Water management

An accomplished Project Director with a track record of successfully delivering complex projects. Led high-profile public policy, governance, and review projects in the water sectors in Australia and globally. Joe has recently been focused on developing policy and regulatory requirements for the NEOM Water Sector and Food Sector in the Middle East. Provided recommendations on Australia's national utility benchmarking framework and spearheaded the development of a National town and city water security framework. Skilled in communication and facilitation, engaged with senior government executives to prioritize national water policy reform priorities and actions.

Joe holds a degree from the Australian National University, receiving recognition for excellence in Agricultural Science and Technology and Environmental Policy.

Rob leads Ricardo’s UK Water Quality and Management team. He is an infrastructure asset management specialist with over 12 years’ experience of working for private and public sector organisations both as a client and a consultant across the water, transport and nuclear sectors.

Prior to Ricardo, Rob worked at a Big 4 management consultancy leading several asset management capability improvement projects, with a particular focus on the link between asset investment and resilience. His water industry experience includes working at United Utilities where he managed its Integrated Asset Planning process. This was a core framework that underpinned the company's approach to strategic investment in its regulated water, wastewater and bioresource assets.

Nada is an accomplished Executive Director and water expert with over 15 years of experience spanning the Australian and GCC water sectors. She excels in implementing water-focused strategies across critical areas such as net-zero, demand-side management, drinking water quality, non-revenue water, and digital transformation. Nada has worked with a diverse range of clients, including utilities, regulators, and industries, delivering tailored solutions to complex water challenges.

Nada is specialised in the adoption of disruptive technologies across the water supply chain and leverages her strong analytical skills to assess water risks stemming from governance, infrastructure, and regulatory factors. Through her work, she aims to make a tangible impact on managing the planet’s finite water resources and collaborates with partners to build a more sustainable future.

Akin Adamson is the Middle East Director for Ricardo, with his responsibility including the UAE and KSA. Ricardo advises public and private sector organisations on air quality, renewable energy, energy decarbonisation, alternative fuels, water, waste, transport and climate change strategies, technologies and operations.

Previously, he was the UK's Transport Research Laboratory’s Regional Director for the Middle East, and before that, he held senior consulting and Director level roles at Nokia Siemens Networks, Telstra and A.T. Kearney in the UK and Australia, with a focus on the Telecommunications, Transportation and Automotive sectors.

He combines his experience in the telco, transport and environmental industries to advise a wide range of clients on smart and sustainable cities and infrastructure.

Having begun his research career at London Business School in the energy sector, Akin has lectured at both London Business School and the London School of Economics. He holds both UK and Australian citizenship and travels extensively throughout the Middle East region. He was educated at the London School of Economics, London Business School and the University of Michigan, USA.