In this inaugural 2026 episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark reflects on the journey and impact of the podcast over the past year. Through an interview by Dr. Jo Burgess, Piers discusses the origins of the Exec Exchange, its focus on human leadership stories within the water sector, and highlights some remarkable interviews. The episode provides a comprehensive review of the learning and inspiration shared by global water sector leaders, while also teasing future activities including technical discussions and site visits.

Key interviews include:
1. Oleksandr Syenkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv, Ukraine, recounting a significant water supply disruption; 
2. Philippe De Roux discussing water supply in low-income areas; 
3. Doa Ross on Las Vegas’s long-term drought management; 
4. Mike Webster on Cape Town’s water crises; 
5. Natasha Avendaño on emergency water restrictions; 
6. Nuno Brôco on resilience during a massive power outage in Portugal; 
7. David Ryan dealing with the Kangaroo Island bushfires; 
8. Shaun Cumming on integrating First Nations values at Barwon Water; 
9. Will Pickering’s lead pipe replacement program in Pittsburgh; 
10. Khalid Mehmood on Pakistan’s flood recovery efforts; and
11. Ernie Lau’s account of the Red Hill fuel spill in Honolulu.
 

00:00 Introduction to the Exec Exchange

00:42 The Genesis of Exec Exchange

02:12 Highlighting Key Interviews

03:26 Challenges in Water Sector Leadership

06:28 Innovative Solutions and Resilience

16:48 Personal Favorites and Audience Choices

20:58 Looking Ahead: Future Plans for Exec Exchange