The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Henk Ovink as its incoming Chair of the Board of Governors, effective July 1, 2025.
Ovink is the Executive Director and founding Commissioner for the Global Commission on the Economics of Water. He was the first-ever global water ambassador, appointed Special Envoy for International Water Affairs by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2015. He co-led the second UN Water Conference in 2023. Ovink previously served on President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, where he led the long-term innovation, resilience, and rebuilding efforts. His work has reshaped how water issues are addressed at local and global scales. In different roles, Ovink has actively supported and empowered young water professionals and youth to address the world’s needs on water. He is recognized for his ability to inspire and mobilize diverse stakeholders to act.
“Henk Ovink’s visionary leadership in global water affairs and his ability to bridge sectors and build coalitions are invaluable to IWMI’s mission,” said Mark Smith, Director General of IWMI. “We look forward to his contributions as we continue to execute the IWMI Strategy 2024–2030. This is a crucial moment for water security, and IWMI’s research and innovation capabilities are in high demand to manage water sustainably, mitigate water risks, and overcome global inequalities.”
Ovink succeeds Simi Kamal, who served as Chair of the Board of Governors since January 2024 and as a Member since February 2018. During her tenure, she provided strategic guidance and steadfast leadership, advancing IWMI’s mission in water science and sustainable development. “We deeply appreciate Simi Kamal for her exceptional dedication to IWMI and our Board,” Smith said. “Her experience, her deep knowledge of water, environment and women’s empowerment, and her inspiration have been instrumental to IWMI’s achievements and growth.”
IWMI is also welcoming three new Members to its Board of Governors, effective July 1, 2025.
Doulaye Kone is the Director of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene program at the Gates Foundation. He has more than 20 years of experience transforming how sanitation services are delivered to underserved communities. At the Gates Foundation, he leads efforts to develop and scale safe, affordable, off-grid, and water-efficient sanitation technologies. Kone has helped launch the Inclusive Sanitation Service initiative and chaired the development of the first performance ISO standard for pathogen-killing sanitation systems. Before joining the Gates Foundation in 2011, Kone served as program coordinator of water operators’ partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa for the African Water and Sanitation Association. He holds a doctoral degree in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, a master’s degree in Environmental Science, a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Chemistry, as well as a specialization in Business Strategy.
Cristina Rumbaitis del Rio is Senior Advisor on Adaptation and Resilience at the United Nations Foundation. She has over twenty years of experience developing and implementing climate change adaptation and resilience programs. She was a Senior Adaptation and Resilience Advisor with the World Resources Institute and the Food and Land Use Coalition. Other previous positions include Action Track Co-Manager at the Global Commission on Adaptation, Regional Program Manager at Action on Climate Today, and Senior Associate Director at the Rockefeller Foundation. She also served as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of WorldFish. Rumbaitis del Rio was a post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, holds a doctoral degree in Ecology from the University of Colorado, and a bachelor’s degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Columbia University.
Debra Tan is Director and Head of CWR, a nonprofit that aims to mainstream water and climate risks into financial decision-making and corporate strategies. She is a thought leader in the economic-water-energy-climate nexus, pushing for new ways to put water at the heart of corporate strategies and policymaking, through “waternomics” and “development unusual”. Tan’s research has been published by financial institutions and policy journals. Her work on water risk impacts and valuation methodologies has led to changes in financial frameworks and has been referenced in technical guides for global climate-related disclosure standards. She was a contributing author to the Water chapter in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Before venturing into the water space, Tan spent over a decade in finance.
