EIT Water Supervisory Board Announced

EIT Water has announced the appointment of its first Supervisory Board. EIT Water is the newest Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

The Board will provide strategic oversight and independent guidance as EIT Water establishes itself as Europe's leading innovation community for the water, marine and maritime (WMM) sectors and ecosystems. The Board brings together a wealth of international experience spanning financial governance, water and ocean policy, blue economy strategy, climate finance, environmental regulation, sustainable development and higher education innovation.

Hedwige Nuyens, Chief Executive Officer of the International Banking Federation and Chair of European Women on Boards, has been appointed as Chair of the Supervisory Board. She brings over 40 years of international leadership at the intersection of governance, finance and policy, including a decisive role in the adoption of the landmark 2022 EU Directive on gender balance on corporate boards.  

Commenting on her appointment, Hedwige Nuyens said:

"Water security is Europe's defining strategic challenge of the next two decades - as critical as energy security and as complex as the digital transition. I am honoured to chair this exceptional Supervisory Board, whose members bring together deep expertise from across industry, research, innovation, policy and governance. Together, we are committed to guiding EIT Water through its foundational phase and ensuring it becomes a true powerhouse of European water, marine and maritime innovation - one that delivers lasting impact for communities, economies and ecosystems across Europe."

Hero Prins, Interim CEO of EIT Water, welcomed the appointments:

"The calibre and diversity of this Supervisory Board sends a clear signal about our ambition. EIT Water exists to unite the best minds in Europe to tackle our most urgent water challenges, and having a Board of this strength guiding our strategic direction gives us the foundations to deliver on that mission. I look forward to working closely with Hedwige and the entire Board as we build this organisation to deliver the innovative solutions needed in the Water, Marine and Maritime sectors.”

The Supervisory Board members announced today are:

Chair

• Hedwige Nuyens (Belgium) - Chief Executive Officer, International Banking Federation. Chair of European Women on Boards and Chair of the climate change think tank E3G. Former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer at major European banks.

Members

• Dr Ger Bergkamp (Netherlands) - President and CEO of ARCOWA, an impact advisory firm specialising in water, climate adaptation and innovative financing. Former CEO of the International Water Association and Director General of the World Water Council. Co-Founder and COO of Nature Analytics, an AI-driven natural hazard risk start-up.

• Dr Laura Burke (Ireland) - Former Director General of the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, where she led the organisation for fifteen years, growing staff from 324 to 550 and was accountable for a budget of €93m. Former Chair of the European Environment Agency board across 33 member countries and former President of Engineers Ireland. Chartered Director.

• Astrid Nørgaard Friis (Denmark) - Group Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Grundfos, bringing experience in water, governance, sustainability and public policy. She has helped advance Grundfos’s water stewardship agenda and build partnerships across the European water ecosystem, with a focus on stakeholder alignment, institutional collaboration and long-term impact.

• Senida Mesi (Albania) - Senior development economist and board executive with over 20 years of leadership across government, banking, sustainable finance and institutional reform. Former Deputy Prime Minister of Albania, where she chaired the Water and Dam Management Board and National Civil Protection Committee. Member of the EC High-Level Expert Group on Scaling Up Sustainable Finance. Advises GIZ, OECD/SIGMA and the Council of Europe on policy and governance.

• Angela Schultz-Zehden (Germany) - Managing Director of the SUBMARINER Network, which she has built into a European organisation with over EUR 260 million in project volume, with a leading role in the EU Mission Ocean & Waters. Member of the European Ocean Board, the High-Level Expert Group advising the European Commission on the European Ocean Pact. Former member of the EIT Water Steering Committee.

• Professor Efstratios Stylianidis (Greece) - Professor and Board Member at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Former Vice Rector for Research and Lifelong Learning. Coordinator of 12 EU-funded research projects and currently leading three EIT HEI Initiative projects. Former Member of the EIT Water Steering Committee.

Two further Board members will also be confirmed in the coming weeks.

A Board built for the challenge ahead

Europe's water, marine and maritime systems face unprecedented pressures, from ecosystem degradation and pollution to climate-related extremes and resource scarcity. EIT Water was established to unite innovators, researchers, educators and policymakers across Europe to address these challenges through coordinated, place-based innovation.

The Supervisory Board will play a critical role in ensuring EIT Water delivers on its mission to accelerate Europe's transition to sustainable, resilient and inclusive water systems. The Board's mandate includes strategic oversight of EIT Water's 7-year strategic agenda, oversight of financial sustainability planning, and ensuring accountability and public value as the organisation scales its operations from 2027 onwards.

The Board will meet at least four times per year and will aim to establish sub-committees in areas such as audit, remuneration and governance to support its work.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

• EIT Water is delivering its activities through a network of 8 regional hubs across Europe representing 29 countries, with a Head Office in Aarhus, Denmark.

• The Supervisory Board consists of a Chair and eight members, with a majority of independent members. The Chair and six members are announced today, with the final appointments to be confirmed shortly. Members are appointed for a period of up to 3 years.

• EIT Water is currently in its EIT Start-up Grant Agreement (SUGA) phase during 2026, with full operational launch expected in 2027.

• EIT Water will shortly be opening to new Members. If your organisation is interested in joining, please register your interest here: Register your interest

Media contact: communications@eitwater.eu

About EIT Water

EIT Water is Europe's innovation community for water, marine and maritime systems. We connect industry, innovators, researchers, educators and policymakers to tackle the most urgent water challenges-from scarcity, drought and flooding to pollution and ecosystem decline.

By bringing together the right expertise, investment and partners, we help new ideas flow into real-world solutions that strengthen Europe's water resilience, support the blue economy and protect ecosystems from source to sea.

EIT Water is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

About the EIT

The EIT is an EU body and an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Institute supports dynamic pan-European partnerships, called EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities, among leading companies, research labs and universities. Currently ten EIT Knowledge & Innovation Communities are supported, including EIT Water. Together with its leading partners, the EIT Community offers a wide range of innovation and entrepreneurship activities across Europe: entrepreneurial education courses, business creation and acceleration services and innovation driven research projects.

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