About Us
Cheap, resilient and environmentally sustainable water is achievable and I think approaches like improving water efficiency can make improvements on all three fronts. We are really lucky to have a campaigning body like Waterwise that is focused on this single but very important issue.
Rachel Fletcher, former CEO, Ofwat
Water efficiency is central to ensuring resilient water supplies in the long term, to protect and improve the environment, and in the transition to net zero.
David Black, CEO, Ofwat
About Us Menu
Our Vision
Water will be used wisely every day, everywhere, by everyone
Our Values
Purpose, pioneer, passion and people
Who we are
Waterwise is the leading independent voice in the UK for using water wisely, for the benefit of people and the planet. Our vision is that water is used wisely every day, everywhere, by everyone. We are the UK’s conscience on water efficiency, on behalf of people and the planet, and are experts in water efficiency policy, regulation, research, behaviour and campaigns. Waterwise is a people-led organisation which prioritises the wellbeing of its staff.
We are at the heart of a huge network of stakeholders in the UK – as part of this, in 2022 we published our Water Efficiency Strategy to 2030, which we created with 70 organisations and has an ecosystem of groups and activity to deliver it.
In our Strategic Direction to 2030 we set out how we will flex our independence even more, harness the power of partnerships, listen to a more diverse range of voices and, drive, develop and deliver even more campaigns. We are committed to playing our role in equity, diversity and inclusion in the water sector and we published our EDI statement setting out commitments on this in 2022.
Water scarcity is a huge issue right across the UK, right here, right now, and not just an issue for the future – water efficiency is a huge part of the solution, making the water we have go further, and reducing water and energy bills and carbon, as well as leaving more water in the environment to sustain our beautiful rivers and lakes, and economic and housing growth. We are very grateful for the support of our Supporters, Affiliates and sponsors, without whom we could not drive our vision. Do get in touch if you would like to work with us on water efficiency.
Climate Justice
The climate emergency will affect different people and places unevenly, and so is likely to lead to inequalities within and across nations, and between current and future generations, creating injustice.
This is why we put great emphasis on climate justice in our work. Climate justice for us means actively correcting this to ensure that the impacts of water scarcity are felt fairly in the UK. Specifically, it means ensuring that water efficiency policies, programmes and messages do not reinforce or make worse existing systemic biases against people both with protected characteristics* and with other characteristics which make them vulnerable to bias, such as low family income – and also taking care of the natural environment from which we source the water.
*Protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Our Network
Waterwise has its finger in pies right across the UK! The map below shows our Supporters and Affiliates and the groups we’re involved in. For a small team of 7, our reach and influence is big.
Our Staff Team
Waterwise works a 4 Day Week* so the office is closed on Fridays.
*You can find out more about the 4 Day Week here.
Rob Bealey
Team Assistant
Rob is our Team Assistant with 10+ years administrative experience. In his spare time Rob enjoys music, gardening and has a passion for history and wildlife.
My sustainability pledge for 2023 is to approach my garden with wildlife and nature in mind, including the weeds!
07513702172
Stephanie Fox
Head of Water Efficiency Engagement
Stephanie aka ‘Water Saving Steff’ has been in the Water Industry for seven years and is the Head of Water Efficiency Engagement at Waterwise. She loves travelling, reading, photography and her two pet rabbits Ralph and Millie.
My sustainability pledge is to reduce my fast fashion and meat consumption throughout the year.
07955824737
Stella Lindsey
Office Manager
Stella has over 20 years experience in operations management and is the Office Manager at Waterwise. Stella loves gardening, good food, sunshine and organising!
My sustainability pledge for 2023 is to reduce how much fast fashion I purchase and try and reuse/repair clothing that I already have.
0208 164 1490
Jo Osborn
Deputy Head of Policy and Public Affairs
Jo has over 15 years’ experience in the water industry, with a particular interest in stakeholder engagement and behaviour change communications. She completed a MSc in Behavioural Science at LSE in 2020. In her spare time, Jo enjoys open water swimming and is getting back (gradually) into netball.
My sustainability pledge for 2023 is to look after the soil in our garden better – it’s nature’s very own water butt and also digging soil releases carbon. So I’m investigating ‘no-dig’ gardening and learning more about soil health.
07871730899
Nathan Richardson
Head of Strategy and Policy
Nathan has over 30 years experience in the water sector working in academia, for the Water Industry, in consultancy and for NGOs. He is our Head of Strategy & Policy and in his spare time is a natural and human history buff and long-suffering Aston Villa fan.
My sustainability pledge for 2023 is to reduce my energy use during the day by turning off my central heating; just heating the room I work from.
07793251450
Nicci Russell
Chief Executive Officer
Nicci’s career in the water sector spans over 20 years – across government, regulators and Waterwise. Nicci is a mum to three and loves people, politics, music and nature. She is a high school governor and a former junior school Chair of Governors. She is a Chair of Power2, a national youth development charity.
My sustainability pledges for 2023 are to eat more vegan food and buy more secondhand clothes.
07871092749
Laura White
Projects and Research Manager
Laura loves all things water, in particular water efficiency and has been in the water industry for 5 years. She is our Projects & Research Manager and in her spare time likes to explore new places, cook and play her clarinet and saxophone in various bands.
My sustainability pledge for 2023 is to continue buying pre-loved/second-hand clothes as much as I can and talking about this with friends and family.
07597398764
Our Board
Steve Arthur
Non-Executive Director (December 2022)
Steve has been hugely fortunate to have worked in water for his whole career, from delivering capital programmes, leading business change to running the retail business market. His current role is a global engagement role for utility technology innovator, Smart Energy Water, developing digital platforms to connect customers and communities with their water and energy use.
Tania Flasck
Chair
Tania Flasck is currently Managing Director of Utilities with ExploreAI having previously been MD of People, Learning & Futures with Skewb. She has held senior roles with Affinity Water, Thames Water, served on the infrastructure board with Turner & Townsend along with Vice President with Jacobs and MWH and is a Non Exec Director with British Water. An environmental professional with over 30 years’ experience predominantly in the water sector, she has worked all over the world bringing strategy and projects to life. Tania’s formative years were spent commissioning and operating water & wastewater treatment facilities in the UK and USA, subsequently progressing into a variety of leadership roles in project delivery, strategy and business development. A working Mum with three children, she is a huge advocate for diversity in the sector.
My pledge is to make 2023 my year for minimising my personal impact on the environment. I am committed to eating sustainably and plant based, reducing waste in the process, shopping local, mending clothes rather than just buying more and reusing clothes (charity shops!) when I need to get additional clothes. I will question the need for more purchases and commit to reduce and reuse first.
Lee Horrocks
Deputy Chair
Lee has worked in the water sector all of his career, for both contractors and professional consultants, at all levels including MD and CEO. He has been a non-executive Director of British Water for over 10 Years. He now has his own Executive Consulting business, supporting small businesses and SMEs in the sector, and with this in mind recently accepted the post of UK water sector strategic advisor to Enterprise Ireland.
Mumin Islam
Board Observer Until Autumn 2023
Mumin has over 14 years of experience in the water sector and a strong passion for water efficiency and reducing waste in general and working with hard-to-reach communities. He is currently at South Staffs Water and Cambridge Water, leading the next Price Review 2024 (PR24) – the company’s next business plan.
Chana King
Non-Executive Director (December 2022)
Chana is a project manager, school governor and foundation committee member, working and volunteering in places that impact positively on our communities.She is passionate about inclusion and diversity however mostly enjoys spending time exploring our capital city and crafting with her children.
Karma Loveday
Non-Executive Director
Karma has been a specialist water and regulated industries journalist for over 20 years. She founded The Water Report in 2014 and now edits and runs it as a family business.
She is also an advisor on water policy, including to major businesses.
Karma loves living by the sea in Brighton, with her husband and two children.
Karma’s sustainability pledge is to try to tread lightly on the planet, including through no meat and no unnecessary purchases.
Diane McCrea
Non-Executive Director (December 2022)
Over the past twenty years Diane has (amongst other things) worked on the sustainability agenda with the Consumer Council for Water, Natural Resources Wales, and Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales. Previously based in London, she worked on food and consumer affairs with consumer groups, WHO, FAO and the European Commission, travelling all over the world for this work, but is now happy to be living and working back home in Wales.
Tanya Sephton
Non-Executive Director (December 2022)
With over 20 years’ experience in the regulated and deregulated water sector, Tanya has significant experience in customer service, business planning and performance management, economic regulation, business change and transformation and programme management. She thrives in a role that provides challenge and is built on integrity, and working in an industry that has a purpose and value to society.
Nicci Russell
Chief Executive Officer
Nicci’s career in the water sector spans over 20 years – across government, regulators and Waterwise. Nicci is a mum to three and loves people, politics, music and nature. She is a high school governor and a former junior school Chair of Governors. She is a Chair of Power2, a national youth development charity.
My sustainability pledges for 2023 are to eat more vegan food and buy more secondhand clothes.
Suzanne Thompson
Non-Executive Director
Suzanne is a strategic, award-winning, commercially-oriented HRD with extensive business transformation and service delivery experience.
An experienced NED and Mental Health Charity Chair, Suzanne is passionate about people, the environment and making a difference.
Suzanne has over 20 years’ experience in the utility sector and is delighted to be part of the Waterwise Board.