CIWEM Presidential Award 2025 winners announced

Youvrani Thimmegowda, Presidential Ripple Award winner

17 December 2025 – We're delighted to announce the winners of the prestigious CIWEM Presidential Awards 2025. These awards celebrate the members who are making a significant impact on our water and environmental sector through their dedication, innovation, and leadership.

Judging the Presidential Awards

CIWEM past president Hannah Burgess and CIWEM early careers past president Peter Rook shared their thoughts on the judging process and the inspiring work of the nominees.

"Our members are our greatest strength," says Hannah Burgess. “They carry out amazing work every day to conserve and enhance our water environment, often volunteering to work for CIWEM Branches, Groups, Panels, Committees and as mentors, giving up their precious time and sharing their knowledge and experience in the process.

"The awards celebrate those who are pushing boundaries and making a real difference. They send a powerful message that there are many ways to make an impact, sparking momentum, inspiring others, and kindling the ambition needed to meet the climate and environmental challenges ahead of us. This is the ripple effect which our members create.”

The judging process involved a meticulous review of each nomination against the awards criteria, with a focus on lasting influence and impact. "It was inspiring to see this impact at every career stage, from bold early career contributions to the sustained legacy of those who have shaped the sector over decades," adds Peter Rook.

This year's entries highlighted the sector's evolution in response to the escalating climate crisis, with a clear shift towards collaborative, people-led solutions centred on resilience, diversity, inclusion and long-term impact.

Presidential Award 2025 winners

Here are the winners of this year's award

Presidential Ripple Award

• Winner: Youvrani Thimmegowda, AECOM

Youvrani, Presidential Ripple Award winner: "I feel so appreciated. When I started my journey with CIWEM, there was no training scheme in my [previous] company, there was nothing for environmental engineers. So I just wanted people to get the benefit of being part of an professional body.

"My intention was to connect people to the right professional institutions for their work. I think intentions are very important and when you do the right things, you'll get the award, you'll get the appreciation."

Global Ambassador Award

• Winner: Youvrani Thimmegowda, AECOM
• Highly Commended: Liam Foster FCIWEM CWEM C.Env C.Sci, WSP and Alfred C K LEE (李子健), Water Supplies Department (Hong Kong)

Innovation Award

• Winner: Paddy Brow, Northern Ireland Water
• Highly Commended: Peter O'Flaherty, AtkinsRéalis

Long Service Award

• Winner: Mark Bentley, JBA Consulting
• Highly Commended: James Hale, Cura Terrae Water and Will McBain, Arup

Early Careers Award

• Winner: Kieran Murnane, Mott MacDonald
• Highly Commended: Ashleigh Brown, AtkinsRéalis

Diversity Award

• Winner: Liliana Rose FCIWEM, WSP
• Highly Commended: Rebecca George MCIWEM C.WEM, Environment Agency

We'd like to congratulate our award winners for making a significant impact on the water and environmental sector through innovation, leadership, and a commitment to creating a better future for people and the planet.

This was a great way to end what has been a fantastic year of work from our past Presidential team, and we look forward to the year ahead with our new presidential team of John Curtin and Emily Blaney.

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• Read about about CIWEM's 2025/26 Presidential Theme.
• Explore the different routes to CIWEM membership.