CIWEM Young Environmentalist of the Year 2019

Thomas Fudge, CEO and Founder of WASE Ltd, has been awarded the Young Environmentalist of the Year for his outstanding work on water and sanitation.

The CIWEM Young Environmentalist of the Year award recognises an outstanding contribution to environmental understanding made by a professional at the start of their career.

Thomas demonstrated a passion for environmental wellbeing both in his application and presentation. Whilst undertaking his PhD, Thomas also founded the company WASE, whose mission is to provide safe, affordable wastewater treatment, solving the global sanitation crisis by reducing the cost of wastewater treatment. He has won a number of awards for his research and hard work including the Santander University Entrepreneur of the Year.

A lot of Thomas’ work and the work WASE undertake has been inspired by the volunteering and teaching he did in Ghana.

Thomas said “WASE is developing decentralised wastewater treatment solutions with a mission to change wastewater treatment from a model that is financially draining to one that transforms wastewater into sustainable sources creating new opportunities for communities to flourish.

One of the projects we are working on is installing a pilot wastewater treatment facility next to Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. Allowing us to safely use the water for irrigation in reforestation projects. The site will generate biogas that can be used in canteens to provide a sustainable source of energy.

It's fantastic to be recognised for our passion and commitment to change the sector by CIWEM. We look forward to working together towards creating a global sustainable wastewater sector. “

CIWEM Chief Executive Terry Fuller added “It is great to see this competition grow every year and to meet some exceptional professionals in the early stages of their career. Every candidate was inspirational in their own way, actively making a positive difference to water and environmental causes on a daily basis”.

This year judging took place via video link with the CIWEM office to reduce the environmental impact of the award. Judges included representative from CIWEM and the award sponsors Jacobs. Entries for next year’s award will open again in January 2020.

Find out more about the award on the CIWEM website www.ciwem.org/awards/young-environmentalist-of-the-year.

Notes to editors

• CIWEM, The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, is the leading independent Chartered professional body for water and environment professionals, promoting excellence within the sector.www.ciwem.org
• WASE develop decentralised wastewater treatment systems that embrace a circular economy to recover energy, nutrients, and water in wastewater. www.wase-tech.com
• Jacobs is a global provider of technical, professional, and scientific services, including engineering, architecture, construction, operations and maintenance. www.jacobs.com