Rising Star of the Year (Water)
Celebrating the achievements of emerging talent within the water sector over the past year. Finalists have been working in the utilities sector for seven years or less.
Rising Star of the Year (Water)
Celebrating the achievements of emerging talent within the water sector over the past year. Finalists have been working in the utilities sector for seven years or less.
Isabel Atkins-Mcilwaine, South West Water
Isabel joined SWW in 2024, as a member of the Graduate Scheme. She was identified in selection with skills in environmental engagement and project delivery. This proved to be true and she exceeded expectations by leading the development of SWW's Green First (GF) capital delivery Programme under the direction of the Environmental Stakeholder Manager. When the senior manager left in 2025 she picked up the entire workloads of the GF Programme and Environmental stakeholder Management, while also completing her Graduate scheme qualifications. She successfully applied for the vacant role in 2026 and has since has continued to lead and shine.
Chloe Baxter, Scottish Water
Chloe has quickly established herself as one of Scottish Water’s brightest emerging leaders. Joining Scottish Water in 2014 from a defence background, she progressed from team member to team leader while delivering high-profile work that strengthens stakeholder engagement and industry influence. Within a year of joining the water industry, she organised a major public consultation on our Long-Term Strategy. More recently, she led the planning and delivery of Scottish Water’s first Economics Conference, bringing experts and decision-makers together to shape future thinking. With strategic insight, collaboration and strong delivery skills, Chloe inspires colleagues and makes a lasting sector-wide impact.
Becca Donohoe, Northumbrian Water
In less than a year at Northumbrian Water Group, Becca Donohoe has progressed from new graduate to trusted project leader. She has influenced investment decisions through contract-management software research, improved governance processes, led a multidisciplinary Innovation Festival sprint and volunteered as Acting Project Manager for a sustainability project that placed second in the APM North East regional finals. Becca consistently steps beyond her brief, rapidly masters unfamiliar subjects and turns insight into practical action. Her combination of initiative, sound judgement, collaboration and delivery marks her out as an exceptional emerging talent and a future leader in the utilities sector.
Ciara O'Shea, Scottish Water
Ciara O'Shea is an exceptional early-career engineer who combines technical assurance, digital innovation and inclusive leadership to deliver measurable value across Scotland's wastewater sector. As lead engineer on multiple complex strategic studies, she strengthens investment decisions, identifies risks early and helps existing infrastructure support sustainable growth. As subject matter expert for Transcend wastewater design software, she is driving adoption of a capability whose Phase 1 roll-out is on track to deliver a targeted £250,000 saving. Beyond project support, Ciara independently leads Scottish Water's Chartership Support Network and undertakes outreach that develops colleagues and inspires the next generation of engineering professionals.
Ellie Parker, United Utilities
Ellie has made a remarkable, meteoric rise to being one of the most influential emerging leaders in the UK water sector. Over the past year, she has transformed planning, governance and delivery across United Utilities’ £281m Rainwater Management Programme, while pioneering customer incentives, digital reporting tools and community-based blue-green infrastructure initiatives. Her work has delivered measurable environmental benefits, including 30,000m² of area disconnected from combined sewers, alongside customer benefits such as £365,000 in surface water charge savings. Combining analytical excellence, strategic vision and outstanding stakeholder influence, Ellie is setting a new benchmark for future leadership in water.
Dan Perry, Affinity Water
Dan has made an extraordinary impact in just six years within the water sector, successfully evolving from a technical analytical role into a strategic sustainability leader. As Carbon and Climate Change Manager, he has been the driving force behind our Net Zero Strategy, embedding ambitious organisation-wide targets and driving a clear vision to decarbonisation. Dan has also established a robust climate adaptation framework, strengthening organisational resilience in a changing environment. Through his passion, enthusiasm and ability to develop a high-performing team, he is delivering lasting sustainability benefits. His outstanding leadership have also been recognised through achieving Chartered Manager status
