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Year: 2024

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AWS hosts first water stewardship forum in Shanghai, China

The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Representative Office hosted the first Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum in the Jing’an District of Shanghai, China on 16 October 2024.

Water stewardship experts, practitioners and policy makers gathered at the Swissotel Grand Shanghai to share water stewardship progress in China and to explore the proposed changes to the AWS Standard in Version 3.0.

The event kicked off with opening remarks from AWS CEO Adrian Sym. In the first morning session, participants heard from the public sector agencies including Ministry of Water Resources, the Taihu Basin Authority of Ministry of Water Resources, Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, and the Institute for Public and Environmental Affairs. Representatives shared insights on water security, sustainability standard trends, management of the Taihu Basin and how big data can support corporate water stewardship reporting and disclosures. Ms. Rong Cai from the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) also shared information on the development of national standards for water stewardship and how CNIS envisages working with AWS to identify synergies with the AWS Standard.

The focus then shifted towards water stewardship in practice. In the next session, representatives from the Mengniu Group, Midea and Haleon shared their insights and experiences in developing water stewardship strategies, implementing their plans and working towards AWS Certification. Ms. Lisa Seufert, Managing Director at Water Stewardship Assurance Services (WSAS) and Mr. Weimin Fang, Vice President of Customized Services of TÜV Rheinland Greater China, provided an overview of the global market for AWS Certification and trends in China. The morning session ended with the signing of a cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AWS and Mengniu Group.

The afternoon took a deep dive into collective action and the AWS Impact Accelerator. Following an introduction into the programme by AWS China Representative, Mr. Jason Lu, participants from the first AWS Impact Accelerator, Boehringer Ingelheim, Primark and TCI Limited, joined ANTA for a panel discussion exploring how the programme helps jumpstart water stewardship and collective action in priority catchments. A second panel discussion with representatives from One Planet Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and Teda EcoCenter discussed the potential for collective action in water stewardship across China.

The final session of the day explored the AWS Standard Revision. AWS China Coordinator, Ms. Cindy Chen introduced the first draft of the AWS Standard V3.0. along with the summary of changes. All attendees were invited and encouraged to provide feedback through the online survey as part of the 60-day global public consultation.

The event marks one year since the new AWS Representative Office was established in Shanghai, China. It is clear since the launch of the representative office that water stewardship continues to gain traction across the country. With 41 sites certified, China has the largest number of AWS Certified sites in the world. In addition, building on the success of the first AWS Impact Accelerator in Wusongjiang River with Cisco, Haleon, TCI, Primark, Boehringer Ingelheim and Western Digital, AWS is planning to launch a new programme in Pearl River Catchment covering Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou in

“The Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum was intended to create a space for sharing learning and ambitions in relation to water stewardship in China. I am very pleased that the event could help strengthen connections between business leaders, government agencies and civil society. With a strong foundation for water stewardship now established in China, the next critical step is to create the right incentives to integrate stewardship into everyday business approaches to water.”

Mr. Adrian Sym, Chief Executive, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS)

"The first Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum was a great success. It is believed that this communication platform will have a long-term positive impact on the development of water stewardship in China.”

Ms. Jing Li, Director of Standard Innovation Development Division, Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation

The participants of the Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum are from a wide range of industries. This also reflects the degree of recognition of the AWS Standard in China and the future development trend.”

Mr. Jason Lu, China Representative, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS)

Sponsorship

We would like to thank this year’s sponsor, TÜV Rheinland, for their support of this year’s Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum.

Photos from the event

Participants at the first Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum, held on 16 October 2024
Participants at the first Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum, held on 16 October 2024
AWS CEO, Adrian Sym, giving the opening remarks at the Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum
AWS CEO, Adrian Sym, giving the opening remarks at the Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum
AWS China Representative, Mr. Jason Lu presenting at the Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum
AWS China Representative, Mr. Jason Lu presenting at the Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum
Mr. Adrian Sym and Mr. Di Lin signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AWS and Mengniu Group
Mr. Adrian Sym and Mr. Di Lin signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AWS and Mengniu Group
Lisa Seufert, Managing Director for Water Stewardship Assurance Services (WSAS) presents at the Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum
Lisa Seufert, Managing Director for Water Stewardship Assurance Services (WSAS) presents at the Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum
AWS China Coordinator, Cindy Chen presenting at the Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum
AWS China Coordinator, Cindy Chen presenting at the Shanghai Water Stewardship Forum
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AWS and CEO Water Mandate Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Water Stewardship

The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and the CEO Water Mandate, a partnership between the United Nations Global Compact and the Pacific Institute, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in New York last month.

The MOU, signed by Adrian Sym, CEO of AWS, and Jason Morrison, Head of the CEO Water Mandate and President of the Pacific Institute, outlines joint efforts to promote credible water stewardship practices for a water-resilient future. It was signed during the CEO Water Mandate full-day corporate water stewardship meeting during Climate Week NYC on 25 September 2024.

AWS and the CEO Water Mandate aim to lead by example through collaborative and aligned efforts in the following three areas:

INFLUENCE: Increasing impact through coordinated strategies that positively influence the business community and the broader corporate water stewardship movement to demonstrate leadership and commitment to water stewardship.

DATA AND CAPACITY: Enabling access to data, tools and resources in a more streamlined and coordinated way to help strengthen capacity and promote the widespread adoption of water stewardship practices.

COLLECTIVE ACTION: By bringing together leaders in the water sector and fostering essential partnerships, AWS and the CEO Water Mandate will catalyse collaborative initiatives in priority river basins and watersheds.

“AWS and the CEO Water Mandate are united by a common goal of building a water-resilient future. As the only two organisations that exist solely to advance water stewardship practice globally, it was fantastic to see our ongoing collaboration formally recognised during Climate Week NYC. This collaboration signals to the broader water stewardship movement the need for collective action and the adoption of best practices.”

Adrian Sym, AWS Chief Executive Officer

"The urgency of the water crisis has never been greater, and the scale of the challenge underscores the necessity of collective action. That’s why the CEO Water Mandate and AWS have aligned their efforts, formalizing this partnership in New York during UNGA79. Partnerships like these are central to our collaborative model, benefiting communities, the environment, and businesses alike.”

Jason Morrison, Head of the CEO Water Mandate and President of the Pacific Institute

L-R: Adrian Sym, CEO of AWS, and Jason Morrison, Head of the CEO Water Mandate and President of the Pacific Institute

L-R: Jason Morrison, Head of the CEO Water Mandate and President of the Pacific Institute, and Adrian Sym, CEO of AWS

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AWS Forum 2024: Q&A with Scott McCready

“This is a community. It’s a growing community. It has momentum. And it has trust. And it has weight… Water stewardship is becoming an unstoppable force.”

Scott McCready, Chief Strategy Officer, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS)
Scott McCready

AWS is busy preparing for our 2024 Global Water Stewardship Forum, which will be held on 05 & 06 June at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. We caught up with Chief Strategy Officer, Scott McCready to hear how the water stewardship community continues to build momentum and what participants can look forward to this year.

Convergence was a major topic of discussion at the 2023 Forum. How has the water stewardship community made progress toward convergence in the past year? What work still needs to be done?

Honestly, I think we’ve only just begun the conversation on convergence. Collectively, most of us in the community recognise it as something that would be good to have, but arguably we don’t yet know what it means and what it involves. It’s a word, a feeling, an ambition – more than an actual thing.  So while that’s good, it’s currently a bit thin – how we make it an actual thing is what’s next.

Personally, I see this as being a long-term process of four eras. Last year, and the preparatory work for UN Water, was the first phase, asking: Do we think the convergence of our respective products, initiatives, strengths would be a good thing? The consensus seems to be ‘yes’. The phase we’re in now is really about scoping: What are the things that need to work together better, and what is the current state of nature?

The next phase is about identifying the intermediate quick wins that build out from that scoping: What can we change about our respective operating models/systems/processes that bring about quick wins. Little building blocks, starting with the achievable stuff.

The bigger, harder, and more complex stuff is the following phase: what would genuine convergence of multiple different organisations, who share an aim but have different strategies, financial imperatives, people, and programmes look like? Is it even possible or warranted? From a water security perspective, and a scaling water stewardship perspective I’d say there is a need. It’s the how that’s the difficult part.

Can you give us an overview of what can attendees expect to learn and see at this year’s Forum?

One of the things I like about the Forum is it’s one of the few places where the sole topic of discussion is water stewardship. The AWS Forum and the Mandate’s endorser meetings – arguably these are the only two spaces where everyone in the room works on the same and, let’s be frank, really quite niche subject.

That brings with it some positives and negatives. We all know that the negatives are we need to break out of our silo, etc etc. I get all that. But that silo mantra also sometimes underplays the strengths of what we have? This is a community. It’s a growing community. It has momentum. And it has trust. And it has weight. Look at the weight of the organisations that are pushing this stuff. It’s that weight that will break the silos more than anything. Water stewardship is becoming an unstoppable force. So, I’m generally quite relaxed about having a niche conversation with water stewardship-heads. Because what we are actually doing every year is growing the size and weight of our arguments and leverage.

The Forum kind of picks up on that and uses it. Since its formation, we’ve aimed to keep it as a giant workshop amongst people who know each other, know the topic from different perspectives, who rarely have the time to be in a room all at once. And we work our way through all the most pressing stuff and, with that, we jointly progress.

I realise that didn’t answer your question – sorry, haha.

Not quite. Let’s put it another way: what are some of the highlights from this year’s programme? Are there any sessions that you are particularly looking forward to?

I sort of visualise the programme as being in different parts. The two days are bookended by some big picture thinking of where we go next. Discussions with stakeholders both outside our core world and inside also.

Then, there are a few interconnected, community-wide discussions on convergence. It appears to me that there are three topics we need to converge on: what we do in places (i.e. collective action); how the things we ask companies to do relate to each other (i.e. solutions, systems, reporting mechanics); what information do we all generate, seek and need to mutually progress (i.e. data).

Then there are some AWS-specific sessions. How has our standard been used by companies? What have they learned that’s worth sharing and knowing? And how do we improve our system to make a next-stage version of the AWS Standard that is adopted at scale? The revision to V3.0 that is underway.

Finally, there are the opportunities that we see as emerging. What are the things coming up that can grow the weight, the influence and the impact of our world? At one end of the spectrum, that’s how we respond to WASH, to policy and to climate – and at the other, it’s what are the new initiatives, markets or topics that can grow this thing?

I’m basically trying to avoid saying “all of them, they are all a highlight”. But that’s what it is.

Okay, if there is one new topic what is it?

CSRD is the obvious one. I think it will be the underlying thread across a number of discussions.

On the very basic level there is – ‘what does CSRD mean for me?’. I commissioned some work with South Pole that will be presented in one of the sessions. It’s a mapping of where AWS aligns to CSRD and CDP and TNFD. It’s interesting and very positive, but it’s only really a start. What’s more interesting is what happens with that next. Our new Head of Policy, Faith Lawrence, will be taking that work forward with members on CSRD. What can we do with our members and with our peers to make the European legislation (and whatever comes in the US) a useful vehicle for credible action? How do we leverage that with what we already have?

Which in turn comes to the additional question: what does regulation mean for the wider stewardship community, and – that topic again – convergence? All of the systems, frameworks, disclosures and stuff we have collectively built, they are all voluntary. You can do them or not. However, regulatory trumps voluntary every day of the week. As Gregg Brill from the Mandate highlighted in a conversation had earlier this week, CSRD exists and to a large degree it hasn’t paid that much adherence to all of the things we have built. So how do we collectively pivot? How do we adapt the things we have built so that they are useful for the reporting companies cannot avoid, and help to position our ‘stuff’ as the best-in-class approaches to stewardship?

Conceptually that’s quite exciting. And on the ground, in the markets we target it’s a huge, huge, huge opportunity – because it’s the law. It’s everybody, not just our (albeit growing) gang of volunteers.

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Q&A with Faith Lawrence

“There is a wealth of experience in policy engagement and the adoption of water stewardship and the AWS Standard, from which we can all learn.”

Faith Lawrence, Head of Policy Engagement, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS)

AWS welcomed Dr Faith Lawrence as the new Head of Policy Engagement in April 2024. Faith is based in Cape Town, South Africa and has spent most of her career working in development cooperation, with a focus on governance, multi-stakeholder partnerships and water stewardship. Prior to joining AWS full-time, she was a member of the AWS Technical Committee from January 2020 to March 2024. We caught up with Faith to learn more about her goals in her new position and her priorities for this year. 

Can you share with us a bit about your background and what brought you to this new role at AWS? 

I am thrilled to join an organisation leading the way in water collaboration. My background includes extensive work in governance, planning support systems, local economic development and water stewardship. I have implemented, advised and led teams working with various levels of government on institutional strengthening, policy advisory processes and public-private collaboration initiatives. Over the past eight years, I have applied this experience to the water sector, specifically focusing on water stewardship partnerships.  

I led the work of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit’s (GIZ) International Water Stewardship Programme and its successor, the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme, in South Africa. This work allowed me to engage in innovative, multi-stakeholder water and natural resources stewardship partnerships, covering topics such as water security, non-revenue water, catchment-based partnerships, water resilience in industrial parks and the integration of water stewardship into national planning and framework processes, among others. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the operational context of water stewardship action and the institutional mechanisms that either facilitate or hinder it. I hold the AWS Standard in high regard for the credibility it lends to discussions and actions towards the sustainable use of water.  

This role presents an exciting opportunity to support the extensive work already in progress to enhance the impact of the AWS System. I also aim to underscore the practical value of credible water stewardship in strategic public sector engagements, as well as in global water policy and climate resilience discussions. 

What does policy engagement entail and why is it crucial work for AWS?

Policy engagement has been a continuous process within AWS – occurring at various levels through the extensive work of our members in the sites and catchments where water stewardship partnerships are established. As a water stewardship community, we have also participated in numerous global platforms on topics such as water, climate, resilience and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One area that needs further exploration is how to leverage the energy, experience and influence of credible water stewardship action in the sites and catchments where our members operate to apply these key insights in strategic public sector and water governance engagements.  

This occurs at various levels and always requires contextual consideration. As AWS, we aim to deepen our contributions to these discussions and further draw on the critical lessons and experiences of our water stewardship members who lead sustainable water use and support the adoption of the AWS Standard. Policy engagement in this context will have three dimensions:  

  • We will explore innovative ways to share knowledge and experience on improved policy engagement at the site and catchment level. 
  • We will investigate the alignment between the AWS Standard and policy compliance and disclosure processes that may govern the work of our corporate members and their value chains.  
  • Globally, we plan to continue our support of the global water community’s efforts on elevating the role of water stewardship in various topics including water, climate, resilience, collective action and adaptation. 

Which forums and initiatives are you looking forward to engaging with?

Several forums could be of interest, but I am particularly keen on reconnecting with our AWS Members who are currently engaged in water stewardship policy agendas. There is a wealth of experience in policy engagement and the adoption of water stewardship and the AWS Standard, from which we can all learn. This will also provide significant insights into how we communicate and inform our water governance and policy processes and explore how to embed a credible water stewardship standard in various contexts. Globally, I am particularly interested in the outcomes of the Water Action Agenda, World Water Forum and Conference of Parties (COP), and how water stewardship is positioned in these engagements. We, as a water stewardship community, have a rich contribution to make to these platforms, and we need to ensure this is based on solid evidence and credible action. 

How can policy and partnerships scale water stewardship and the uptake of the AWS Standard?

We can support the scale-up of the AWS Standard by deepening our understanding of the key challenges faced by water stewardship stakeholders, who understand the value of the Standard, but who are not necessarily fully embracing its adoption. We need to find practical ways to support the uptake of the AWS Standard by ensuring that there is a deeper recognition of its value in public engagement processes. There is a strong message from partners who can credibly disclose water usage achieved through certified sites. Imagine policymakers globally who recognise this with confidence through their planning, budgetary and resource allocation processes! 

Aside from your work at AWS, what do you most enjoy doing in your free time?

One of my current highlights is my Album Club where we review different jazz albums and learn about musicians, their influences and the historical context of the respective albums. I also enjoy walking and am working towards a trekking adventure in Patagonia to see the glaciers. Besides this, I love a good book and thoroughly enjoy catching up with family and friends! 

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Ten years of the International Water Stewardship Standard

By Adrian Sym, Chief Executive, AWS

This week marks ten years since the publication of the very first International Water Stewardship Standard, launched in Lima, Peru.

The development of the first ‘AWS Standard’ followed a three-year process, guided by 15 members of an international committee. I remember at the time feeling very privileged to be part of this genuinely global effort, while simultaneously acknowledging that this was only the beginning.

The initial work to develop Version 1.0 as a single standard that is applicable across the diversity of contexts and characteristics of water use was a remarkable achievement. Version 2.0 of the Standard was launched in 2019 with improvements in both form and content. These advances enabled it to be widely adopted: downloaded more than 15,000 times, and with close to 300 sites currently certified.

Ten years on, I feel immensely proud of the contribution that the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) – and by AWS I mean our staff, board and technical committee, and our network of members, partners and stakeholders – has made to build awareness, capacity and credible action on water.

At the same time, the world has changed a lot since 2014 and advances in knowledge are constantly emerging. So just as the Standard requires continual improvement in its implementation, the Standard itself needs to evolve to be an effective response to emerging challenges. The ongoing AWS Standard revision process will support our aim for V3.0 to increase the Standard’s utility and value – enabling implementation at scale, and driving collective action to address the world’s most pressing water-related challenges.

The last ten years have shown that water stewardship is not an exact science, but rather a means of understanding and working constructively within complex and dynamic systems. We hear a lot about water ‘solutions’ but despite technological advances, we will never ‘fix’ water. It needs continual care and attention. I often think that water stewardship is first and foremost about listening carefully to what others, including ecosystems, are telling us. Making sure that our ‘solutions’ are not creating unintended problems for others who rely on the same resource.

And the increasing uncertainties of water cycles require us to anticipate and be responsive to changes. This is complex stuff and that is why the inclusive collaboration that is at the heart of water stewardship is needed now more than ever.

Looking back over the last decade, it is interesting to see what remains constant and what has changed. Many of our core partners from the non-profit sector back in 2014 remain core partners today as we collectively advance the idea of ‘convergence’ within the global water stewardship community. Many of the companies who were pioneers back then remain leaders today. We have also seen new leadership in water stewardship, for example in the tech sector and pharmaceuticals. And the link between water stewardship and climate adaptation and resilience is rightly gaining more prominence and will, in my view, be one of the central features of the next decade of water stewardship during which I fully expect to see:

  • The water stewardship community coalescing around what constitutes good practice for assessment, action and reporting at both site and corporate level.
  • Agencies at all levels recognising and utilising business leadership on water as an asset in building resilience.
  • Governments and financial institutions creating incentives for adoption of credible water stewardship practices at scale.

We will be pursuing these and other topics at our upcoming Global Water Stewardship Forum on 5-6 June in Edinburgh, with learnings from this event helping to build the pathway to the AWS Standard Version 3.0.

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International Women’s Day: Celine and Aude’s story

"Globally, water is becoming a high-interest topic everywhere, not just in water-scarce areas. I believe companies need to approach water at the same level as climate change mitigation."

Celine Montauriol, Azura

Azura Group is a leading agricultural producer growing tomatoes, fresh herbs, edible flowers and clams for major European retailers and chefs. Azura aims to: ‘grow what is good for the planet, our customers, our teams and communities’.

The company joined AWS as a Funding Member in 2021. Here, Azura’s Celine Montauriol and Aude Ruiz Pradelles share their journeys in water stewardship and what inspiring inclusion means to them.

How would you describe your work to someone who may be unfamiliar with your area of work?

Celine: As Chief Sustainability & Innovation Officer, my job consists of instilling a culture of sustainability and innovation at all levels at Azura – from the CEO to farm workers.

Aude: As Quality System Director, my role is to lead the certifications programmes, including food safety, agricultural best practices and environmental certifications. I also lead a team responsible for food safety monitoring. Every day is different!

What drew you to working in water in particular?

Celine: Azura grows tomatoes in Morocco where water scarcity is increasing due to climate change. Water is an essential need that must be shared between all users – populations, industry, agriculture… We have a responsibility to develop water stewardship plans for our operations.

Aude: My role at Azura has always focused on the environment. As part of our agricultural system and commitment to sustainability, we started looking for a specific methodology dedicated to water. It has been a long journey, but it has led us to AWS.

What does water stewardship mean to you?

Aude: Water stewardship for me is the best way to be more impactful, resilient and efficient. It means looking beyond our farms to lead collective action and share experiences. It means not being afraid to face difficulties and challenge ourselves. It means gathering efforts with stakeholders and learning from the examples of others.

Celine: Developing a good water stewardship approach is essential to preserving water resources for all life locally. It is a good way to share our vision for sustainability with all stakeholders (authorities, communities, suppliers, clients,..) and explore the potential to develop common projects. This is therefore a subject that all water-conscious companies must prioritise.

How have you found working with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and/or the AWS Standard?

Celine: We compared different standards in the agricultural sector and we chose the most powerful standard for integrating water action plans and engaging local stakeholders. The AWS Standard is the one we chose!

Aude: The AWS Standard is the most relevant standard for us, even though it is not specific to agricultural activities. I have also gained access to a new network of inspiring people and high-level experts across various sectors. This is also an important aspect of AWS besides the Standard, the AWS community!

What stage would you say you are at in your water stewardship journey?

Aude: We started implementing the AWS Standard in 2019. The internal diagnosis was the first step. Due to our scope (multiple sites, integrated production plus packing operation) and dimensions (47 farms and one packhouse under a unique central management system), it was a real challenge.

We could have selected only a few farms to implement the Standard, but it would have made it more difficult to scale up the process afterward. Water stewardship is now part of our day-to-day work and we have just had our first AWS audit. I think we are at an intermediary stage. We still need to learn and share!

What achievement are you most proud of when it comes to water?

Celine: Globally, water is becoming a high-interest topic everywhere, not just in water-scarce areas. I believe companies need to approach water at the same level as climate change mitigation, and I am proud to play a part in raising that awareness.

Aude: I’m proud of the dedicated team engaged in water stewardship at Azura. Our governance includes operators, managers and division heads who unite complementary skills to set up a common commitment with multiple approaches and viewpoints. We’ve just begun a long journey and it will be a daily challenge, but the team is focused on collective action, innovation and sharing. I’m proud to be part of that.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Celine: It is an important day to remind us of the extent to which women still suffer from unequal treatment around the world, but also to highlight the women fighting against this inequality. We must stay vigilant – nothing can ever be taken for granted!

Aude: It means a lot. Celebrating women’s achievements, honouring trailblazing women who worked and still work for equity worldwide, inspiring future generations. IWD reminds us that we must promote women in all spaces, whatever their ambition and encourage them to reach their full potential.

At Azura, we continually work in networks, workshops and project management meetings. When there is a problem to solve or a project to set up, women from my organisation are mostly at the forefront, in a safe space to speak up. Diversity and the value of inclusion are key to any successful project.

Find out more about Azura Group by reading their latest sustainability report.

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International Women’s Day: Abby’s Story

'Water stewardship should always be a standalone topic within sustainability, but I think its tenets and data will become increasingly valuable to business-as-usual functions as we navigate an unpredictable business, climate and political environment."

Abby McGuckin, Water Impact Manager, Apple

We spoke with Abby McGuckin, Water Impact Manager at GSK, an AWS Member, about her role, water stewardship and what International Women’s Day means to her. 

How would you describe your role?

Sustainability at GSK involves protecting nature to make our business more resilient and ensure the ongoing supply of raw materials needed to manufacture our medicines and vaccines – this includes water which is essential in the production of medicines and vaccines and vital for human health. I work to reduce water use and improve water quality across our value chain, both internally at GSK and with external partners and organisations, to deliver on our 2030 nature commitments.

What drew you to working in water in particular?

Water doesn’t behave the way humans want or expect it to. It expands when it freezes. It always finds a crack in the dam. It’s not there when we need it most. Yet, it is the foundation of life, economies and a just future. Given its paradoxical nature, I studied water in both of my degrees.

Now, I have the pleasure of working in water full time. It’s clear that water problems need many different solutions – industrial collaboration, improved valuation, technology, and a convergent policy landscape. I was drawn to water because it allows me to think across these challenges and trends and identify insights to improve our business resilience and contribute to a nature positive world. Personally, I am excited about the water impact technology space – these innovations will help us see, think and do better to solve wicked water problems.

What does a day in your job look like?

It’s full of inspiration. Every day is different but there are common themes in my role. Internally, as a subject matter expert in the central sustainability team, I connect with our reporting, engineering, procurement, and partnerships functions on projects related to our sustainability strategy and the governance of delivering our public commitments. Externally, I participate in working groups from the Water Resilience Coalition, Pharmaceutical Environmental Group, and the Alliance for Water Stewardship. Speaking to my counterparts in pharma and in other sectors is always a highlight of my day!

What does water stewardship mean to you?

It means embracing the way water behaves, no matter how it is unruly from a human perspective. Water stewardship also means exhausting human creativity to protect and conserve this invaluable resource for the communities and ecosystems that depend on it.

What stage would you say you are at in your water stewardship journey?

I can picture the nature transformation opportunity made possible through collective action and value chain engagement, as well as the role I can play in it from a corporate perspective. Water stewardship should always be a standalone topic within sustainability, but I think its tenets and data will become increasingly valuable to business-as-usual functions as we navigate an unpredictable business, climate and political environment.

How have you found working with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and/or the AWS Standard?

Exceptional. I am consistently impressed by the ambition and quality of the AWS team, which is reflected in the Standard. I regularly use AWS materials and champion the AWS Standard as the definition and foundation of good water stewardship. I’m looking forward to V3.0!

What achievement are you most proud of when it comes to water?

Our approach to water stewardship at water-stressed sites is to 1) avoid or reduce the site’s operational impacts, 2) replenish or restore the site’s operational footprint, and 3) collaborate with stakeholders in the basin on shared water challenges towards collective action wherever possible. 

We’re delivering on this approach in the Godavari Basin, where our GSK Nashik site and key suppliers are located in India. This is made possible through dedicated on-site teams and local and international partners, such as the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) which is delivering water replenishment and WaterAid’s Women+Water Collaborative (established alongside Gap and Cargill) which is increasing climate resilient WASH access. To amplify our impact, GSK has formally committed to become Godavari’s Basin Champion, a Water Resources Coalition initiative to drive positive water impacts in 100 priority basins by 2030. We are also stepping up our commitment with Lisa Martin, GSK’s Chief Procurement Officer, taking on the role of Basin Champion for the Godavari basin. This C-Suite endorsed initiative solidifies our ongoing commitment to the Godavari. For this, I am extremely proud!

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s a time to reflect on progress made on inclusion and empowerment, level-set new ambitions and identify my role in them. It also means reflecting on my privilege and, within the water context, the fact that access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene varies dramatically around the world – especially for women who are typically responsible for domestic, water-related chores. For IWD this year, I’m going to take time to prioritise my objectives for inspiring inclusion in 2024.

IWD 2024 asks us to ‘Inspire Inclusion’. Have you experienced moments in your career where feeling included led to positive outcomes?

Absolutely. In fact, these have been defining milestones in my career. This is especially true in my current role at GSK, where colleagues across the organisation regularly ask me for my point-of-view and recommendations – on water topics and beyond. The simple act of asking for my opinion, especially as a woman earlier on in her career, immediately made me feel like an important part of the organisation and that I have a role to play in shaping its future. This goes hand-in-hand with being empowered to take on new responsibilities, including leading initiatives that I’ve recommended we pursue together. Asking questions, listening to opinions, and delegating responsibilities are fundamental to developing leadership and doing so from an inclusivity mindset embodies the 2024 IWD theme.

In the context of your work on water stewardship, are there any other female leaders in this space who you think others should know about?

Definitely!

  • Madhavi Kadrekar – WOTR, Fundraising Strategist
  • Caroline Black – Gilead, Climate and Water Stewardship Senior Manager (formerly WRI)
  • Sharai Gossart – GSK, Sustainability Project Lead (facilitating AWS implementation at GSK)
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International Women’s Day: Agni’s story

"International Women’s Day is an important reminder that efforts and resources are still continuously needed to ensure that women are well-represented and included in key issues, like water, around the globe."

Gracia Plenita Agnindhira, Training and Development Coordinator, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS)
Gracia Plenita Agnindhira (Agni)
Gracia Plenita Agnindhira (Agni) is the Training and Development Coordinator for the Alliance for Water Stewardship. To celebrate International Women’s Day, we spoke with Agni about her work and what it means to inspire inclusion.

How would you describe your work to someone who may be unfamiliar with your area of work?

My role is to coordinate the development and delivery of training programmes that are both accessible and responsive to the needs of our alliance.  

What drew you to working in water in particular?

When I was in high school and living in Jakarta, I remember having to walk through flood waters or evacuate to another building almost every rainy season. Although the city has gone through rapid modernisation in public infrastructure and services, flooding is still a major issue. These experiences inspired me to study and understand water issues.

What does a day in your job look like?

Working remotely with such an international team and network means having highly varied day-to-day responsibilities. A normal day includes working with the team in researching and developing training materials, organising course registration, delivery and reporting, and connecting with AWS Members and partners around the world. 

What does water stewardship mean to you?

Water stewardship means having a comprehensive understanding of how interconnected and interdependent we are as water users in a given space. Speaking to others in your surrounding area and forming trust-based relationships can lead to more opportunities for collective action. 

What achievement are you most proud of when it comes to your work with AWS?

I can think of several examples which are close to my heart. One of them is being part of the team that first introduced water stewardship to the Indonesian audience and built the foundation for future engagement. I am also greatly proud of the work involved in refreshing the AWS Standard System Training course to better meet the needs of our alliance, which ultimately helps us to achieve the AWS mission of igniting and nurturing global and local leadership in credible water stewardship.

What stage would you say you are at in your water stewardship journey?

Aude: We started implementing the AWS Standard in 2019. The internal diagnosis was the first step. Due to our scope (multiple sites, integrated production plus packing operation) and dimensions (47 farms and one packhouse under a unique central management system), it was a real challenge.

We could have selected only a few farms to implement the Standard, but it would have made it more difficult to scale up the process afterward. Water stewardship is now part of our day-to-day work and we have just had our first AWS audit. I think we are at an intermediary stage. We still need to learn and share!

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

International Women’s Day is an important reminder that efforts and resources are still continuously needed to ensure that women are well-represented and included in key issues, like water, around the globe. 

IWD 2024 urges us to ‘Inspire Inclusion,’ emphasizing the importance of promoting understanding and valuing women’s inclusion. Have you experienced moments in your career where feeling included led to positive outcomes or decisions?

I think I am quite lucky in the sense that I often found myself in environments (high school, universities and in the workplace) where women were well represented, and I have seen women who are strong leaders. I am fully aware this is not always the situation in different parts of the world, especially where I live. So, instead of highlighting moments of inclusivity, I would like to emphasise the value and significant role of my female mentors whom I have the privilege to work with in every stage of my life. From them, I have become so sensitized to gender inclusivity issues in a variety of contexts, learned how to live and work with it, and learned how to create a safe space for other women in the community.  

Read more about AWS’s Global Training Programme.

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