Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality (UCEWQ), housed within the Institute for Water Resources at Rhodes University joins forces with Unilever SA, to host a full day colloquium on “CORPORATE WATER STEWARDSHIP” this week, at International Convention Centre (ICC) in Cape Town.
This is an initiative by UCEWQ and Unilever to “catalyse, facilitate and contribute to a vibrant and workable set of actions that promote and create the reality of Corporate Water Responsibility in South Africa” said Prof Tally Palmer. The event is part of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA), biennial conference.
With the catch phrase “Water is the key resource that can unlock South Africa’s potential to offer citizens an increasing experience of wellbeing”.
The Corporate Water Stewardship will take participants through a programme of input from an expert panel and active discussion. The event’s objective is to create a conversation space in which participants explore ways that corporate South Africa can co-operate, collaborate and form a “community of practice” in Corporate Water Stewardship, and catalyse South Africa playing a global leadership role.
The day will promote discussion and allow participants to plan concrete steps forward” an invitation has been extended to stimulate the discussion.
Eminent speakers from multiple sectors including Government, Industry, and Research will contribute.
Keynote speakers include Mr Maxwell Sirenya, Director General, DWA, Mr Dhesigen Naidoo, CEO, Water Research Commission, Mr Jason Morrison, Pacific Institute and founder of CEO Water Mandate, Mr Ross Plumbley, Vice President of Research and Development, Unilever South Africa.
As well a formidable panel representing key industries, including Mr Ross Plumbley, Vice President of Research and Development, Unilever South Africa, Mr Trevor Balzer, Chief Operating Officer, DWA, Mr Martin Ginster, Manager of Water and Waste SH&E Centre, SASOL, Mr Andre Fourie, Head of Sustainable Development, South African Breweries, Mr Sanjeev Raghubir, Water and Engineering, Nestlé South Africa, Mr David Brittain, from Coca-Cola and Eskom representative.
Mr Nandha Govender will lead the discussions and ideas on initiatives to address freshwater sustainability in alignment with South Africa context.
The event will be a platform for the launch of Unilever ‘s South African Sustainable Living Plan. Initiated in November 2010, Unilever Sustainable Living Plan” is a commitment to a 10 year journey towards achieving sustainable growth.
Picture by Sophie Smith