Dan Naidoo is an experienced senior operations manager with a demonstrated history of working in the utilities industry. His skills include enterprise risk management, process control, business planning, operations management, and water treatment. He is a strong support professional with a BSc (Hons) focused on water utilization engineering from the University of Pretoria.

Dr Harrison Pienaar holds a PhD (Hydrogeology) and MBL qualification. His career of 30 years spans across energy and water sectors including particular focus on applied research development and innovation. As a WISA professional fellow member, he brings to the Board his expertise in hydrosciences and related local and international experience, coupled with his strong background and knowledge in strategic water management, applied research, capacity building and training.

Gorden Walters is a business professional with dual South African and Namibian citizenship, national has acquired over 33 years of extensive experience with 26 years in the energy / power sector where he spent over 9 years with a leading power utility company in Namibia in the role as Group CFO for 5 years. In total 22 years are in a corporate and project finance environment. Gorden brings with him a wealth of knowledge around Business Strategy Development, Relationship Building and Collaboration, expertise around research and monitoring and well as business and financial modelling. Gorden is registered with both SAIPA and the IOD-SA. Gorden previously served as an independent Non-Executive Director with WISA from 2016-2021.

Ayesha Hamid Laher is a professionally registered environmental scientist with SACNASP in the water stream. She has 15 years’ experience in all aspects of water and wastewater treatment: treatment technologies, design, operation, maintenance, and management of water and wastewater supply system.
Her participation in various policy and planning projects including the development of the Second National Water Resources Strategy has contributed to understanding of policy, legislation, water resource planning and institutional requirements for management of the entire water cycle.
As a Lead Inspector for the Blue, Green and No Drop Certifications programs of the Department of Water and Sanitation, she has sound knowledge of best practise principles for operation and management of water and wastewater treatment systems with emphasis on risk-based management.
She has developed leadership, management and financial skills in her position as Hub-Sector Lead of the Water Systems division of AECOM for two years and is currently the sole director of AHL Water, a Level 1 BBBEE water and wastewater consultancy focusing on providing holistic solution to water services challenges for commercial and municipal clients.

Dr Jennifer Molwantwa is currently the CEO of the Water Research Commission. She holds a PhD in Biotechnology, majoring in minewater treatment, Jennifer is a registered professional natural scientist with the South African National Council for Scientific Professions. She has been an active member of WISA since 2004, as well as the recipient of the WISA Mine Water Division Best Paper Presented by a Student (2004) and the Excellence in Research Award for a Young Scientist (2006). Jennifer was also instrumental in the establishment of the WISA YWP network in 2006. Her career started at Pulles Howard & de Lange (later incorporated into Golder Associates Africa) as a research assistant and then water resource consultant, before joining Digby Wells Environmental as a unit manager. She joined the WRC in 2014 as a research manager responsible for water resource quality prior to being appointed executive: Water Resource Management at the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency, where she served for five years (2016 to 2022).

Her passion is in Capacity Building with focus on the inclusion of Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDI) in the mainstream economy of which water and land is integral.

Dr Ashton Busani Mpofu is a Senior Consultant at Ilse Utilities. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering.

He has over 10 years’ of combined experience in chemical/process engineering, water and wastewater treatment, research and development, mineral processing, lecturing, teaching and training, consultancy, market intelligence, business development and leadership. Expertise in process optimisation, water and waste water treatment, biomass valorisation, consultancy, water governance, intellectual property and commercialisation, and business development.

Ashton is passionate about water in the green economy for inclusive sustainable development and is voluntarily deeply involved in the development of the water sector. He is an active member of WISA and IWA, and professional organisations, namely: ECSA, IChemE, SAIChE, and NSBE. He previously served as the Chair of the Young Water Professionals South Africa (YWP-ZA) and as an advisory board member of Imvelisi for the 2020–2022 term.

Ashton also volunteers as a reviewer for reputable international journals and conferences, and as an adjudicator of various entrepreneurial pitches and academic examiner. He has contributed to several water research publications, in the form of market intelligence reports, case studies, industry briefs, magazine articles, technical reports, book chapters and several presentations at international conferences. Ashton has been part of conference organising committees, having served as a technical chair of the 2019 YWP-ZA conference. He has also served as chair of various symposiums and conferences, including the IWA World Water Congress.

Phindi Msomi was appointed to the WISA Board as an independent Non-Executive Director on 31 August 2023. She is currently the Group CEO of Hazile Group & Olwazini t/a Acumind Consulting Services. She is also the founder of Basadi Bakopane an NPO that is dedicated to helping women and youth become sustainable and provide resources to start their own businesses. Phindi comes with more than 15 years experience in HR and Business Operations with a core focus on Organizational Effectiveness, Process Management, Lean Manufacturing & Strategy. She has a Masters in Business Administration and is currently in the process of obtaining her Doctrate in Business Administraion. She carries the designation of Certified Director under the IOD-SA.

Phindi combines strategic leadership with a good, practical understanding of both private and public sectors. She is a self-motivated, dynamic business management professional with diverse credentials that combine solid, tactical leadership with a strong business background, an ability to work collaboratively, and a commitment to achieve set business goals and objectives. She is committed to impacting companies in a positive and sustainable manner by driving Strategic Leadership and governance programmes at all levels.

She is passionate about the development of young girls as leaders who are courageous, bold and are willing to work hard to get themselves out of poverty and push themselves with the right support to change their lives and those of their families and communities.

Avukile Dlanga was appointed to the WISA Board as an independent Non-Executive Director on 31 August 2023. He is a Research Manager: Regulatory Enforcement and Research with a focus on online media content regulations and legislation. His passion lies in digital strategy and transformation. Avukile holds a Master of Management degree from Wits, Johannesburg; Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management (Public Policy and Administration) from Wits, Johannesburg; Bachelor of Arts, University of Transkei, Umtata; Certificate: Skills Development Facilitator, Competency International, Cape Town; Certificate in Results-Based Monitoring & Evaluation, Wits, Johannesburg.

With over a decade of experience in skills development and labour market research, Avukile has successfully led various industry sector skills development research initiatives. Avukile initiated and implemented Wits/Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results – for Anglophone Africa (CLEAR – AA) & Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) capacity strengthening collaborative effort which led to M&E study and strategy development for TETA: Avukile was appointed to Productivity SA Task team established to engaged Productivity SA on the methodology applicable in compilation and processing of Productivity statistics. This engagement was part of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) Labour Market Chamber`s engagement with Government, Business, Labour and Academia falling within the ambit of labour market to understand their priorities, programmes and challenges. Avukile played a pivotal role in the successful development of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETAs) Sector Skills Plans (SSPs) and Guidelines and Framework. He successfully participated in Productivity SA Tast Team towards achieving a common goal of improving collection, analysis and reporting of Productivity statistics in South Africa.

Outside the office, Avukile enjoys exploring Yoga, farming, playing Squash and volunteering at local community events.
Committed in staying ahead of ahead in the world of digital transformation, Avukile is dedicated to designing and implementing rural community water quality monitoring systems and processes.

Megan Schalkwyk is a Process Engineer at uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (UKZN) and an Honours Degree in Water Utilisation Engineering (UP). She is currently completing her MBA at University of Stellenbosch Business School.  She has over 16 years of experience in all aspects of water and wastewater treatment: treatment technologies, design, operations, maintenance, audit and management of water and wastewater systems. Megan started her water career as a consultant at Veolia Water and later moved into the public sector.

Megan has been involved in strategic projects that encompass sustainable solutions for the environment that have resulted in community upliftment.  Megan understands the importance of sustainability and circular economy and as such gained expertise in this area.  She coordinated uMngeni-uThukela Water’s reuse initiatives and currently sits on the advisory panel of the Faure New Water Scheme for the City of Cape Town.  Megan has spoken internationally on the subject of reuse and is an independent reviewer for the International Water Association (IWA).

Megan has directorship experience through her appointment on to the Water Research Commission Board in May 2023.  Megan sits on two board committees and participates on a board special task team.    Megan is a member of the Provincial Sanitation Task Team for KZN headed by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Megan is also on the steering committee of the IWA Reuse conference to be held in Cape Town in 2025.

Megan has participated actively within WISA for nearly 12 years and is a WISA fellow.  Besides presenting at numerous WISA conferences, she is the lead of the KZN branch of the WISA Water Reuse Division, a member of the KZN Branch Committee, a previous vice lead of the KZN Branch and the Sponsorship Subcommittee chair of the Organising Committee of the WISA 2024 Biennial Conference.

Megan is passionate about the growth of youth and females.  Megan has mentored five engineers and has assisted in training and coaching more than 15 engineers to achieve their professional registration. Megan also visits schools to encourage girls to consider careers in STEM.   She is part of the Engineering Council of South Africa’s virtual panel undertaking assessments, reviews, interviews and dispute activities.

Dr Lester Goldman is passionate about effectiveness and efficiency. His doctorate is in business administration, and amongst other professional registrations is a professional accountant (SA). An experienced corporate executive, who has been involved in the professional association sector as a C-level executive for two Professional Associations, he is WISA’s current CEO and has served in the position since 2014. He has been involved in the SMME development, finance and accounting, and entrepreneurial sectors for over 20 years. His passion is for unlocking the potential within teams and individuals, thereby contributing to their growth and development. He believes in continuous development and learning, and strives to create an enabling environment within organisations, to allow positive change. Most importantly, Lester loves learning from every single person he meets.