Simon Granath, Teamleader-Smart Distribution Network, VA SYD
Dr Armenak Antinyan Head of Behavioural Economics Thames Water, UK
Simon Granath, Teamleader-Smart Distribution Network, VA SYD
- Simon has been working on the technology development of water and wastewater for 10+ years, with a main focus on sensing, IoT, and leveraging our data.
- He has been part of VA SYDs smart metering journey since the beginning: setting up requirements for procurement, implementation and the continuous development that needs to take place.
- "So the main things we want to share are our learnings from implementing a solution without vendor lock-ins that is adoptable for technology change and how this can help create development, not limit it. And also what we have learned from our mistakes and what we would do differently if we were starting over today".
Evelyn De Meyer, Manager Smart Metering, De Watergroep
Dr Armenak Antinyan Head of Behavioural Economics Thames Water, UK
Simon Granath, Teamleader-Smart Distribution Network, VA SYD
- Evelyn represents the largest water utility company in Flanders, Belgium, where Evelyn focuses on the implementation and smart use of digital water meters.
- The presentation focuses on the rollout of digital water meters on the sector level for Pidpa, Farys and De Watergroep.
Key challenges and discussion points include:
- Logistical complexity (more than 2.8 million analogue meters by 2030)
- Interoperability and data exchange
- Customer acceptance and communication
- Technological hurdles
- Regulatory alignment
Dr Armenak Antinyan Head of Behavioural Economics Thames Water, UK
Dr Armenak Antinyan Head of Behavioural Economics Thames Water, UK
Dr Mahmoud Al-Hader Acting SVP, Water Strategy & Performance, TAQA Distribution
- Dr. Armanach’s session will explore how behavioural science is helping water utilities move beyond simply providing customers with data towards actually influencing real-world customer decisions and actions.
- Drawing on concepts such as System 1 and System 2 thinking, he will show why customers do not always respond rationally to usage information, billing messages, affordability support, or water efficiency campaigns—and why understanding human behaviour is becoming just as important as the technology itself.
Dr Mahmoud Al-Hader Acting SVP, Water Strategy & Performance, TAQA Distribution
Dr Mahmoud Al-Hader Acting SVP, Water Strategy & Performance, TAQA Distribution
Dr Mahmoud Al-Hader Acting SVP, Water Strategy & Performance, TAQA Distribution
Dr. Al-Hader sits at the intersection of:
- Water network strategy
- Asset information / GIS
- Digital infrastructure (CMMS, OT, analytics)
- Performance optimisation at the system level
- Contributions will address how investments in smart data about assets (pipes, valves, meters, networks) become operational control and delivers payback and ROI.
Dr Mahmoud Al-Hader Acting SVP, Water Strategy & Performance, TAQA Distribution