Andreas Vetter studied at Technische Universität Berlin, where he graduated in landscape planning. In 2006, he completed a two-year traineeship, finishing with the State Examination at the District Government of Cologne. Afterwards, he worked as a research assistant at the Leibniz Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning (IRS), where he participated in various research projects on the regional development of cultural landscapes, focusing on institutional frameworks. Since 2009, he has been working as a scientific officer at the German Environment Agency (UBA) in the field of adaptation to climate change. He is involved in developing the German Adaptation Action Plans, working on evaluation methods for adaptation measures, and designing policy instruments to promote adaptation at the local level.

Since October 2020, Günther Müller-Czygan is Professor of Water Infrastructure at the Institute for Water and Energy Management (iwe) at Hof University of Applied Sciences. After studying civil engineering at the University of Kassel, he spent over 20 years as an independent engineer specializing in urban water management, working as a project manager and funding consultant for various companies in the water and utilities industry. His experience with the digitalization of water management revealed significant non-technical challenges, leading him to pursue a Master’s degree in Business Psychology at FOM University of Applied Sciences in Münster, complemented by additional coaching qualifications. Since 2023, he heads the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa).

Thomas Grünig serves as a Managing Director at HST Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, a leading German company specializing in the digitalization of municipal water infrastructure. He holds an engineering degree from the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Cologne. Throughout his career, Thomas has dedicated himself to the water and wastewater industry, beginning as a pump engineer and advancing through several senior roles, including Technical Director and International Business Development for prominent global corporations. In his current role, Thomas leads a team of experts at HST, developing advanced software- and hardware-based solutions designed to enhance the resilience of municipal drainage infrastructures in response to the challenges posed by climate change.

Dr. Darla Nickel is an environmental engineer specialized in water resources management. She joined Berliner Wasserbetriebe in 2017, initially responsible for stormwater management strategies, and soon became Head of the newly established Berliner Regenwasseragentur, a joint initiative of the Berlin Senate and Berliner Wasserbetriebe, which supports the ongoing transition to a decentralized stormwater management approach in Berlin. Starting in mid-November 2024, she will assume the role of Head of Objectives and Strategies for Wastewater Management at Berliner Wasserbetriebe. Prior to this, Dr. Nickel worked for nearly two decades in water and climate adaptation research, with positions at Universität Stuttgart, Ecologic Institute, and the German Institute of Urban Affairs.

Gerhard Hauber is a landscape architect and planner with over 20 years of professional experience. Since 1998, he has specialized in international project management, successfully leading projects in the US, Great Britain, Australia, the UAE, and other countries. His work extends beyond traditional landscape architecture to urban space design, with a focus on integrating these spaces into existing city structures. Gerhard has developed expertise in innovative and strategic technologies for sustainable, resource-efficient design, creating life-supporting and aesthetically pleasing built environments.

Since October 2011, Gerhard has been a member of the expert commission for sustainable urban design at the German Association of Sustainable Building (LEED or BREEAM equivalent). His extensive knowledge in water management for a holistic approach to eco-water management, water circulation, and purification methods has been tested in several notable projects, such as Kallang River-Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Urban Lake at Potsdamer Plaza, and Telecom Park in Taipei.

Will Sarni is the Practice Lead, Water and Nature at Earth Finance. Prior to Water Foundry’s acquisition by Earth Finance, Will served as the firm’s founder and CEO. He is also the Founder and General Partner of Water Foundry Ventures, a water technology venture fund focused on addressing water scarcity, quality and equitable access to water. He has been a sustainability and water strategy advisor to multinationals, water technology companies, investors, and non-governmental organizations for his entire career. 

Prior to Water Foundry, he was a managing director at Deloitte Consulting where he established and led the water strategy practice. He was the founder and CEO of DOMANI, a sustainability strategy firm, prior to Deloitte. Will is an internationally recognized thought leader on water strategy and innovation. Sarni is a host of the podcast Distilled by Qatium and co-host of The Stream with Will and Tom. He is on the board of Hydraloop, an advisor to FIDO Tech, Ketos, True Elements and WaterMarq.

Aklilu Fikresilassie (PhD) is the Director of Thriving Resilient Cities at WRI Africa, bringing over 20 years of leadership and technical experience in urban development, environmental policy, and program management across governmental and non-governmental sectors.

Before joining WRI, he represented UN-Habitat in Ethiopia and served as a Planning Specialist and team coordinator for UNDP in South Sudan. Fikresilassie is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at University College Dublin and a researcher focused on urbanization, environmental issues, water resources, and common pool resources.

Cecília Correia is Senior Water Solutions Manager with Bentley Systems. She has 19 years of experience in the water sector, having worked in different areas, such as governmental river basin administration, engineering consultants, water utilities, and software providers for water solutions. Cecília has experience in consultancy, design, modelling, and sales as part of her competencies in her professional journey. Prior to joining Bentley, she was Strategic Partnerships and Sales Manager for AGS and Country Manager for DHI in Lisbon, Portugal. She also worked as a Water Resources Engineer with RSS and Viaponte. Today, Cecília is part of Bentley’s Water Team, with a focus on digital solutions and partnerships, and aims to support empowering water utilities and Cities to become more efficient, resilient and water wise. She holds an MSc degree in Water Resources Engineering.

Matthias Koller studied energy and chemical engineering at the TU Berlin. After graduating, he worked as a research assistant at the Centre for Environmental Sciences at the University of Potsdam and as a consultant in the Ministry of Economics of the State of Brandenburg. Today, he heads at the German Environment Agency (UBA) the Department I 1 ‘Sustainability Strategies, Resource Conservation and Instruments’, which works on concepts and strategies for a socio-ecological transformation, a circular economy and climate adaptation, among other things. He is also a lecturer on the MBA programme ‘Building Sustainability’ at the Technical University Berlin (TU Berlin).