Judges

Andy joined Tilbury Douglas in March 2024 as Managing Director for the Infrastructure business, bringing with him more than three decades of leadership experience in the delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary infrastructure programmes across the water, highways, rail, and marine sectors both in the UK and internationally. Prior to joining Tilbury Douglas, Andy held senior positions at Arcadis, where he served as a Senior Partner and UK Water Sector Lead, as well as a board member on both the Welsh Water Alliance and the South West Water Alliance. His earlier career included 25 years with Costain, where he advanced through a series of senior leadership roles. A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Andy also holds a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors, awarded with distinction.

Nicole Paterson is Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scotland’s principal environmental regulator. A multi award-winning leader and Chartered Civil Engineer, she has almost 30 years’ experience spanning environmental management, climate resilience, flood risk management, transport, infrastructure and public sector leadership. She is leading SEPA’s transformation into a modern, digitally enabled regulator, focused on protecting and improving Scotland’s environment while supporting sustainable economic growth. Nicole is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Highways & Transportation, and the Royal Society of Arts. She is a strong advocate for collaboration, innovation and public service reform, working with partners across government, industry and communities to address the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and water resilience.

As Director of Major Projects I am responsible for rapidly expanding multi-billion pound programme of work comprising complex major projects across Thames Water’s estate. A key aspect of the challenge is to create an environment that enables innovation, continuous improvement, learning, opportunity and collaboration across a demanding programme of work that optimises the needs of our Customers, operational stakeholders and our regulators.

Ian is a chartered civil engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers with more than 35 years of experience in the water sector. As Chief Engineer and Director Asset Management & Engineering he is responsible for the Environment Agency’s Technical Authority service and wide ranging asset management activities throughout England.

Terry Fuller BEng (Hons), CEng, MICE, C.WEM, FCIWEM // Terry was the CEO of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management working to influence policy and practice in the water sector and supporting the professional development, the demand for skills and dissemination of knowledge.

Charlotte Palmer holds a BSc in Geography and has over 12 years’ experience as a flood and drainage professional with a strong track record in delivering integrated solutions to complex environmental challenges. Working at Essex County Council, she brings extensive expertise in flood risk management, with a particular focus on developing holistic, sustainable approaches to resilience and climate adaptation. Charlotte has experience managing flood resilience schemes and contributing to wider environmental improvements, including nature-based solutions that enhance biodiversity while reducing risk. She is also an advocate for innovative funding and delivery mechanisms, recognising the importance of aligning flood management with broader environmental and social outcomes. In addition to her core role, Charlotte is committed to professional development and knowledge sharing within the sector. Her involvement in initiatives such as MEDiate and RESiliact demonstrates her interest in advancing decision-support tools and improving risk communication across stakeholders. Charlotte’s collaborative style, technical knowledge and forward-thinking mindset make her a valuable contributor to flood and coastal risk management.

Richard Price is a key figure in the wastewater treatment sector, known for his extensive experience and leadership in engineering and water management. He has been instrumental in transforming and delivering high performance in various engineering, construction, and operations roles across both water and wastewater treatment and infrastructure. His work includes significant achievements such as reducing spills at beaches by 20% over five years and investing £760 million over the next five years to reduce the use of storm overflows. Price's commitment to data and transparency has also been recognized, as he measures more spills and records more comprehensively than most other water companies

David Crane is a Chartered Civil Engineer with 30 years’ chartered experience and more than 20 years in senior management. With over 36 years with British Waterways and the Canal & River Trust, he has progressed from bridge engineering to Regional Engineer and now Head of Asset Management across the waterways network. He has managed multidisciplinary teams of between three to 160 people and overseen reservoirs, bridges, embankments, cuttings, culverts, locks, barrages, weirs and sluices. His expertise spans risk-based asset performance, complex programmes, framework management, strategic planning and transformational change. As Head of Asset Management, David leads technical and engineering professionals who inspect assets, investigate performance, prioritise risks and plan investment within budget constraints. He believes successful delivery depends on clear communication, effective stakeholder consultation and shared understanding of priorities, enabling teams to manage risk, expectations and long-term infrastructure performance while protecting the safety, resilience and heritage of the network for customers and communities across the country.

Steve has been Chief Executive of RSE since the beginning of 2024, leading the water technology groups expansion across the UK, North America and Australia. Prior to this, he spent 18 years at Galliford Try in civil engineering delivery. Steve chairs British Water, the UK water supply chain trade body, and is a Non Executive Director of the Scottish Futures Trust. He is also a Past President of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors and a UNICEF Global Ambassador for water programmes.

Adam Robinson, FICE, FCIWEM, is a distinguished civil engineering leader with over 30 years experience delivering transformative projects in water, flood, and coastal risk management, significantly advancing climate resilience and sustainable water provision across the UK. As Senior Programme Manager for the Lincolnshire Reservoir delivery at Anglian Water, Adam oversees the strategic execution of this critical infrastructure project, ensuring the integration of innovative solutions to secure long-term water supply and environmental sustainability. His leadership drives the project’s success, setting a benchmark for resilient and sustainable infrastructure development. Known for empowering teams, Adam shapes UK and global environmental resilience through engineering excellence. Based in Peterborough, he contributes to industry leadership via the ICE East Midlands Infrastructure Partnership Steering Group and the Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire RFCC.

I started in the flood risk industry in 2016 working for Rhondda Cynon Taff County Council as a flood risk officer before moving to Cardiff Council in 2017 as a flood risk officer first before being promoted to team leader of The Flood and Coastal Risk Management Team.

Matt is the Sustainable Solutions Director at Wessex Water and a chartered civil engineer with over 30 years’ experience in both water supply and drainage. He co-drafted the first Storm Overflow Assessment Framework, represented the water industry on the Government’s Storm Overflow Taskforce and led a Govnt. review of how legislation and regulation could be improved to manage rain better where it lands as a way of addressing the problems of a rapidly changing climate and the legacy of the combined sewerage system. He is passionate about the environment, a wild swimmer, and a leading voice in the UK on how to sustainably address the ‘too much’ / ‘too little’ water conundrum.

Jessica Fox is a Senior Flood Risk Management Officer with extensive experience in managing flood risk, strengthening community resilience, and delivering sustainable water management solutions. Working at the forefront of flood and coastal risk management, she has led and contributed to a wide range of projects that balance technical excellence, environmental stewardship, and the needs of local communities.

Throughout her career, Jessica has collaborated with local authorities, regulatory bodies, infrastructure providers, consultants, and stakeholders to develop innovative approaches to flood resilience and climate adaptation. Her expertise spans strategic flood risk planning, surface water management, partnership working, and the delivery of complex infrastructure and environmental improvement schemes. Passionate about driving excellence across the sector, Jessica is committed to sharing best practice and encouraging innovation in water and flood risk management. As a judge for the NCE Water and Floods Awards, she brings a practical, informed perspective and a strong appreciation for projects that demonstrate measurable outcomes, collaboration, and long-term sustainability.

Sam Nicholson has eight years of experience in flood and water management. He began his career in operations at the Thames Barrier before spending four years as a Principal Flood Risk Officer for London, working on investment in local flood resilience projects, including Natural Flood Management and Sustainable Drainage initiatives. Over the past year Sam has focused on the reintroduction of beavers in England, assessing their impacts on water systems, flood risk and infrastructure. Alongside his project work Sam has extensive incident management experience through a range of Environment Agency on-call roles. Most recently, he has served as an Area Base Controller for Hertfordshire and North London, supporting responses to major flooding and other environmental incidents.

Nick Gray is the Programme Sponsor for the Environment Agency's major flood and coastal risk management projects across Sussex and Hampshire. With almost 20 years' experience in the flood risk and coastal management sector, he has played a key role in delivering award-winning projects including the Medmerry Managed Realignment Scheme, Southsea Coastal Defences, and most recently the Pevensey to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme. Nick is a passionate advocate for sustainable infrastructure and environmental enhancement. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and an Incorporated Engineer registered with the Engineering Council. He helped develop the first global standard for Nature-based Solutions in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), culminating in presenting the work at COP26 in Glasgow. In 2023, he delivered a keynote address at the United Nations Association Climate and Oceans Symposium. Away from work, Nick lives in Sussex with his young family. He is Chair of a local poverty charity and is a keen runner and rugby player.

Paul is an accomplished business development professional with over 30-years’ experience facilitating growth in established and emerging infrastructure markets, including defence, nuclear, maritime, energy, water, highways, rail, flood risk management and chemical/petrochemical.  He is a Chartered Scientist (CSci), Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), Fellow of the Nuclear Institute (FNucI) and Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society (FRMetS).

Glen Westmore is Co-Chair of the Association of SuDS Authorities (ASA). The Association of SuDS Authorities (ASA), works with practitioners and policymakers across the UK to advance best practice in sustainable drainage and promote the role of integrated, water-sensitive design in creating resilient and thriving places. Glen's day job is as Spatial Strategy Programme Manager at Surrey County Council, and he has 20+ years' experience across Environmental Assessment, Flood Risk Management and Climate Adaptation within local government and the Environment Agency. Passionate about creating resilient and sustainable communities, Glen champions approaches that align water management with wider objectives for social improvement, biodiversity enhancement and climate adaptation. The Association of SuDS Authorities (ASA), works with practitioners and policymakers across the UK to advance best practice in sustainable drainage and promote the role of integrated, water-sensitive design in creating resilient and thriving places.

Alexandra Combes is a Principal Ecological Engineer at Scottish Water, specialising in ecological engineering, nature-based solutions and sustainable water management. Her work focuses on integrating natural and engineered ecosystems into water infrastructure, supporting innovation, technical standards and the wider adoption of nature-based approaches across the water industry. Alexandra works across freshwater, wastewater, rainwater and coastal environments, with particular expertise in sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS), constructed treatment wetlands and ecosystem restoration. She is passionate about bridging the gap between ecology and traditional engineering, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, applied research and knowledge sharing. Alongside her role at Scottish Water, Alexandra is actively involved with the British Ecological Society’s Ecological and Environmental Engineering Special Interest Group, supporting professional development, international collaboration and the advancement of ecological engineering as a discipline.

• Lydia is the Biodiversity Net Gain Strategic Lead for Southern Water.

• Lydia has a lifelong passion for restoring natural processes to benefit people and wildlife, deepened through her PhD on the monitoring of river restoration projects, which informed the development of a UK river restoration monitoring guide.

• With over 23 years in the environmental sector, she has worked as a Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) specialist across public service and consultancy roles.

• Lydia led the development of the UK’s Natural Flood Management (NFM) evidence directory, this helped transition the way in which floods are managed from purely engineered approaches towards the greater use of NBS. During this time, she co-developed with a UK research council an NFM research programme.

• Internationally, she co-authored fluvial chapters for USACE’s Natural and Nature-Based Features guidelines and led the an EU-funded coastal climate change adaptation project which restored coastal wetlands in England and France. This sparked her interest in estuarine and coastal NBS, leading to the creation of innovative coastal and marine NBS strategies for a variety of clients.

Alys Bishop is Flood Risk Manager at Central Bedfordshire Council, with over ten years’ experience in public-sector flood risk management. Her work spans strategic flood risk management, flood investigations, drainage, planning, infrastructure and climate resilience, including the interaction between flood risk and the highway network.

Alys works across local government and with the Environment Agency, water companies, infrastructure providers, communities and other partners to understand and address complex flood and water management challenges. Her experience includes developing and delivering practical approaches to flood risk and resilience, using evidence, data and innovation to inform decision making and investment. Her work covers the interface between flood risk, water management, infrastructure and development, with a focus on practical delivery, partnership working and creating resilient places and infrastructure.

Samantha is a Chartered Civil Engineer with more than 19 years’ experience across asset management, infrastructure engineering, project delivery, flood risk management, and operational leadership within the water sector. As Principal Engineer for the Yorkshire and North-East region at the Canal & River Trust, she leads the management of significant infrastructure risk and oversees strategic investment programmes for waterway assets. Holding a Distinction MSc in Civil Engineering, a First-Class BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering, and a BA (Hons) in Architecture, Samantha combines strong technical expertise with an ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex projects, and influence strategic decision-making at senior levels. During an organisation-wide secondment, she worked directly with executive directors to develop operational standards and prioritisation frameworks that support long-term stewardship and service delivery. Passionate about professional development and mentoring future engineers, Samantha is committed to delivering sustainable infrastructure solutions that create lasting value for communities and stakeholders.

Over her 25-year career in the water sector, Andrea has worked in consultancy, start-up and utility companies. This has provided her with first-hand experience of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector – from policy and sector structure through to technical and operational issues.  A consistent thread throughout has been innovation, including as Head of Research, Development and Innovation at Thames Water, where she was accountable for the development and delivery of the innovation portfolio, aligning to key business challenges including leakage and pollution reduction, asset condition and climate change.  She recently formed and grew the Water Advisory team at WSP, delivering technical advice, due diligence and assurance services to clients in the UK water sector.  Andrea joined Zora Ecosystems in January 2026; an innovative business that combines digital capabilities with expertise in earth sciences, land management and capital markets to accelerate nature restoration.  She is responsible for shaping and growing Zora’s solutions in the water sector, addressing key challenges such as water availability, water quality and flooding through nature-based solutions.  Andrea is also a non-executive director of British Water.

Jacqui is head of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development at the Environment Agency. She works with universities, policy and strategy leads and operational flood risk professionals to develop new research. Her team create evidence, research and scientific advice to support the ambitions of the FCERM Strategy for England. Jacqui was previously the national Community Resilience lead, where she developed ways to empower those at risk to participate in flood management actions. She has delivered projects on risk communication, flood risk economics, behavioural insights and property flood resilience, and the mental health impacts of flooding. She has also worked in operational flood forecasting. Prior to joining the Environment Agency, Jacqui worked in academia, researching environmental change in chalk rivers, where she also started her work on science communication. She holds a PhD in floodplain geomorphology and palaeoecology.