New water leaders logo

Our Leadership

William muhairwe

Dr. William Muhairwe, formerly CEO of the Ugandan National Water and Sewerage Corporation, is Executive Director of the Global Water Leaders Group.

Dr. Muhairwe is responsible for one of the African water industry's great success stories - the turnaround of the Ugandan Water and Sewerage Corporation. When he joined the corporation in 1998, it was in a situation like "a critically ill patient, demanding painful but unavoidable radical surgery, strong medication and intensive nursing care to bring it back to health." During his first meeting he declared that he would resign if he did not turn the corporation around within 100 days. The surgery was successful and over the next 13 years the NWSC grew to become one of the most successful - and profitable - water and wastewater utilities in Africa.

Since leaving the corporation in November 2011, Dr. Muhairwe has been taking his expertise to other struggling utilities in Africa through his 2ML management firm.

He was appointed Executive Director of the Global Water Leaders Group in January 2013.

Dr. Fabiola Alvarado is Secretary General of the Global Water Leaders Group

Dr. Alvarado joined the GWLG in June 2021, where she manages the global network of water utility CEOs and Ministers, including the Leading Utilities of the World initiative.

Fabiola has over 10 years’ experience in the water sector. She has extensive research experience in business and academic contexts. During her six years as part of the research team at Global Water Intelligence, Fabiola analysed trends in the municipal and industrial water markets in Latin America, and globally. Fabiola’s PhD research aimed to support water policy-makers identify cross-sectoral opportunities to contribute to water sustainability. Her research explored water efficiency and conservation policies, and the growing connections between the water and sustainable finance sectors. Earlier on, Fabiola worked on international development as part of Oxfam GB.

Dr. Alvarado holds a PhD in Sustainability (Water) from the University of Waterloo (Canada), an MSc in Environmental Governance from the University of Oxford (UK), and a BA in Economics from the Catholic University of Peru, PUCP.

Fabiola alvarado