's transformation from an idea on paper in 2010 to a global treatment solution provider wi...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark welcomes back Rob Thompson, General Manager at OC San, to discuss OC San's Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). The conversation begins with a look at Rob's management style, which emphasizes a firm but fair approach and the importance of details. They then delve into the history and development of the GWRS, detailing the partnership betwe...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark interviews Engineer Rafael Zarate, President of the Center for Innovation at SAPAL in Mexico. Rafael shares his extensive background in water engineering and discusses his innovative work in water reuse, particularly focusing on indirect potable reuse using nano filtration technology. The conversation covers the challenges and successe...

In this special episode of the Exec Exchange, Jo Burgess interviews Valerie Jenkinson, Founder and Chair of Operators Without Borders (OWB), about their efforts to respond to Hurricane Melissa's devastation in the Caribbean. They discuss the major hidden threats beyond wind and flood damage, the technical missions of their skilled volunteer teams, and the critical need for funding to support their...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark interviews Hanneke van de Ven, the Sector Director for Distribution at Brabant Water in the Netherlands. Hanneke shares her career transition from consultancy to the drinking water sector and highlights the innovative projects Brabant Water is undertaking, particularly in asset management and non-invasive pipeline inspections. The conv...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark speaks with Carla Correia, the Chief Executive of Águas de Portugal. Carla shares her extensive background in legal and economic science, her transition into the water and environmental sector, and her leadership journey within Águas de Portugal Internacional. They discuss the organization's mission, its expansive infrastructure, and notably,...

In this episode of Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark interviews Amos Saati from Freetown, Sierra Leone, about the innovative 'Freetown Tree Town' project. Created to combat climate risks and water shortages caused by deforestation, the initiative began in 2020 with the planting of 250,000 trees and has now expanded to 1.2 million trees. Amos discusses the impact of these efforts on reducing floods,...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark interviews Ernie Lau from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply to discuss the significant challenges faced following the Red Hill fuel spill in 2014 and 2021. The conversation details Ernie's career journey, the scope of the Red Hill facility, the impact of the fuel spills on local water supplies, and the measures taken in response. Ernie also r...

In this special edition of the Exec Exchange, host Piers interviews Jim Panton, Managing Director of Panton McLeod. Jim shares the company's journey from its inception under his father to its recent acquisition by the Stonbury Group. He also discusses their innovative 'Lightning Talks' podcast series, aimed at addressing operational challenges within the water industry. With a candid discussion on...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark interviews Frank Kyota, the Chief Executive of Palau Public Utilities Corporation. Frank shares his journey from a background in criminal justice to various roles in corporate and public sectors, culminating in his current position. He discusses the critical role of the Asian Development Bank in improving Palau's water infrastructure and the u...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark interviews Khalid Shaikh, the Chief Executive of Sindh People's Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) in Pakistan. Khalid discusses his transition from government service to leading SPHF, which aims to rebuild 2.1 million houses after catastrophic floods in 2022 displaced 15 million people. The conversation delves into the logistics of mobilizing...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark interviews Toni Ventura, the Managing Director of Aigües de Manresa in Catalonia, Spain. Toni shares his multidisciplinary background in economics, law, and history, and discusses his 35-year career in various sectors, culminating in his current role. The conversation delves into the operations of Aigües de Manresa, a public water company mana...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange 15-minute podcast, host Piers Clark interviews Manuelito Magalhães, Chief Executive of Sanasa in Brazil. Manuelito shares his extensive background in the public and water sectors, including his roles at the Health Ministry and Sabesp. The discussion covers Sanasa's operations in Campinas, its success in water and waste treatment, and efforts to reduce non-reven...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark talks with Johan Verlinde, Program Manager for Climate Change at the City of Rotterdam. Johan discusses his educational background in Civil Engineering and his career in climate adaptation. The episode highlights Rotterdam's unique challenges as a low-lying delta city with extensive infrastructure for flood defense, including storm sur...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark speaks with Julian Daniel, managing director of Montserrat Utilities Limited. Julian shares his journey from project management across the Caribbean to overseeing water and wastewater services on the volcanic island of Montserrat. He discusses the island's geography, the impact of the 1995 volcanic eruption, and the challenges of maintaining a...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark speaks with Anand Gautam, Municipal Water Operator Partnership Coordinator at WaterAid Nepal, about his work representing the Godawari Municipality in Nepal. Anand shares his background and details the water and sanitation infrastructure in different areas of Godawari, covering rural, peri-urban, and urban settings. He discusses the ch...

In this episode of Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark interviews Dr. Natasha Avendaño, the Chief Executive of Acueducto in Bogota, Columbia. Natasha shares her compelling story of stepping into her role only to face an immediate water crisis due to historically low reservoir levels caused by prolonged dry weather. She discusses the strategies implemented to manage the water shortage, including custom...

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark is joined by Mike Rose, the new Chief Executive of UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) . Mike shares insights from his 30-year career in the water and infrastructure sectors, discussing the roles collaboration and research play in overcoming industry challenges. The conversation highlights UKWIR's mission, key projects, and internationa...