Thomas Altmann
VP Innovation and Water Technology
ACWA Power

Thomas Altmann is the VP for Innovation and Water Technology at ACWA Power. He is a leading expert in Energy and Desalination, having worked in technical and managerial roles in global engineering and construction companies for over 25 years. As a global specialist, Thomas held EVP and MD positions at ILF Consulting with responsibility for Energy & Desalination across international markets. He also served as VP at Bechtel in the Power Generation business unit with global responsibility for Desalination based in the US and UK HQ.

Thomas has also served as Director on the board of the International Desalination Association (IDA) and the European Desalination Society (EDS) and as a member of the Research Advisory Council (RAC) of the Middle East Desalination Research Centre (MEDRC) in Oman. He is also a member of the MIT Technology Review Global Panel and IDA Global R+D Committee.

Roberto Mangano
Managing Director
ILF Consulting Engineers

Roberto Mangano is currently the Managing Director of ILF Consulting Engineers Abu Dhabi and Business Director for the desalination projects in ILF and he holds a Master Degree in Industrial Chemistry. He accrues a successful track record of working in Middle East, South America and Europe projects as a Project Director for strategic desalination projects.

Roberto is specialized in Membrane Process desalination with professional experience in transaction advisory services, Project Management, Contract negotiations, technical and commercial due diligence, feasibility studies, FEED design works and tender evaluations in IW(P)P and EPC nature of water desalination and power generation projects for various utility major clients including FEWA, EWEC, SEWA, OPWP, SWPC, SWCC.

His previous project assignments in the Water and Energy sector include the major desalination water plants in the GCC countries like Rabigh III in Saudi Arabia, Shuqaiq III IWP in Saudi Arabia Taweelah SWRO in United Arab Emirates, Marafiq SWRO in Saudi Arabia, Fujairah F1 Expansion IWP in United Arab Emirates.

Paul Buijs
Center Liaison Officer
KAUST Water Desalination and Reuse Center

Paul has over 25 years’ experience in the water treatment industry. He currently is Center Liaison Officer for the KAUST Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), bridging the gap between academia and industry, facilitating demand driven research and translating research to practice. Paul is an expert in water treatment, in particular in membrane desalination.

Before working for KAUST, Paul fulfilled several roles in the water industry, varying from research to consultancy, sales and management, mainly in an international context. He is a guest lecturer at UNESCO-IHE and has served on various Dutch national advisory boards (Topsector Water, Royal Dutch Society of Engineers).

Dr. Tariq Nada
CTO KSA Portfolio
ACWA Power

Dr. Tariq has over 20 years’ extensive experience in technical and operations management for power and desalination projects. Dr. Tariq has been with ACWA power since 2015 and currently holds the position of Chief Technology Officer for ACWA Power’s KSA Portfolio.

Prioir to joining ACWA Power Dr. Tariq worked with Saline Water Conversion Corporation and managed several desalination Projects.