IWA Awards
IWA Global Water Award
The IWA Global Water Award recognises individuals who, through innovative leadership and practice, have made an outstanding contribution to progress towards a world in which water is wisely managed. Showcasing exceptional individuals who have changed industry norms to create lasting progress, the Global Water Award is the most prestigious IWA award and recognises leading water innovators driving impactful change.
Based on these criteria, a review panel will make a preliminary assessment of all submissions and develop a shortlist of nominees. Shortlisted candidates will proceed to the second stage, where they will be requested to provide more information about their career paths. This information will then be assessed by a judging panel formed by high-level IWA members, comprising experts from industry, university, utilities and stakeholders in the water and wastewater sector from various regions.
The winner of the 2026 IWA Global Water Award will receive a trophy and certificate honouring their contributions. The Award will be presented at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Glasgow, Scotland, in front of a global audience of water leaders. Additionally, the winner will be introduced to various important groups and committees within IWA.
Assessment criteria and procedure
Impact
The nominee will be someone who has clearly been influential in bringing about change in the sector.
Leadership
The nominee will have a demonstrated track record as a leader, initiating and overseeing noteworthy actions in the water sector.
Vision
The nominee will have established themselves as someone to whom others look for inspiration, insight, and authority on the director of developments relating to water.
Past Awardees
Dr. Joan Rose
Dr. Joan Rose is the winner of the 2024 IWA Global Water Award. She is an international authority on water microbiology, water quality, and public health safety, and she co-directs both MSU’s Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment (CAMRA) and its Center for Water Sciences (CWS). Joan has been a chair of the IWA Specialist Group on Health-related Water Microbiology, she is a Distinguished Fellow, was a Board Member from 2016 until 2021 and chaired the IWA COVID-19 Task Force.
Nisha Mandani
Nisha Mandani is the winner of the 2022 IWA Global Water Award. In deciding to recognise the achievements of Mrs Mandani, the judges noted that she demonstrates “an outstanding profile with clear vision and leadership on the water sector, generating important impacts for vulnerable communities”. They recognised her work as a significant contribution to the provision of water and sanitation across many countries.
Marcos Von Sperling
Inspirational academic Marcos von Sperling has won the acclaimed IWA Global Water Award at the Digital World Water Congress.Professor von Sperling, who works at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil, won the award for his work on wastewater and water pollution. Marcos’ research has focused on innovative solutions which have practical application. His research, which has influenced policy in Latin American and beyond, has inspired many students, researchers and policy-makers.
Tony Wong
Tony Wong is the winner of the 2018 IWA Global Water Award. The award recognises Wong’s pioneering programme of work – the water sensitive cities approach- that uses a unique socio-technical approach to concurrently address the social, environmental and economic challenges of traditional urban water management
Catarina de Albuquerque
Catarina de Albuquerque is the winner of the 2016 IWA Global Water Award. The award recognises the exceptional role she has played as the driving force behind the recognition of the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation. In 2008 she became the first UN Special Rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation, having played a pivotal role in the recognition of water and sanitation as human rights by the UN General Assembly.
Qiu Baoxing
Dr. Qiu Baoxing has made outstanding contributions to manage and improve water pollution and water environmental governance in the face of China’s rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. Under his leadership between 2001-2013, the number of wastewater treatment plants in urban areas of China dramatically increased from 506 to 3513, a more than seven-fold increase. This equates to a total capacity increase from 35 million to 150 million cubic meter of wastewater being treated each day, a four-fold increase.
Rhodes Trussell
Dr. Rhodes Trussell served for more than ten years on EPA’s Science Advisory Board, on several committees for the National Academies, including as Chair of their Water Science and Technology Board. For the International Water Association, Dr. Trussell has served on the Scientific and Technical Council, Editorial Boards, and on the Program Committee.
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