Over the last 8 years I have been inspired by so many #people who are DOING it. They dream BIG, and are CHANGING the world by their perseverance and beliefs. I like their craziness and #doism (inspired by one of my long-time heroes). Please be brave and motivated by our upgraded lists (in total 100+) of #CrazyAboutWater leaders (#2017 #2019 #2023-7).
Carolina Caycedo (Colombia, Artist) Her artwork examines the social and environmental impact of harnessing rivers to generate power and seeks justice for the natural world. She recognizes water as a public space, a human right, and as a spiritual and living entity with its own rights. Her book Serpent River is part of the ongoing body of work ‘Be Dammed’, that investigates the effects of extractivism on natural and social landscapes, exploring the power dynamics associated with the corporatization and decimation of water resources.
Hugo Tagholm (CEO Oceana UK)(#WeBeWhatWeSea) is part of the Edinburgh University Ocean Leaders programme and was recently awarded a Doctorate of Science by Exeter University for his services to the marine environment. He was recognised as Environmentalist of the Year 2021 by the Save the Waves coalition. He previously led the ocean campaigning charity Surfers Against Sewage, taking action from the beach front to the front benches of Parliament, securing government legislation to protect our seas across four environmental pillars – plastic pollution, water quality, climate change and rewilding our ocean. He is also a founding member of the Global Wave Conference.
Mike and Jenny Fiebig (River advocates and paddlers). After two decades of drought, the Colorado River, which supplies water for drinking, power, and agriculture to over 40 million people, was named America’s most endangered river. In 2018, river advocates and paddlers Mike and Jenny Fiebig spent five months paddling the Colorado from its source in the Wind River mountains to the Gulf of Mexico to understand the river’s challenges firsthand – while collecting stories about change from the people who depend on it most (The Dirtbag Diaries: Colorado River).
“To journey without being changed is to be a nomad. To change without journeying is to be a chameleon. To journey and be transformed by the journey is to be a pilgrim.”
Alifa Haque (Sawfish Detective) investigation work along with Dr Ruth Leeney, empowering and inspiring these women to give these weird and wonderful creatures a chance of survival. With more conscious fishermen sawfishes have a greater chance of survival. And it’s proof that in a male-dominated industry, a network of women supporting each other is vital.
Loay Alatras and Ayman Kassem (Youth Ambassadors). Courageous and authentic waterleaders. Since childhood, learning by sharing has been Loay's way to learn. Through #Wetskills programme, he learned by meeting and sharing with different cultures, multidisciplinary, diverse races, religions, and gender. Ayman's dream is expanding the Wetskills event in the Arab countries in the MENA and Gulf region, especially as the Wetskills event is focusing on the youth, allowing them to acts and sharing their knowledge about water.
Laura Owen Sanderson (Wild swimmer and Waterlogger) is combining her love for open water swimming with environmental research and campaigning. It feels like a natural fit for someone who took to the water as a form of therapy following her own personal biological disaster. She was in a senior position in teacher training in Llandudno before becoming ill and turning to swimming. We Swim Wild adds a fresh voice and energy to the issues facing U.K waters. We skill up our grassroots campaigners to take action to protect rivers and oceans from agricultural pollution, sewage, plastics and chemicals.
Sandile Mqadi, Mini Cho, Slie Ngema, Tom Hewitt (Team Surfers not Streetchildren) Pioneering work developing surfing as a tool for bringing about positive change. Not only are they working in the toughest environments and saving lives, but our surfers are at the heart of an exciting transformation in African surfing underway across the continent. Fusing surfing with social development.
Menno Holterman (CEO of Nijhuis Saur Industries) inspiring entrepreneur with a Masters degree in Naval Architecture & Marine Technology at Delft University of Technology who is dedicated to grow water technology companies, focusing on the water- energy- waste & food nexus. Currently he drives #MissionWater for Nijhuis Saur Industries in over 140 countries to support partners to secure them water on demand, comply with ‘reduce, remove, reuse and recover, reduce their environmental footprint, lower the life-cycle cost, contribute to the circular economy and a more resilient future by closing the waterloop.
Martin 'MJ' Johnson (trailrunner, Run to Source) embarks on his most challenging run, as he explores the connection between Black British history and the River Thames. Martin attempts to set a new fastest known time on the 184-mile Thames Path—running from the Thames Barrier in London to the source of the river in the Cotswolds. What starts as a grueling and ambitious record-breaking attempt turns into a journey of discovery. He learns both about himself and the entangled history between Black people and the river. Martin hopes his run will encourage more diversity in the sport of trail running and inspire others to get out beyond the city and run.
Hadi Toure Guindo & Eleanor Treadwell (Founders association AFR'eau) True aspirational, ambitious and authentic young leaders who deliver action-based interventions, training for young professionals and applied research in water management that supports thriving communities in West Africa. #SlashCareer #ValuingWater #IWA & Grundfos Fellow
Martha Agbani (Executive Director at Lokiaka Community Development Centre) She grew up in the Niger Delta in Nigeria as a member of the indigenous farming and fishing community of Yaataah. For decades, her families lived in constant contact with the waterways. Unfortunately, things have changed. Since the commencement of fossil fuel extraction. Nigerian Activist Martha is now Trying To Sell Plants To The Oil Company That Destroyed them. She is showing the leadership of women and girls from local and indigenous communities in the protection and sustainable use of water resources, and calling for support for gender-just climate solutions. #WeWomenAreWater
Grandmother Clara Soaring Hawk is the Deer Clan Chief of the Ramapough-Lenape, a Water Protector who is working tirelessly to stop the Pilgrim pipeline from being built in New Jersey and New York through Ramapough land and sacred sites. She considers herself a “Spiritual Ecologist” as she prays for the balance of Spirit and the natural world. Sing the Water Song is an inspiring message and plea for women everywhere to become Keepers of the Water so as to express gratitude for and bring attention to our endangered waters.
Ines Breda (IWA Emerging Leader) Passionate about data science, international collaborations and filtration technology for production of drinking water. Host of Finding Water Podcast. Working as a Senior Mananger of Global Water and Climate Partnerships and Alliances at Grundfos. Check out must watch key note #IWA Copenhagen 2022 Youth has many leaders
Marius Smit (Founding Partner Cathedrall, Former Captain Plastic Whale #doism) Impact entrepreneur who is a living example of doism. He co-founded Plastic Whale in Amsterdam, to clean-up plastic waste from the canals and to re-use the plastic and produce circular boats and furniture. Now he is sailing onto a new adventure building a floating Cathredall in Amsterdam to engage more people in circular thinking. Cathedrall will be a multidisciplinary place where individuals, companies and government come together to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. This is done through education, lectures and exhibitions.
Angel Arutura (Eco Edit) fair fashion, climate and anti-racist activist who connects to her activism through nature and cold-water swimming. She always had a love for nature, and she thinks that’s prevalent to the work that she is doing. As an activist, educator, geography student and sustainability focused content creator, now more than ever she is looking after her mental wellbeing has been a difficult journey. Finding a way to connect racial equality, environmental justice and our oceans saved me. She truly believes that if more people reconnected with nature, we would see a huge positive impact in the social and climate justice space.
Lamya Essemlali (PL Seasheperd) is a French environmental activist, of Moroccan origin. She's the co-founder and president of Sea Shepherd France, the French branch of the anti-poaching organisation Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. She is also co-director of Sea Shepherd Global and co-president of the non-governmental organisation Rewild. She led various Sea Shepherd campaigns all over the world to fight for marine life. #WaterBear
Joseph Dituri (Dr DeepSea) Project Neptune combines a long-term study of the physiological and psychological effects of compression on the human body and use the uniqueness of the mission and location to bring more awareness of current marine research and the importance of conservation of our ocean’s resources and processes.
Carmen Kuntz (Whitewater kayaking and environmental action on Slovenia’s Sava River) Sharing her passion for environmental conservation and self-propelled exploration in honour of the wild people and places that make everyday an adventure. As a whitewater kayaker she has been privileged to experience pockets of untouched wilderness all over the world, and is motivated and encouraged by locals working using creativity and direct-action approaches to protect wilderness areas. She studied Geography at the University of Victoria, Canada, exploring the interaction between large carnivore and elite backcountry recreationists.
Maarten Oubouter (Waterprofessor, Hydrologist for #Waternet #SchoonWater 💙 #AmsterdamCitySwim) Curious, Passionate and Multi-talented WaterCycle expert. A geohydrochemist working as an asset manager, connecting system analyses to investments, for the regional public water authority Amstel, Gooi and Vecht in the greater Amsterdam area in the low-lying Western part of the Netherlands. We can only survive if we learn from our past. Our living environment is our capital. It brings us further, but only if we choose what to maintain wisely. "We have to invest in our current living environment rather than on economic opportunities that will put our living environment under further stress".
Haenyeo of Jeju (Sea-Women: Jung Sun-ja, 84, Yoon Yeon-ok, 74, and Ko Keum-sun, 69) For most of the haenyeo, diving seems to be a decisive factor for their wellbeing. Through physical activity they avoid the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle. They feel vital and useful and can be together with people they have known all their life. Haenyeo, or "sea women,” come from a long diving tradition. They can dive as deep as 20 meters , they gather as much as they can carry and place it in floating nets. The divers say they see their work as more than just a job; it’s a way of life that keeps them connected to the ocean. However, this centuries-old practice may be coming to an end as climate change transforms the ocean.
