Meaningful Conversations with Annyse

In this episode of Meaningful Conversations, Annyse sits down with Dr Angela MacOscar, Head of Innovation at Northumbrian Water — a visionary leader with a PhD in physical chemistry and a passion for building cultures where innovation can truly thrive.

Angela chose the Bold card, and from that simple starting point, a rich conversation unfolded around regeneration, roots, diversity, and what it really takes to create lasting change in the water sector.

What We Explore in This Episode

Regeneration as a Leadership Philosophy
For Angela, regeneration is about strong roots and solid foundations. Without purpose and diversity, nothing sustainable grows. It’s about planting the right seeds now for a future we may not immediately see.

The Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival
Now approaching its 10th year, the festival has grown from six design sprints and 900 attendees to:

• 53 sprints
• 3,000+ participants
• 39 countries
• 45 sectors

One early sprint led to the creation of the UK’s National Underground Asset Register, now a government-run platform improving safety and saving billions. Proof that bold ideas, nurtured well, create real impact.

Innovation Is a Contact Sport
Angela shares why innovation must be done with people, not to people. From engaging senior leaders to empowering frontline teams, culture is everything.

With a central team of nine, they’ve built a network of over 200 Innovation Ambassadors across the organisation. Today, innovation is a core pillar at Northumbrian Water, with a measurable goal: 40% of employees actively involved.

Creating the Conditions for Innovation

• Compassionate leadership
• Family-first values
• A four-day working week
• Space for thinking and reflection
• Using AI to remove repetitive tasks
• Psychological safety to ask for help

Angela reminds us that tired, stressed humans struggle to innovate. Space and empathy are not soft extras — they are strategic necessities.

A Wiggly Career Path
From leaving school at 16 to earning a PhD, working at Procter & Gamble, launching a product still on shelves 26 years later, building a lifestyle business, and eventually finding her home in the water sector — Angela’s journey is a powerful reminder that careers don’t need to be linear to be impactful.

Key Themes

• Regenerative leadership
• Diversity as a driver of innovation
• Designing environments where bold ideas can grow
• Stewardship of water and natural systems
• Leaving organisations and people better than you found them

Show notes 

• Northumbrian Water - Northumbrian Water | Supplying water and Sewerage Services in the North East of England
• Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival - The Festival
• Ofwat funding – Water innovation competitions - Ofwat
• Derek Siver, how to create a movement - Derek Sivers: How to start a movement | TED Talk
• National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) - National Underground Asset Register (NUAR), Northumbrian Water Group and a Culture of Innovation – Geospatial Insights

In this episode of Meaningful Conversations, we sit down with Alisha McFetridge, founder of Rainstick, for an honest and timely conversation sparked by one simple prompt: Truth.

Alisha shares an analogy many of us know too well  - coming home from a great vacation and avoiding checking your bank account. In the water sector, we often do something similar: prioritising short-term costs and quarter-by-quarter wins, even when we know those choices carry long-term consequences.

We explore how today’s infrastructure still benefits from leaders who thought 100 years ahead and why returning to cathedral thinking feels both difficult and necessary right now.

This conversation touches on:

• Why real innovation takes time
• How systems change requires education
• Why policy often lags behind what’s possible
• And why bold decisions rarely happen alone

Alisha’s journey building Rainstick offers a grounded reminder that progress doesn’t come from pretending we have all the answers.  It comes from honesty, courage, and collective effort.

There is hope.
 Municipalities are asking better questions.
 Communities are coming together differently.
 And more leaders are willing to say: we need to do better together.

This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and create space for the real conversations the future of water demands.

In this episode of Meaningful Conversations, we sit down with Kamakshi Sharma, Director of Marketing & Strategy at Aquatech, to explore what growth truly means for the future of the water industry. Kamakshi leads Aquatech’s global marketing and communications efforts and plays a central role in shaping market and business strategy across the organization.

At a time when climate change, water scarcity, and rapid urbanisation are reshaping our world, water is no longer an afterthought—it’s at the centre of global, industrial, and municipal decision-making. Kamakshi shares why the industry is at a pivotal moment, with unprecedented opportunity to influence how we manage and protect this critical resource.

From the rise of innovative membrane technologies and ZLD/MLD solutions to increased collaboration between industry partners, we discuss how technology, regulation, and co-development are accelerating change. Kamakshi also highlights a powerful cultural shift—greater diversity in the sector and more women entering the industry earlier than ever before.

The conversation goes deeper into water reuse, closed-loop systems, and the growing focus on recovering value from water, not just treating it. Together, we tackle one of the most pressing questions of our time: can we overcome water scarcity in a way that leaves the planet with better water quality for future generations?

This episode offers a hopeful, grounded perspective on where the biggest impact can be made—and why industrial and agricultural reuse will play a critical role in shaping a more sustainable water future.

🌊 A thoughtful and inspiring conversation about growth, responsibility, and what’s possible when water moves to the forefront.

To open Season 2 of Meaningful Conversations, Annyse is joined by Eleanor Allen, CEO of the World Flourishing Organization and founder of Catapult for Change, for a powerful, reflective conversation on leadership, audacity, and what it truly means to flourish at work.

Eleanor’s career spans Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and startups across more than 50 countries. She has held senior leadership roles at Arcadis, CH2M (now Jacobs), B Lab Global, and Water For People, and is a registered Professional Engineer and member of the National Academy of Engineering. Across every chapter of her work, a clear thread emerges: tackling big, complex, “wicked” problems through human-centred leadership.

In this episode, Eleanor chooses the Audacious card - a word that deeply reflects her life and leadership. From applying for the Audacious Project while at Water For People, to imagining nationwide water services in Rwanda, to her passion for ultra-distance cycling, Eleanor shares how audacity is where life feels most alive, connected, and purposeful.

Together, Annyse and Eleanor explore Eleanor’s current focus on human flourishing  and why it may be one of the most important frontiers for leadership today. Drawing on insights from the Global Flourishing Study (a five-year study of over 200,000 people across 23 countries), Eleanor shares the six core elements people need to flourish: happiness, financial stability, purpose and meaning, character and virtue, mental and physical health, and strong social relationships, all of which can, and should, be supported at work.

The conversation also dives into:

• Why fear-based systems limit creativity, courage, and impact
• How perfectionism shows up in engineering and leadership cultures
• The importance of psychological safety, consistency, and intention in organizational transformation
• Why the water sector is uniquely positioned to lead the way in human flourishing
• How flourishing can spread — from individuals to teams to entire organizations

A central question we sit with throughout the episode:
What becomes possible when work is designed for flourishing instead of fear?

Because when people flourish, organizations do too.

🎧 Listen now and join us as we begin Season 2 with an audacious invitation to rethink leadership, work, and the future of the water sector.

Mentions in podcast: 

• The Audacious Project - Housed at TED, The Audacious Project is a funding initiative that encourages the world’s greatest changemakers to dream bigger. We shape their ideas into viable multi-year plans and launch them to the world alongside visionary philanthropists.
• Water for People - Water For People exists to promote the development of high-quality drinking water and sanitation services, accessible to all, and sustained by strong communities, businesses, and governments.
• Ultra Cycling
• B-Lab - B Lab is the nonprofit network transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.
• Global Flourishing Study - The Global Flourishing Study explores six domains valued across countries and cultures. The Secure Flourishing Index (SFI) measures these through targeted survey items, with the first five domains pursued for their own sake and financial stability providing the foundation. When financial stability is omitted, the measure becomes the Flourishing Index (FI), while contextual factors help understand environments where flourishing thrives.
• Gallup workplace study

In the final episode of Series 1 of Meaningful Conversations, Annyse sits down with Kate Brown, Principal Technical Consultant at ERM and former leader of Procter & Gamble’s 2030 Water Positive Future program.

With more than 25 years of experience in global sustainability, Kate has built and led water programs that balance business needs with watershed resilience. In this conversation, she shares why curiosity is her guiding principle and how asking better questions, telling better stories, and slowing down to listen can shape the future of water.

From real stories of ingenuity in communities facing water scarcity, to lessons learned inside global manufacturing sites, Kate brings both professional expertise and deep personal insight into how we can all become better stewards of water.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

💧 Why curiosity is about more than facts - it’s about wonder, empathy, and possibility
 💧 How storytelling can transform the way people see and value water
 💧 Stories from Mexico and beyond that reveal the realities of water access
 💧 The importance of slowing down to listen and how it can dissolve assumed problems
 💧 What watershed resilience means and why long-term thinking matters
 💧 How purpose and diversity of perspectives drive stronger sustainability outcomes

Quote from Kate:

✨ “You’re sometimes just one question away from something very interesting.”

Show Notes 

·        The Thin Book of Trust: An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work

·        Alliance for Water Stewardship

·        Constructed wetlands 

·        Biomimicry 

What does power really mean in the future of water? Is it about technology, policy, or something more personal — our individual influence and the culture we create?

In this episode, we sit down with Brianne Nakamura, a second-generation water engineer, innovator, and connector with more than a decade of experience in the industry. Currently Global Product Manager at Xylem’s Pure Technologies brand, Bri has also led open innovation at Xylem Innovation Labs and served as Practice Leader of Innovation at the Water Environment Federation. In 2022, she was named WEF’s Outstanding Young Professional.

Together, we explore:
 💡 The “Power” card — and what it reveals about influence and possibility in water’s future
 💡 The importance of mentorship and how intentional team culture can unlock collaboration
 💡 Attracting and supporting the next generation of diverse leaders through WEF’s InFLOW program
 💡 Why innovation in water goes far beyond technology — and how outside perspectives are key
 💡 How reconnecting water to joy, humanity, and storytelling can transform our industry

If you’re passionate about leadership, innovation, and building a more inclusive and joyful water industry, this conversation will inspire and challenge you.

Links:

• Water Environment Federation 
• Xylem Innovation Labs 
• American Waterworks Association 
• Society of Women Engineers 
• WEF Inflow programme 
• Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU)
• Imagine H20
• BlueTech Research  
• WASH 

In this powerful episode, Annyse is joined by Dr. Mirka Wilderer, CEO of AqueoUS Vets, a leader known for scaling organizations and nurturing meaningful innovation in the water industry. Together, they dive deep into the topics of disruption, co-creation, consistency, and trusting the unknown.

Mirka shares her perspective on how the water industry can break free from outdated paradigms by inviting in diverse voices, asking new questions, and creating space for co-created solutions that serve the needs of our evolving world.

This is a must-listen for leaders, changemakers, and anyone passionate about purpose-driven work, inclusive innovation, and the future of water.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• What “Consistency” really means in an industry that needs transformation
• Why innovation is more about application than invention
• How Mirka sees disruption as a creative, trust-building force
• The importance of bringing in non-traditional talent and new perspectives
• Why the next generation’s purpose-driven mindset is critical for the water sector
• How co-creation unlocks unexpected and lasting solutions
• Mirka’s own story of growing businesses, leading through crisis, and finding strength in trusting her team

Key Takeaways:

• Disruption doesn’t mean chaos — it means evolving with intention
• Trust is the foundation of all co-creative processes
• To move from one level of organizational maturity to the next, we need different questions and different voices
• The water industry must evolve to welcome talent from diverse backgrounds and industries
• We don’t need all the answers — we need a willingness to sit with the unknown and allow new solutions to emerge

💧 “We quietly protect public health. But it’s time to tell water’s story out loud.” — Kendra Morris, CEO, Regulated Water, Veolia North America

Kendra Morris brings a city planner’s vision and a bold, hopeful outlook to the water sector. In this episode, we explore how water leaders can balance compliance with affordability, think in 100-year cycles, and use storytelling as a tool for trust, talent, and transformation.

🎧 Listen in to hear:

• Why innovation goes beyond tech
• How shared purpose can dissolve barriers
• What it means to lead water into the future

👉 Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Show Notes 

·        Troubled Water: What’s Wrong with What We Drink, Seth M. Siegel 

·        WEST of USA – trading rights to share and move water 

·        USA Public Water Systems

·        Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI)  

·        Water Documentary: Our Blue World 

·        Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) 

·        The Good Ancestor, How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World, Roman Krznaric

·        Water Environment Federation 

·        Water Reuse Organization  

·        American Water Works Association 

In this episode of Meaningful Conversations, Annyse speaks with longtime US EPA water leader Sally Gutierrez about her powerful journey in the water sector. From overseeing the world’s largest water permitting program to championing innovation and breaking barriers for women, Sally shares wisdom, humor, and heart.

Annyse and Sally explore how storytelling, leadership, and bold thinking are shaping the future of water—and why we need more diverse voices at the table.

Highlights:

• Innovation in water: AI, reuse, and community solutions
• What it means to lead with authenticity
• Supporting women in water
• A message for the next generation

👉 Listen now and get inspired by Sally’s extraordinary story.

In this inspiring episode, Annyse sits down with Kariann Aarup, Vice President of Programme Development and Impact at AquaAction, to explore what it truly means to lead with intention, empathy, and connection in the water sector—and beyond.

Kariann shares her journey as a collaborative leader deeply rooted in purpose, personal growth, and environmental stewardship. Together, they dive into topics like spiritual connection to nature, the deeper meaning of “treatment,” and how youth innovation is reshaping the water space.

This is a conversation full of wisdom, reflection, and powerful questions—one that invites us all to slow down and lead from a more conscious place.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• Kariann’s personal connection to water and what “serenity” means to her
• The spiritual and emotional dimensions of working in the water sector
• Why language—especially the word “treatment”—matters in how we care for people, water, and the planet
• How AquaAction’s youth innovation challenge is fostering both outer solutions and inner growth
• The role of Indigenous storytelling, journaling, and imagination in shaping new leadership
• Live epiphanies and heartfelt insights about how we show up in our work and in the world

Key Questions Explored:

• How does water want to be treated?
• How are we treating ourselves, our infrastructure, and our waterways?
• Can we feel our way into the future, not just think our way there?
• What kind of leadership is needed now—and next?

About Our Guest:

Kariann Aarup is the Vice President of Programme Development and Impact at AquaAction. She leads with a deep sense of care, connection, and collaboration, focusing on empowering the next generation of innovation-minded talent to tackle pressing freshwater challenges.

Her work blends strategic leadership with personal passion—bringing together community, spirituality, and social impact in transformative ways.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about AquaAction
• Erica Gies 
• Inner Development Goals Summit 
• Otto Scharmer