The WIS Award jury brings together leading experts from across the water technology sector. From renowned scientists and innovation pioneers to industry leaders and public-sector specialists, they offer a broad range of knowledge, experience and perspective. Together, they evaluate the finalists on innovation potential, impact, feasibility and future relevance — ultimately selecting the winner of the WIS Award.
Cees Buisman
Cees Buisman is scientific director at Wetsus. This European centre for sustainable water technology strives for intensive cooperation between universities and the business community with the aim of accelerating innovation. Every year, dozens of researchers from all over the world obtain their doctorates at Wetsus.
Wetsus contributes to (inter)national pioneering research. One of the best known examples is Blue Energy. This involves generating sustainable energy by bringing salt and fresh water together. By passing the salt and fresh water through membranes, a voltage difference is created which is converted into electrical energy. There is a pilot installation on the Afsluitdijk where the generation of energy from salt and fresh water is being tested in practice.
Cees Buisman obtained his PhD in 1989 from Wageningen University & Research with his thesis Biological sulphide removal with oxygen. From 1989 to 2003 he worked as director technology & business development at Paques bv, where he played a role in translating biotechnological concepts into commercial installations. Since April 2003, Cees Buisman has been Professor of Biological Recycling Technology at Wageningen University & Research. He combines this position with his function as scientific director of Wetsus. In 2011, Cees Buisman received the Entrepreneur Award from Wageningen University Fund. As a scientist, he has personal experience of being ridiculed around innovation. Persevering then takes guts.
Cora Uijterlinde
Ir. Cora Uijterlinde is research Coordinator of Wastewater systems at STOWA, STOWA (Acronym for Foundation for Applied Water Research) is the centre of expertise of the regional water managers (the Dutch Water Authorities). She has been part of the Jury since the very beginning of the WIS Award, a familiar face so to say.
STOWA’s mission is to develop, collect, distribute and implement applied knowledge, essential for an effective and efficient water management. Topics of expertise range from applied technical, scientific to administrative-legal, health and social science.
Waste water technologist Cora Uijterlinde graduated from Wageningen in 1988. For many years, she was involved in wastewater treatment at a regional level, first with the province of Utrecht and later with the Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden. In 2002, Cora joined STOWA as research coordinator for wastewater systems. Central to her work is the optimization of the treatment process and the testing and introduction of new treatment techniques. In recent years, the focus has been increasingly on energy and raw material savings at wastewater treatment plants, on recovering the energy present (sludge) and on recovering the raw materials present in wastewater (such as fertilizer, toilet paper fibers and raw materials for bioplastics).
Judith le Fèvre
Judith le Fèvre is co-owner and Director of Marketing & Public Affairs at Ferr-Tech. The company won the WIS Award (Water Innovation & Stimulation Award, a prize recognising promising water technology innovations) in 2022 with its innovative FerSol (liquid ferrate(VI), a powerful and environmentally friendly oxidising agent). Using FerSol technology, wastewater can be treated in a green, efficient and circular way (reusing resources and minimising waste). “There is a growing need for more efficient and sustainable methods of water treatment,” said Le Fèvre. “With FerSol, we demonstrate that effectiveness and sustainability can go hand in hand.”
Le Fèvre has positive memories of the WIS Award: “Taking part guarantees a lot of publicity, which was already very valuable. But winning the award gave us even more visibility. The prize (marketing support worth €10,000, ed.) enabled us to accelerate our international ambitions, particularly in the United States. I would recommend that any company with a smart water tech innovation take part.”