What an SIWW this has been! …

Bigger and better than last year, SIWW has gained a reputation as a premium water conference and now attracts industry players and thought leaders from around the world . What has been most apparent to me (but not surprising) has been the  recognition of and respect for the Black & Veatch brand.  Particularly in the past few years our ‘water’ brand in Asia Pacific has benefitted as a result of groundbreaking projects such as the Bundamba AWTP, Changi NEWater Plant and the Tuas Sea Water Desalination Plant.  Our brand is stronger than ever.  Hard work is the reason for this – by all of our professionals.

Personally this week I have met up with many old friends at SIWW…. people I have worked with on some of our projects over the years and shared forgotten experiences with.  The SARS epidemic in 2003 was a particularly interesting time I was reminded of by my old friend Kenneth Koh of United Group (formerly Thames Water projects), when he and I nearly caused a major international incident by allegedly allowing a SARS infected foreign worker to cross the border into Malaysia (not true!).  It all ended happily but it wasn’t fun at the time.  My friend Terry Matthews also reminded me of the Canadian Ten Dollar bill he framed and presented tome – the result of a foolish bet by him that we would not complete the commissioning of the Chestnut Avenue Waterworks extension by Christmas Eve 2003.  Suffice it to say, it is on the wall of my office and he is 10 Dollars poorer.

This week I have accompanied several important clients to visit around the Black & Veatch designed and newly commissioned Sembcorp Changi NEWater Plant, including the press and clients from Australia east and west.  I also cringed as I listened to and watched myself in a 30 second appearance in a promotional video for the plant commissioned by Sembcorp Industies.   

It has been fun watching the various media interviewing Black & Veatch leaders….even if I was rudely jostled out of camera shot by Connie Ward when Dan McCarthy was being interviewed by CNBC. What a cheek! Connie and Jim Howlett have worked tirelessly on communications and deserve all credit.

And of course I have enjoyed blogging and reading comments posted by colleagues and clients. It has been fun and very well received.  So from the Davos of Water  bye for now….

Posted by: Gerry O’Toole