Graduate of the Year

This award celebrates an outstanding woman graduate who has exceeded all expectations since joining the sector and is going above and beyond their job role to add value to their organisation and/or the industry more widely.

The contenders

Caitlin Crutchley

Pennon Group

Caitlin is an exceptional early‑career professional whose impact has far exceeded expectations throughout her graduate programme. From delivering high‑quality work in the CEO Office to driving meaningful sustainability initiatives, she has demonstrated maturity, insight and strategic thinking well beyond her experience. Now leading the Pollution Incident Reduction Programme in Wastewater, she plays a pivotal role in delivering measurable environmental improvements, including a c.35% reduction in pollution events. Versatile, driven and highly respected, Caitlin consistently brings clarity, collaboration and leadership to every challenge, making her an outstanding choice for Graduate of the Year.

Emma Hutchinson

Sirio

Emma is an outstanding graduate who delivers exceptional performance in a values-led way. From secondary school onward, she has championed STEM inclusion, working with Girls Who Code and becoming the first female member of her school’s Robotics Team, helping secure 4th place at the U.S. National Championships. At Sirio, she has consistently exceeded expectations, contributing to high-impact projects with professionalism and initiative. Her role covers regulation, digital transformation and innovation, where she applies rigorous, data-driven analysis to solve complex challenges and deliver measurable, customer-centred impact across the sector. She has a Master’s in ESG Management from King’s College London.

Esther Mozimo

Barhale

Esther Mozimo is an exceptional early career professional whose contribution has far exceeded expectations since joining Barhale in 2023 as its first HSEQ Graduate. Since progressing to HSEQ Advisor in January 2026, she has accelerated her development, driven by her dedication, strong technical capability and proactive, site focused approach. Esther has led the rollout of digital assurance tools, delivered innovative training, strengthened safety culture and supported successful audits across major water infrastructure projects. Beyond technical excellence, she passionately advocates for diversity, STEM outreach and environmental improvement, inspiring many young people through her work with CECA, WiME and local schools.

Francesca Henderson

Yorkshire Water

Francesca is currently a graduate enrolled on our Strategy and Regulation programme. Since joining Yorkshire Water in 2024, she has been a key contributor to our graduate community, is the Co Chair of our Women & Gender network and also sits on the Steering Committee for the Institute of Water's Women's Network.

Honor Erskine

Mott Macdonald

Honor Erskine graduated as a Civil Engineer in 2024 and joined the graduate scheme in Mott MacDonald in 2025 where she has worked on projects within transport, energy, and water utilities sectors. She is being nominated for her contribution to a water utilities infrastructure project for Thames Water where she has gone above and beyond her appointed project management role to support the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), by leveraging her expertise in a wider capacity and through her commitment, reliability and enthusiasm has helped deliver key technical outputs as well as contributing to the strategic direction of the project.

Maddy Davies

Affinity Water

Maddy Davies is an exceptional early career professional whose impact far exceeds her tenure. A first class natural sciences graduate, she impressed senior colleagues by consistently embracing complex challenges and delivering outstanding results. She excelled in a high-pressure placement as Production Lead, challenging the status quo, improving site performance, and raising team morale. She is a Rising Star of the Institute of Water, demonstrating leadership potential in her technical maturity, strategic insight and emotional intelligence. Her leadership of a local charity event, mentoring of a new graduate intake, and sector wide advocacy for other graduates also showcase her commitment.

Patricia Lopes

Scottish Water

Patricia Lopes is an exceptional early-career professional whose evidence-driven approach has had a tangible impact on advancing Scottish Water’s understanding of micropollutants; bridging research, strategy and policy. Patricia excels at presenting complex concepts and data in clear, accessible terms, ensuring that both technical experts and senior decision-makers understand crucial insights. She has a collaborative spirit and is dedicated to knowledge-sharing. She is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, embodying the values celebrated by the Women in Utilities Awards.

Wei Xin Chua

Accenture

In just over a year in the utilities sector, Wei has rapidly established herself as an exceptional early-career consultant delivering measurable impact on complex transformation programmes. She joined a transformation programme Accenture was delivering for a UK water utility and within months progressed from supporting delivery to taking ownership of key programme components, demonstrating leadership behaviours beyond her level. She takes ownership of complex challenges, works confidently with stakeholders, and delivers solutions that improve operational efficiency and customer experience. Alongside client delivery, she drives innovation and inclusion, demonstrating the leadership, impact, and trajectory of a Graduate of the Year.