*Pictured L-R: Bapon Fakhruddin, Zoe Cuthbert, Natasha Ramkirpal*

During AGWA’s Annual General Meeting, three new board members were announced. These individuals bring a wide range of expertise from around the world, which will prove critical as AGWA expands to AGWA Europe and beyond.

As of September 2026, the following board members have been welcomed to AGWA’s board following a vote by AGWA’s members:

Bapon Fakhruddin, Climate Investment Principal and Water Sector Lead, Green Climate Fund

Bapom Fakhruddin has long been part of the water and climate community that AGWA serves and has considerable successful experience in fundraising - much needed to ensure that AGWA can continue to deliver the tools and insights its network - and the wider world - need. He serves on several boards and has helped growing organisations sharpen their strategy, operations and governance - invaluable in this transitional period especially for building and expanding partnerships in Asia. Read more >

Natasha Ramkirpal, Group Lead: Water Security & Optimisation, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa

Natasha Ramkirpal has spent two decades inside the machinery of infrastructure delivery where the water crisis is most acute, geopolitically contested, and structurally unequal: Africa. Her vision and goal as she joins AGWA’s board is to make African solutions, and African women's engineering leadership, a much-needed active voice in AGWA's agenda. Her experience working within the private sector will be crucial to realizing that vision. Read more >

Zoe Cuthbert, Associate Director - Sustainability and Climate Resilience, Jacobs

Zoe Cuthbert’s contact with AGWA began in 2025 - supporting the establishment of an informal working group in the lead-up to the 2026 UN Water Conference. Her impressive international experience spans sectors, from UK social enterprises and UAE Government to the UN and private sector. She will help AGWA widen participation in water governance by making multilateral dialogue more accessible and relevant to the private sector. Read more >

These individuals fill seats that had been vacated during the prior year by former board members Harm Duel, Thandie Mwape, and Louise Whiting. We’d like to extend our sincerest thanks to those three previous members for the time and effort they committed to ensuring AGWA’s mission grows in both reach and impact.

AGWA welcomes three new board members