Kamilla Sultanova

Moderator, Associate Partner,SavvY Advisory LTD

Jamshid Khodjayev

Deputy Prime Minister,Republic of Uzbekistan

Sabine Machl

Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Uzbekistan,United Nations

Dr. Sabine Machl of Austria has been appointed UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan on 1 June 2024.
Before she has been appointed as UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia from 1 June 2019 to May 2024. Prior to this post, Sabine has worked in international organizations for more than 22 years among those over 7 years for the UN. Her latest assignment was UN Women Representative in Indonesia and Liaison to ASEAN and before that she headed UN Women in Palestine and Kyrgyzstan.
From 2007-2011 Sabine was the Head of Section/Senior Adviser to the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in The Hague covering the countries of the former Soviet Union.
From 2005-2007 she was posted in Kyrgyzstan as Deputy Head of the
OSCE Centre in Bishkek. She also worked for four years as the Head of the Central Asia desk in the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre in Vienna.
Throughout 2001 Sabine was assigned Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Estonia and during Austria’s OSCE Chairmanship in 2000, she was First Secretary in the Austrian Permanent Mission. She worked as Desk Officer for Southeastern Europe in the Political Section of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the European Parliament, in three different courts in Vienna and as a teacher in Croydon/London.

Akiko Fujii

Resident Representative in Uzbekistan,United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Ms Akiko Fujii was appointed Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan in July 2024.
Ms Fujii has worked for UNDP for over twenty five years: as Resident Representative in Maldives; as Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam, Fiji Multi-Country Office (for Fiji,Federal States of Micronesia, Kiribati,Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu,Vanuatu) and Jamaica; and in various capacities at offices in Sudan, Tokyo (current UNDP Representation Office in Japan), and Pakistan.
Ms Fujii is strongly committed to the UN’s sustainable development agenda. As a UN senior manager, she has engaged energetically with economic and social issues arising from climate change, managed large scale humanitarian assistance in crisis and conflict situations, and advised on governance systems for achieving fair and sustainable human development for all.

Awaadh Al Otaibi

Chief Executive Officer (CEO),Miahona

Awaadh Al Otaibi is the Chief Executive Officer of Miahona, a leading Saudi Infrastructure Development & Holding Company with active investments across the water infrastructure sector. Miahona, listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange, is the first developer of water and sewage infrastructure in the Kingdom using the PPP model since 2003 and currently provides services to a population of more than 8 million in multiple cities within the Kingdom.

Barbara Janusz-Pawletta

Regional Representative for Central Asia,International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Acts as a IWMI Country Representative -Uzbekistan, and Head of the Regional Representative Office for Central Asia. She is a researcher in the IWMI Research team on Water Governance and Political Economy (WGPE) focusing on Water law, International environmental law, water governance and diplomacy, transboundary cooperation. Previously, she acted as a Vice-president on International Cooperation and Sustainable Development at the Kazakh-German University (DKU) and UNESCO Chairholder for water management in Central Asia. Barbara is a member of International Law Association, International Water Law association, Center for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) and DAAD Scientific Committee on academic cooperation with post-soviet countries; Barbara is one of funders and the Editor in Chief of the Central Asian Journal of Water Research (CAJWR).

Dr. Ilker Ersegun Kayhan

Operations Team Leader (Social & Agricultural Infrastructure), Regional Hub of Almaty,Islamic Development Bank

Victor Kovalenko

Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader in Central Asia, the Caucasus and Ukraine,Ernst & Young Global Limited

Victor has over 25 years of professional services experience focused on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. He leads climate and ESG advisory projects supporting companies in the energy, mining, metallurgy, oil & gas and banking sectors. He holds CSIP (Concordia University & John Molson School of Business), PMP®, Sustainability Excellence Professional® and SCR® (GARP) certifications.

Shavkat Khamraev

Minister of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan,Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Kongratbay Sharipov

Minister of higher education, science and innovation,of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Nurzhan Nurzhigitov

Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan,Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Hakimzoda Kurbon

Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan,Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan

Maksim Korolkov

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation,Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

Bakyt Dzhusupov

Ambassador,Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (video address)

Maroš Nikolaj

President of Water Slovakia,Water Slovakia

Dr. Maroš Nikolaj, PhD. is the founder and chairman of the Slovak cluster Envirocentrum, also known as WaterSlovakia. He is an expert in innovation and environmental strategies, with over 30 years of experience in water management, hydrology, flood protection, risk analysis, and disaster recovery management. He is an experienced analyst and consultant who participates in an international context in the design and development of solutions and projects that help, in particular, governmental and regional institutions adapt to climate change, protect water resources, reduce environmental risks, and ensure sustainable development. He lectures at several universities and is the author and co-author of scientific publications.

Philippe Floch

Senior Manager, Management Consulting Unit,ILF Consulting Engineers

Mr. Philippe Floch has 20 years of experience as a Portfolio Manager, Team Leader, and Water Resources Expert, working with International Financial Institutions on investment projects. He has led multi-disciplinary teams through all project stages, delivering successful projects in complex settings. His expertise includes water resources management, urban/rural water services, wastewater treatment, institutional reforms, and investment planning. He has also managed the Green Climate Fund’s adaptation portfolio and is skilled in climate-finance projects.

Mirshohid Aslanov

CEO and Co-founder,Center for Progressive Reforms

Murad Uzakov

Head of the Center for Regional Studies,Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS)

Murad Uzakov is the Head of the Center for Regional Studies at the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
His research interests cover development trends in Central Asia, as well as cooperation between regional countries and the CIS, Asia-Pacific, South Asia, and the EU. He also examines the prospects of interaction with regional integration structures and issues of interregional connectivity.

İlhan Bettemir

Founder and Manager,GEMAR Environmental Measurement and Analysis Laboratory / ENV Energy Environmental Management and Technologies Ltd.

(Exploration Geologist MSc.) is environmental researcher and entrepreneur, founder of both GEMAR Environmental Measurement and Analysis Laboratory and ENV Environmental Management and Technologies. Through GEMAR, he provides analytical services, heavy metal analysis, acid rock drainage testing, and background environmental monitoring of air, water, soil, and noise for mining and large infrastructure projects, while ENV focuses on designing, implementing, and optimizing wastewater treatment plants and promoting the reuse of treated water. Combining these initiatives, İlhan Bettemir brings expertise in water quality, environmental assessment, and sustainable resource management, supporting science-based decision-making and advancing innovative solutions for environmental protection and efficient water use

Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev

Senior Researcher at IWMI’s Central Asia Office,International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev has over 25 years of experience in water management, water institutions, and environmental activities in Afghanistan and five Central Asian countries.
Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev rejoined IWMI in 2024 as Representative for the Pakistan office. He is currently serving as a Senior Researcher at IWMI’s Central Asia office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Dr. Abdullaev worked from June 2023 until October 2024 as a Professor at the Centre for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
From June 2019 to June 2023, Dr. Abdullaev served as Deputy Director of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC). From 2019 to 2023, he was the Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Center (CAREC) for Central Asia. Dr Abdullaev's research interests include water sector development and transformation, socio-technical aspects of water management, water history, water conservation, and climate change.

Philippe Floch

Senior Manager, Management Consulting Unit,ILF Consulting Engineers

Mr. Philippe Floch has 20 years of experience as a Portfolio Manager, Team Leader, and Water Resources Expert, working with International Financial Institutions on investment projects. He has led multi-disciplinary teams through all project stages, delivering successful projects in complex settings. His expertise includes water resources management, urban/rural water services, wastewater treatment, institutional reforms, and investment planning. He has also managed the Green Climate Fund’s adaptation portfolio and is skilled in climate-finance projects.

Daniil Tarasov

Deputy Director for Development, Central Asia Region,Non-profit Organization (NPO) ACWE

Bachelor, Master, Lecturer-Researcher at the FSBEI HE "Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University" with a degree in "Construction Techniques and Technologies" in the field of Water Supply and Sanitation.

Work experience in the field of wastewater treatment and water treatment since 2016.

Dr. Laylo Yakhshiboeva

Department of Foreign Investment Attraction and International Cooperation, Climate Innovator,Agency for Vocational Education under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Boriy Alikhanov

Committee Member,Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Jahongir Iskhakov

Acting Head of the Project Management Department,Uzbekcosmos Agency

Eva Kerstholt

Regional Director for Water Management and Water Treatment across Asia, Middle East, and Africa,Wilo Group

Regional Director for Water Management and Water Treatment across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Based in Asia and with deep experience operating in diverse and water‑stressed regions, she specializes in guiding utilities, industries, and governments toward resilient and sustainable water solutions. Known for her strategic clarity and cross‑cultural leadership, she builds strong regional partnerships that advance water security, operational excellence, and sustainable infrastructure development. She is a strong advocate of Wilo’s Water AI strategy, the company’s global framework for integrating artificial intelligence into water technology, sustainability, and digital transformation.

Roman Dovolnov

Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Leader in Uzbekistan,Ernst & Young Global Limited

Paolo Tarolli

Professor of Agricultural Water Management, Soil and Water Conservation,University of Padova

Imran Asghar

Regional Head, Asia-Pacific (APAC),FibreTrace

Imran Asghar is the Regional Head of Asia-Pacific (APAC) at FibreTrace. Based in Pakistan, he is a prominent expert in textile traceability and has played a key role in expanding the company's footprint across South Asia, particularly in Australia, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Imran Asghar is a veteran in the global textile industry with over 20 years of experience in supply chain architecture, sourcing, and sustainability. Based in Karachi, Pakistan, his career focuses on transforming traditional manufacturing into transparent, tech-driven ecosystems.

Temur Akhmedov

Senior Consultant on Energy, Environment and Sustainability, LEED AP,Directorate of "New Tashkent" City Construction

Asiljon Mukhiddinov

Head of Department,Uzsuvtaminot JSC

Alexander Krasilnikov

Commercial Director,Research and Production Association "LIT" (NPO LIT)

Alexander Yuryevich Krasilnikov, Commercial Director of LIT, graduated from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute (now the Baltic State Technical University "Voenmekh" named after D.F. Ustinov).
He has 20 years of experience at LIT. He coordinates projects for the installation of UV equipment at wastewater treatment facilities in Russia, China, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Kazakhstan.

Dr. Baochao Wang

Professor,Qingdao Agricultural University

Temur Akhmedov

Senior Consultant on Energy, Environment and Sustainability, LEED AP,Directorate of "New Tashkent" City Construction

Rovshan Badalov

Sustainable Procurement Consultant,Act Global

Alim Sharipov

Independent Consultant,“Uzkimyosanoatloyiha” Joint Stock Company

Rashi Bablani

Associate Director,Cranmore Partners

Zokir Ishpulatov

First Deputy Minister of Water Resources,Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Charity Watson

Climate, Peace and Security Advisor,United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

Climate, Peace and Security Advisor for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, supporting the UNAMA Mandate and the UN Climate Security Mechanism’s global agenda. She has worked in Afghanistan for over a decade across politico-security, humanitarian, and environmental issues, and before that in East Africa and the Middle East. Her current work focuses on the intersection between climate change, water, peace and security, addressing climate security risks and environmental peacebuilding opportunities within Afghanistan, advancing regional transboundary water cooperation, and fostering space for multi-stakeholder dialogue with the de facto authorities in Afghanistan on climate change and water sector challenges.

Javohir Juraev

Advisor specializing in public-private partnerships (PPP) in the energy sector,Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Musilim Zhienbayev

Chief Expert, Department of International Cooperation,Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

Gayrat Rakhimov

Head of the Department for Coordination of Development and Operation of Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems,Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Dr. Abror Gafurov

PHd,Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (GFZ)

Bakhodir Mirzaev

Rector, Doctor of Engineering, Professor,National Research University "TIIAME"

Sardor Khikmatov

Chief Specialist of the Human Resources Development and Management Department,Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan

Abror Gadayev

Professor, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs and Innovations,Samarkand State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering named after Mirzo Ulugbek (SamDAQU)

Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs and Innovations,
Samarkand State University of Architecture and Civil
Engineering named after Mirzo Ulugbek (SamDAQU)

Dr. Albina Prniyazova

PhD in International Relations,Institute of Diplomacy, Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

PhD in International Relations, Institute of Diplomacy, Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abduvokhid Urazkeldiev

Director,Research Institute of Irrigation and Water Problems under the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan