The non-profit organisation International Water Association (IWA) and Denmark-based pump manufacturer Grundfos announced that 14 promising international young water professionals (YWPs) have been selected to be part of a delegation to the upcoming UN 2023 Water Conference, on 22-24 Mar 2023 in New York, US.

The YWPs are individuals who have been selected for the joint IWA-Grundfos Youth Action for SDG6 Fellowship. These YWPs, together with IWA and Grundfos, will play a key role advocating for a water-wise world and youth empowerment throughout the fellowship. They will take part in a programme of activities, a highlight of which is active participation at the conference.
The group has been identified following a rigorous selection process. The open call for applications for 12 fellowship places in November received several hundred applications from around the world. Aligned with IWA’s vision to promote and create an inclusive and diverse water sector, the selection process ensured a balanced geographical representation and gender diversity. As part of Grundfos’s wider support for YWP action on the SDGs, the group also includes two specially-selected YWPs from the company.
The selected YWPs are:
- Charles Shachinda from the UK
- Chelsea Hayward from Australia
- Farokh laqa Kakar from Canada
- Hadi Toure Guindo from Mali
- Ines Breda from Denmark
- Jacob Amengor from Ghana
- Marina Batalini de Macedo from Brazil
- Muhammad Anique Azam from Pakistan
- Pabel Cervantes from Mexico
- Persis Ramírez from Dominican Republic
- Sudipti Arora from India
- Yang Villa from the Philippines
Further, Grundfos selected Krithika Iyer Shivakumar from India and Krisztian Mark Balla from Denmark.