As AWS prepares for our 2026 Global Water Stewardship Forum, which will be held on 23 and 24 June at the EICC in Edinburgh, we caught up with Manuel Augusto Olaechea, Agricultural Operations Manager at Sunfruits; Rich Thorsten, Chief Insights Officer at Water.org; and Herbert Kashililah, Chair of the Board and Strategic Advisor at Shahidi wa Maji, to discuss why they come to the Forum and what sessions they’re looking forward to this year.
How long have you been attending the AWS Forum?
Manuel: I have participated in the AWS Forum for eight years, since 2019.
Rich: This is my second year attending the Forum. My organisation (Water.org) has been an official member for two years.
Herbert: I have been attending the AWS Forum since 2022, both physically and online. The Forum has consistently provided valuable opportunities to learn from global practitioners, exchange experiences and stay informed about emerging developments in water stewardship.
"The leadership promoted by other people and companies in different regions with similar problems to ours is tremendously useful for addressing our challenges."
What made you decide to attend the Forum this year?
Manuel: My participation in the Forum is always prompted by the Forum participants. From my point of view as a South American farmer, the network and knowledge that is formed at the Forum has always amazed me.
Rich: The Forum gives us an opportunity to connect with leading corporations in the water stewardship space, some of which we partner with today.
We also actively work with the Pacific Institute and Water Resilience Coalition, and the event enables us to advance conversations with them on how we can advance water stewardship goals together.
Finally, we will continue to engage the WaterLogues group on collective action promotion and management in planned meetings set to occur immediately after the Forum.
Herbert: I decided to attend this year’s Forum because it brings together diverse stakeholders from business, government, civil society and the development community to discuss practical solutions to water challenges.
I am particularly interested in the discussions leading up to the 2026 UN Water Conference and the opportunities to strengthen collective action and water resilience.
"The Forum gives us an opportunity to connect with leading corporations in the water stewardship space."
Which sessions are you most looking forward to?
Manuel: Obviously, given my work, the sessions that interest me most are those related to agriculture, but also those that share examples of multi-stakeholder sustainable management that I can implement in my region.
The leadership promoted by other people and companies in different regions with similar problems to ours is tremendously useful for addressing our challenges.
Rich: I am particularly interested in the panel discussions on the upcoming UN Water Conference, enabling civil society contributions in multi-stakeholder networks, financial incentives for water stewardship activities, mobilising WASH outcomes and impact within water stewardship plans and goals, and advancing collective action in highly stressed hydrological environments.
I also enjoy listening to others about their water stewardship journeys – where they have come from and where they want to go.
Herbert: I am particularly looking forward to:
- Incentivising Stewardship via the Public Sector – given my interest in water governance, policy, and institutional strengthening.
- Civil Society in Water Stewardship – to learn from networks such as KeWaSaNet and the National Multi-Sector Forum on Water Resources, Tanzania.
- Nature Outcomes via Water Stewardship – to explore stronger linkages between water stewardship, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience.
"The Forum has consistently provided valuable opportunities to learn from global practitioners."
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