Amir Cahn, Chief Executive Officer

Amir joined SWAN in 2013 and has been instrumental in growing the organisation into the leading global hub for the smart water sector. Throughout his time, he has helped engage members, develop in-depth research reports, and create innovative tools such as the SWAN Interactive Tool and Knowledge Hub. Amir also helped launch and grow regional SWAN Alliances in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. Before joining SWAN, he completed a dual-master’s degree in Environmental Science and Public Affairs from Indiana University. In conjunction with SWAN, Amir is now pursuing a PhD focused on the impact of the Data-as-a-Service model on water and wastewater management.

Shayna Ramboz, Chief Operating Officer

Guided by her passion for collaborating for a better world, Shayna joined SWAN in 2020 as an Events Director responsible for annual conferences, partner events, and global webinars. She now serves as the Chief Operating Officer, helping programmes and strategic initiatives run smoothly. Shayna also acts as the organisation’s focal point for the global SWAN Digital Twin Work Group. Before joining SWAN, she completed an MBA with a specialisation in environmental sustainability.

Sandy Moskovitz, Programme Director

Sandy joined SWAN as Programme Manager in 2021. Her vast experience in customer service, sales and start-ups allows her to better serve SWAN members and help them leverage all of the benefits that SWAN Forum has to offer. Sandy also serves as the main point of contact for RiSWP, SWAN’s global young professional community. As a native Spanish speaker, she hopes to help bridge the gap with SWAN Latin America partners. Sandy holds a BA in Economics and Criminology from the University of Miami and an MA in Environmental Studies from Tel Aviv University.

Sabrina Frischmann, Marketing Manager

Sabrina joined SWAN in 2023 as the Marketing Manager. She is responsible for developing, implementing and executing strategic plans for all online channels and events. She holds a BA in Business Administration with a major in Events Management from Hult International Business School in London. Additionally, she has spent time volunteering for non-profit organisations dedicated to environmental consciousness and social welfare.

Mohamad Iznul Muazim, Asia-Pacific Director

Iznul leads SWAN’s Asia-Pacific activities, including managing the SWAN Asia-Pacific Alliance. He is a professional with a background in commercialising sensors, water and environmental monitoring solutions and analytical solutions. Iznul has experience in the environmental and water industry gained from strategic business management and first-hand environmental project delivery, predominantly within Southeast Asia. His experiences include developing digital solutions and generating insights for water utilities and regulators to understand their water management better.

Jen Rodaway, Financial Controller

Jen is a CIMA Qualified Accountant who has been working with the SWAN Forum since 2012 providing support with invoicing, payments, cash-flow, banking and financial reporting. She currently works as Head of Finance for i2O who she has been with for 10 years.

Jennifer Rebeiro, Chair

Jennifer is the Chief Transformation Officer at Greater Western Water and SWAN Council Chair. She has over 20 years’ experience across diverse industries where she has gained excellence in digital technology, transformation, project management and change management. Jennifer was named as one of the Top 50 CIO’s in Australia in both 2021 where she was number 5 in Australia and 2020 and was recently named one of Victoria’s Top 50 Women Public Sector Women for 2021. Jennifer has a Master of IT Management, Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Business, is a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a range of ICT and project management industry accreditation’s. She also is the Deputy Chair of the Intelligent Water Network Executive Group, and Wyndham Tech School Committee.

Andy Smith

Andy is Head of Smart Water at Anglian Water Services, which provides water and water recycling services to almost 7 million customers in the East of England. Over the past 35 years, he has worked both within the UK and on several overseas projects specialising in Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and network management. Andy leads with a focus on people and has a passion for cross-sector collaboration and innovation. His current role combines his core strengths of disruptive thinking and tenacity to drive digital transformation within the water sector, with the aim of creating the water utility of the future.

Eric Bindler

Eric is Senior Research Director for Bluefield Research, overseeing Bluefield’s Digital Water and Municipal Water research services. His areas of expertise include digital water technology, company strategy, water finance and investment, and water and climate policy. Prior to joining the SWAN Council, he led the SWAN Americas Alliance Research Group for three years, for which he was awarded an Outstanding Leadership Award by industry peers and professionals. Eric’s in-depth analysis is often cited in the press, and he is a frequent panelist at global industry and corporate events. Eric holds an MA in Global Development Policy from Boston University.

Fredrick Royan

Fredrick has been analysing the global water market for over 15 years and is the Global Leader and Vice President of the Sustainability and Circular Economy practise at Frost & Sullivan. He led the launch of the Smart Water Program in 2010 and has since focused on shaping the Global Water Research Program around digital transformation and together with his team of analysts has published authoritative reports on Smart Water Grid and related segments. He has a Masters in Environmental Protection and Management from the University of Edinburgh secured as a Shell Centenary Chevening Scholar and has also been conferred the Frost & Sullivan Fellowship.

Nav Otal

Nav has over 20 years experience in utility management, fiscal and strategic planning, and policy development in the public sector. She has been the Director of Utilities for the City of Bellevue for 7 years and was the Deputy Director for 6 years prior to that, overseeing Engineering, Operations and Maintenance, and Resource Management and Customer Service. Nav previously worked as a researcher in the field of cancer endocrinology at the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from University of British Columbia and a Master’s degree in business administration from City University.

Rik Thijssen

Rik has over 25 years of experience in innovation and business development in several sectors including 12 years in the water utility domain. He is leading the business development department at Vitens, the largest water utility in the Netherlands serving 5.4 million customers. In addition to his responsibility in establishing Vitens’ smart grid infrastructure, Rik is also leading innovative programs on customer technology, sustainability and circular economy. Rik holds a BSc in microbiology, a Business Administration & Business strategy degree from the Academy of Management (IBO-University Groningen) and finished the Leading Digital Transformation & Innovation programme at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.

Scott Branum

Scott has worked in the water industry for over 21 years. His experience includes end-to-end process water management, treatment and conservation. He is now Senior Manager for the Digital Business Solutions group at Evoqua Water Technologies. This team develops smart water products and IoT solutions for Evoqua’s digital transformation strategy. Scott holds a BS in Biochemistry from Auburn University.

Shirley Ben-Dak, Senior Advisor

Shirley joined SWAN in 2016 to lead the organisation’s marketing, innovation and strategic activities, helping to expand SWAN’s regional and global presence. She has developed new smart water frameworks, led global innovation sessions, and managed strategic partnerships and research projects. A certified PMP, she serves as the CEO and Founder of Bird Eye Consulting, an impact-driven project management firm working with public, private and non-profit clients across water, smart cities, digital transformation, and sustainability. Before joining SWAN, Shirley completed an MSc. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University focused on water resource management & sustainable cities.

Gigi Karmous-Edwards, SWAN Ambassador

Gigi is an independent consultant of Karmous-Edwards Consulting. She consults on digital strategy and transformation, and now focus on digital twin technology. She currently works with global smart cities on integrating digital twin technology across sectors applying her 25+ years technical career in big data and IoT analytics. Gigi recently founded and is the co-Chair of the SWAN Digital Twin Work Group to help accelerate the adoption of holistic water utility management using digital twins. She has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering.

Michael Strahand, SWAN Ambassador

A bilingual entrepreneurial scientist, Michael is a respected member of the global smart water community, a well-regarded water industry expert who fuses academic excellence with business acumen. Michael has founded and led several innovative companies from start-up to a position of market leadership. Michael takes a holistic, independent view and identifies how to employ technology, people and analytics to deliver results and value to water utilities and customers. He is passionate about water and especially the way that Smart water systems can help us on your journey towards a world where everyone has equal access to water and sanitation.

Vikram Gulecha, SWAN Ambassador

People often describe Vikram to be an upbeat, self-motivated team player with excellent communication skills. He is Co-founder (Strategy & Alliances) at OCEO WATER, based in Bangalore. Passionate about social impact ventures, OCEO Water is building a decentralised, proactively managed system which is aligned to support the digitalisation efforts under the Jal Jeevan Mission taken up by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. Besides being a Jala Senani (Water Warrior) of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), he was also selected for the India Innovators Program organised by Trade and Investment Queensland department of Queensland Government.

Tertius Rust, SWAN Ambassador

Tertius is an independent consultant and Chartered Civil Engineer with an Executive Master’s in Business Administration. For more than 10 years Tertius worked on different water transformational projects in Africa, Philippines, United Kingdom and Singapore. He recently moved back to South Africa after working as the Head of Digital for Jacobs utilities line of business which focuses on enabling data benefits realisation by using a wide range of products, services, and processes. He is currently supporting cities like Cape Town towards leveraging the benefits of the 4th Industrial Revolution and ensuring any investments made in smart water are fit for purpose and in the best interest of its citizens.

Andy Dunn-Flores, SWAN Ambassador

Andy has over 30 years’ experience of working in the water industry for Clients, Contractors and Consultants principally in the UK but also in Global roles incorporating many countries including the US, Australia and Middle East. While running the European Water Business for Jacobs it became apparent that digital transformation was not only available but essentially to drive a step change in the cost and performance of the water industry. Having commissioned digital twins as Chief Engineer of Thames Water the value is plain to see. Now as an Advisor to Explore-ai, a Data Science and Engineering company focused on Utilities, the digital transformation within the Water industry is beginning to be accessed with material benefits. Sharing and supporting the digital opportunities within the Water community as a SWAN Ambassador should greatly accelerate access to these benefits for water consumers and the environment.

Ken Thompson, Chair

Ken has 38 years of experience in the industry and is a Senior Technology Fellow for Jacobs in their Denver Office. He serves as the Global Technology Leader for IoT and Smart Sensors for the Jacobs Digital Solutions Team, which includes the design and implementation of smart systems for water, wastewater and other sectors. Ken has managed or served as the technical lead in many Surveillance and Response systems and water quality optimisation projects. Prior to joining Jacobs, Ken worked for public utilities in water, wastewater, recycled water system operations, process evaluation, water quality, and regulations.

Manuel Parra

Manuel is Vice President of Practice Management at Xylem. He previously served as the Business Development Director, Software Solutions – Americas at AVEVA. Manuel has become an avid and active voice in the smart water networks space and has authored numerous articles, white-papers and presentations on various smart water topics. He has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Murcia (Spain) and a B.A. in European Business from Manchester Metropolitan University (UK).

Amir Peleg, Chair

Amir is the Founder & CEO of TaKaDu, a global leader in Central Event Management (CEM) solutions for water utilities. TaKaDu was honored as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum of Davos and featured as a Harvard Business School case study. In addition, Amir is a Co-Founder of SWAN. A serial entrepreneur, Amir founded YaData in 2005, serving as CEO until the company’s acquisition by Microsoft in 2008. Prior to that, he founded Cash-U in 1999 (later named Unipier). Amir holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.

Simon Bunn

Simon is the Asia Pacific and North America Business Development Manager at SUEZ Australia & New Zealand. His 35-year career in control systems engineering has given him specialist expertise in PLC programming, SCADA systems and database systems as well as broader ICT/IoT and Technology matters. In this respect he has been an avid technology contributor to many engineering publications and international conferences over the last 20 years. In 2000 Simon used his experience to design the complex software at the heart of the Aquadvanced Energy Software (previously Derceto Aquadapt), the world’s first commercially available real-time pump scheduling optimizer. This led Simon to be selected as New Zealand’s Engineering Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005. He has been instrumental in continuing to develop the roadmap for the Aquadvanced Energy Software. During this time Simon has also held business development roles in the Asia, US, Europe, UK and the Middle East. Simon brings a wealth of international knowledge especially around cloud hosting, cyber-security, data collection/management, communications systems, performance monitoring, control systems and operations optimisation.