North America Business Forum
Jointly organised by PUB Singapore, the American Water Works Association and supported by the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership, this is the first such forum on North America held during the Water Week. Attendees can expect sharing of knowledge and information from a spectrum of perspectives, from that of a venture capitalist to water utilities and professional bodies. Here you would hear about the water market overview, the direction the industry is moving, as well as the business opportunities both in the region as well as potential partnering opportunities between US and Asia.
Click here to find out more about the North America Business Forum.
| Programme |
Overview of the Market
By Mr John Batten, Chair, International Council, AWWA / VP, Malcolm Pirnie
Click here to download presentation |
Trends in Water Investments and how the water industry is being reshaped
By Mr David Henderson, Managing Partner of XPV Capital |
Opportunities for Utilities to twin between North America and Asia
By Dr Craig Woolard, Treatment Division Director, Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility
Click here to download presentation |
Business Partnering Opportunities
By Mr Peter Gourlay, President, Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership (MD-AEP)
Click here to download presentation |
Project Delivery Mechanisms in USA
By Mr. Nilaksh Kothari, General Manager, Manitowoc Public Utilities
Click here to download presentation |
Project Delivery Mechanisms in USA - A Manufacturer's Perspective
By Matthew Roberts, Director, The Roberts Filter Group
Click here to download presentation |
Our Speakers
Nilaksh Kothari, P.E.
General Manager,
Manitowoc Public Utilities
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Since 2000, Nilaksh Kothari has served as General Manager of Manitowoc Public Utilities, which is located on the shore of Lake Michigan in east-central Wisconsin. MPU is the largest municipally-owned electric utility in the State of Wisconsin. Mr. Kothari is responsible for directing all aspects of MPU’s operation, its 100 employees, and over $350 million in assets, which features a 140 MW coal-fired generating plant, a 25.0 MW combustion turbine facility, and a 40.0 MGD microfiltration plant. Mr Kothari has recently served as President of AWWA and is currently AWWA Immediate Past President. |
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John Batten
Chair, International Council, American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Vice President,
Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.
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John Batten is vice president of marketing, communications and sales of environmental engineering and consulting firm Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. He has had more than two decades of experience in the environmental field, focusing on maintenance and operations of wastewater treatment plants, public health issues, training programs and system privatization. Mr. Batten was elected chair of AWWA’s International Council through 2011. In this capacity he will help the organization set direction for expanding its global reach. Prior to being elected Chair, he led the Council’s Program Committee. |
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David Henderson
Managing Director,
XPV Capital Corporation
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David is the founder and Managing Director of XPV Capital Corporation, a leading investment firm dedicated to investing in high growth water companies. At XPV, David focuses on identifying and investing in companies capitalizing on the significant opportunities created by the ‘new water economy’ – a concept he developed. He is a respected speaker and expert contributor in the area of water technology and investing. His experience includes negotiating partnerships with leading water multi-nationals, helping portfolio companies complete strategic acquisitions and advising governments and regulators on water technology adoption strategies. Having done business in the United States, China, South Korea, India and the European Union he understands the complexities of building a successful global water enterprise. David is an Advisor for the US Strategic Water Initiative, Ontario Clean Water Initiative and Imagine H2O. He is past Chairman and a current Director of Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship where he received the Distinguished Service Award. David is also a founding member of the National Angel Capital Organization. Prior to starting XPV Capital, David was at Kinghaven Capital Corporation. |
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Craig Woolard,
Ph.D., P.E.
Treatment Division Director, Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility
President-Elect (2008 – 2009),
American Water Works Association
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Craig Woolard, Treatment Division Director of the Anchorage (Alaska) Water and Wastewater Utility joined AWWA in 1995. He has served at the national level as President-Elect, Vice-President, and serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He has served on the Credentialing, Camp Scholarship, Publications Award, Young Professionals, and Strategic Planning committees and has recently been chosen to chair the new Ad Hoc Committee on Water Sector Workforce Development Initiatives. Craig was named the AWWA Alaska Section Volunteer of the Year in 1997. He received the AWWA George Warren Fuller Award in 2003. Before joining the Anchorage utility, Craig served as a university civil engineering professor, department chair, and associate dean of research and graduate studies at the University of Alaska Anchorage engineering program for 12 years. He has authored or co-authored articles for numerous peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings. |
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Matthew Roberts,
Director of Global Business Development,
The Roberts Filter Group
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Mr. Roberts has spent nearly his entire life involved in the water industry. The Roberts Filter Group was founded in 1889 by his great-great grandfather, Charles V. Roberts; Roberts Filter provides water and wastewater treatment solutions throughout the world. Matt Roberts carries on the rich family tradition as the fifth generation Roberts in the business; serving as the Director of Global Business Development, Mr. Roberts interacts in a global marketplace. Mr. Roberts is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Mr. Roberts is active in AWWA, IDA, IWA, WEF, and Water for People. Outside of his professional pursuits, Mr. Roberts is committed to water education, serving as a mentor and guest speaker for the Pennsylvania State University - Ecole Mohammadia d'Ingénieurs (Rabat, Morocco) global water workshop. |
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Peter R Gourlay,
President of the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership
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Peter R Gourlay is the President of the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership
(MD-AEP), a dynamic trade group focusing on developing Maryland-Asia partnerships to address Asia’s pressing needs for water, energy and pollution prevention. He has the richness of nearly 20 years of international business experience working in Asia. He has served in senior positions with both private and public international organizations including the U.S. Agency for International Development, CNA Insurance Companies, the World Trade Center Institute, The Johns Hopkins University and the US-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP). At US-AEP, Gourlay was a key director for a $100 million U.S. Presidential initiative which leveraged over 25 U.S. government agencies to address environmental concerns in Asia. Gourlay established US-AEP’s business offices throughout East Asia and India. His strategic efforts helped U.S. business realize over $730 million in clean technology transactions in the region. Gourlay’s U.S.-Asia business leadership and expertise have been has been featured on Philippines GMA Channel 7 Television, The Manila Standard, Singapore’s Economic Development Board website, the Seattle Journal of Commerce, Engineering News Record and Crains Chicago Business. He has been a frequent keynote speaker across the globe, from the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles to the Rotary Club of Jakarta, Indonesia. Gourlay is also freelance international business columnist contributing to Manufacturing Today, U.S. Business Review, Venture, Pollution Engineering and the Corporate Responsibility Institute. |
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