77 Global water experts from 19 countries to address water sustainability challenges at IWS 2014

The 2nd International Water Summit (IWS), being hosted by Masdar in partnership with Abu Dhabi Water '&' Electricity Authority, has announced the participation of over 77 speakers and experts from 19 countries for its 2014 conference edition to be held on January 20th-22nd at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, to address key challenges and solutions facing arid regions in integrated water resource management, renewable energy desalination, successful strategies for water re-use, optimisation of water production, water security issues, and the water-energy nexus. The conference will highlight case studies and host best practice sharing sessions from a range of countries like Japan, Singapore, United States, Australia, U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia, making IWS an essential platform for solving and implementing water solutions. Endorsed by the International Desalination Academy (IDA), IWS will offer 15 industry enhancing desalination sessions that will provide groundbreaking scientific insights on low energy desalination technologies as well discussing the IDA strategic selection with a special focus on the GCC region and the evaluation system. In addition to the main conference sessions, IWS will also host the IDA Academy courses alongside the conferences this year. IWS Exhibition '&' Conference, part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, will bring together over 5000 policy and business leaders, scientists, academics, innovators and entrepreneurs in a collaborative environment to solve water sustainability challenges in arid regions. The IWS 2014 conference program will feature some of the key local and international leading water sustainability experts such as Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) U.A.E., Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), U.A.E., Dr. Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-AlShaikh, Deputy Governor for Planning '&' Development, SWCC, Saudi Arabia and President of International Desalination Association, Dr. Peter H. Gleick, President, Pacific Institute, USA, Adrian Sym, Executive Director, Alliance for Water Stewardship, Germany and Dr. Andreas Hauser, Director of Water Services, TUV SUD Asia Pacific, Singapore, amongst many others. "IWS 2014 is a 'must attend event' because it provides a forum for leaders and water professionals to cross-pollinate ideas and learn from each other. Being located at one of the epicentres of water scarcity, the event pays homage to the importance of water in our lives and for our global economy" said Borja Blanco, Senior VP of Desalination - Energy Recovery, U.S.A.. "IWS and other similar events bring together the best 'water-brains' in one place to share knowledge and experience," said Malcolm Haddock, Planning and Forecasting Manager, Asset Division (ADSSC), U.A.E.. "Within our daily jobs we do not often get the opportunity to learn about and discuss solutions that have been successful in other similar arid regions." Yousuke Matsumiya, Director International Division, Technical Department, Japan Sewage Works Association (JSWA) will share on how the Japanese are advancing water reuse technology as part of the Waste Water Treatment and Re-Use workshop. Maurice Neo, Director for Industry Development, Public Utilities Board Singapore (PUB) will share Singapore's water sustainability success story in the main conference. The programme also gives companies such as utilities, contractors and MEP consultants an opportunity to gain from best industry practices in the market and to be introduced to the latest cutting edge technology, thus giving businesses an opportunity to adopt the best technology. "To ensure that one's company is utilising the right equipment to provide the most efficient solutions, the IWS provides a meeting place of all technologies and ideas" said Charles Solomon, International Consultant Pipeline and Nitrogen - Global Industrial Water, U.S.A.. "Abu Dhabi with initiatives like Masdar, and a big user of the latest technologies in water and power production while located in a region that is the biggest user of desalinated water, can offer a unique opportunity to acquaint oneself with the best products and practices in these fields" said Ghassan Ejjeh, Senior Vice President - Besix Group, Belgium.