Marion Savill, Chair IWA NZ and IWA Fellow

Marion Savill is a water scientist with 40 years’ experience. She started her career working with ESR a Crown Research Agency in NZ (1982) where she was awarded Leader Excellence and Business Innovation excellence awards. She worked with them for 27 years before starting her own company Affordable Water working with international agencies investigating microbial techniques.

She is an IWA Fellow (2011 on) and Chair of IWA NZ (2017 on). She has a PhD in Biochemistry and specialised in DNA identification of microbes. Marion was awarded  Fulbright and  Prince and Princess of Wales Awards. She has been a fixed term faculty member and Associate Professor of School of Public health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA. Marion was the NZ Acting and Focal Point Co-ordinator for NZ with Korea between 2007-2011 where they designed and held workshops between the 2 countries on both Environment and Renewable Energy.

Marion was on the programme committee for IWA Aspire in Japan in 2011, Beijing 2015 and Kaohsiung 2023 and has been on the science programme committee for Singapore Water Week from 2009-2018.  She was on the Programme Committee for Water and Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA 2014-2016. Marion was Secretary of the IWA Specialty Group Health Related Water Microbiology (HRWM) from 2005-2009, Vice Chair, Chair and Past Chair of HRWM from 20011-2017. She is a strong believer in collaboration uniting skill sets to help solve future issues.

Gillian Blythe, Chief Executive Water New Zealand

Water New Zealand is a national not-for-profit organisation which promotes the sustainable management and development of the water environment, with particular focus on drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. Gillian joined Water New Zealand in July 2020, and during this time she and the team have increased membership numbers by more than 50% and are seen as the trusted industry voice on water matters in New Zealand. Gillian is on the Advisory Board for the Building Innovation Partnership, and is an independent director of Electricity Networks Aotearoa. Prior to joining Water New Zealand Gillian held head of strategy and regulatory affairs roles at NZX listed Meridian Energy - New Zealand's largest generator retailer, generating electricity 100% from renewable sources.