World Water Envoys
Meet the 2025 World Water Envoys: Young Leaders Tackling Local Water Challenges
The International Water Resources Association (IWRA) is proud to announce the four outstanding young leaders selected for the third cohort of its award-winning World Water Envoys Programme!
After a highly competitive selection process, with over 100 applications from across the globe, these young professionals stood out for their compelling stories, community-based impact, and passionate commitment to solving critical water challenges.
Thanks to the support of the Ministry of Equipment and Water of the Kingdom of Morocco, these Envoys will be fully sponsored to attend the XIX World Water Congress, taking place from December 1–5, 2025, in Marrakech, Morocco, at the PICKALBATROS Hôtel Du Golf.
At the Congress, they will:
- Share their community’s water challenges and responses with a global audience
- Present their ideas in a dedicated World Water Envoys workshop special session
- Connect with leading international experts and mentors
- Participate in high-level discussions on sustainable water resource management
Please join us in congratulating the 2025 World Water Envoys:
Ally Zlatar – Canada – United Arab Emirates
Artist | Scholar | Activist
Ally Zlatar is an artist, scholar and activist. She is the founder of The Starving Artist, an initiative that uses art activism to empower marginalised communities and advocate for climate reform – with a particular focus on water preservation. Her work leverages creative arts to address systemic barriers to participation and promote inclusive environmental action.
Ally Zlatar has received numerous accolades for humanitarian work; such as the Commonwealth Innovation Awards (2023), UNWomen 30 for 2030 (2024), winner of The Princess Diana Legacy Award (2021), King Hamad Award for Youth Empowerment (2022), the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award from the Ontario Government of Canada (2023) and also special recognition from The British Citizen Award (2022).
Billboard from Ally Zlatar’s campaign focused on environmental issues
“The campaign emphasises the harmful effects of pharmaceuticals leaching into water systems, affecting ecosystems and communities worldwide.”
Foam bubbles surfacing from a sewage system on Lebanon
“On my way to work, I was confronted with a troubling sight—foam bubbles surfacing from the sewage system, a clear sign of untreated wastewater or industrial discharge contaminating the environment.”
Ayend-Christ Daou - Lebanon
Hydraulic Engineer | Climate Adaptation Advocate
Ayend-Christ is a hydraulic engineer originally from Lebanon, where inadequate wastewater infrastructure and unsafe drinking water remain persistent challenges. Now working in France on international water projects, Ayend bridges global expertise with local insights.
Active in youth-led initiatives such as the European and French Youth Parliaments for Water, Ayend advocates for nature-based solutions to climate-related water risks like floods and droughts. His work emphasises the importance of good governance, investment, and innovation in building resilient water systems.
Gettie Shiinda – Namibia
Water Resources Specialist | Community Innovator
Gettie hails from Ongaka village in northern Namibia and is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Leeds. With a background in geology and water resources management, her focus is on rural water security–especially the use and risks of hand-dug wells in underserved communities.
Despite limited infrastructure, Gettie’s work uplifts local solutions, while highlighting health and safety concerns associated with untested and unstable water sources. Through community collaboration, investment, and innovation, she aims to transform the water story of villages like Ongaka.
One of the many wells located in Ongaka village, Oshikoto Region, Namibia.
“These wells are often not well developed and are at great risk of contamination, posing serious health and safety risks. Despite these dangers, villagers continue to depend on these wells due to limited infrastructure and affordability.”
Nagdaha Lake, situated in Dhapakhel, Lalitpur,
“As seen in the image, construction on the uphill slopes has accelerated sediment deposition, significantly reducing the lake’s depth. The lake was once around 15 meters deep, but recent measurements show a maximum depth of just 4.5 meters.”
Sakar Hada – Nepal
Civil Engineer | Nature-Based Solutions
Sakar grew up in a water-scarce region of Nepal, which inspired his mission to improve community-based water systems. Now working on groundwater recharge and sanitation improvement projects, he promotes science-policy-community integration to protect vital water ecosystems.
He brings to the Congress the story of Nagdaha Lake, a sacred and ecologically critical wetland now threatened by urban encroachment and climate change. His research highlights the urgent need for sustainable, locally informed interventions to preserve Nepal’s vulnerable freshwater systems.
We thank all applicants for their inspiring contributions to the 2025 edition of the World Water Envoys Programme.
Congratulations once again to Ally, Ayend-Christ, Gettie, and Sakar – the XIX World Water Congress looks forward to witnessing their impact on its global stage in Marrakech this December!
Stay tuned to follow their journey.
For questions or more information, please contact us at congress@iwra.org.