Spring, the Innovation Centre of Excellence for the UK and Ireland water sector, is pleased to announce the appointment of four new board members: Carol Cairns, Jess Alce, Mumin Islam, and Toby Willison. As Spring enters a new phase of securing long term stability, these appointments bring diversity of thought across water-only companies and water and sewerage companies, reinforcing Spring’s commitment to collaborative innovation across the whole sector.
Each of the new board members brings significant experience and a unique perspective, enhancing Spring’s ability to address critical industry challenges and meet our objective to centralise innovation intelligence for both water companies and suppliers.
Carol Cairns, Chief Asset Officer, Portsmouth Water
Carol has had an extensive career in the water sector, driven by a passion for delivering positive environmental and societal outcomes. She joins the board to support Spring’s goal to accelerate innovation and enhance collaboration across the industry.
Jess Alce, Strategic Innovation Business Lead, Severn Trent
Jess brings extensive experience from the water, food waste, and energy sectors since 2016. She is committed to leveraging innovation to address significant sector challenges and drive meaningful change.
Mumin Islam, Head of Innovation, South Staffs Water
Mumin joins the board at a crucial time for innovation within the sector, emphasising the need for scalable and inclusive approaches. He is keen to ensure that Spring effectively supports industry-wide innovation adoption.
Toby Willison, Strategy Director, Wessex Water
Toby brings considerable executive and non-executive experience, recognising the vital role innovation plays in addressing industry challenges such as climate change, customer demands, and operational efficiency. He is excited to support Spring’s initiatives to break down silos and focus sector efforts on innovation.
Nigel Watson, Interim Chair of the Spring Board, commented: “We welcome Carol, Jess, Mumin, and Toby to the board. Their diverse expertise will significantly strengthen Spring’s capability to support innovation across the water sector.”
Spring also acknowledges the valuable contributions of outgoing board members Jason Tucker (Anglian Water), Nigel Watson (Northumbrian Water), the late Tony Harrington (Dŵr Cymru), and Denise Massey (Energy Innovation Centre). Since Spring’s inception in 2021, each has played a key role in shaping its direction. Their passion and expertise have been instrumental in laying a strong foundation for future growth and creating a lasting legacy for the sector.
These new appointments reflect Spring’s ongoing commitment to providing strategic leadership and driving innovation across the industry—delivering value for water companies, suppliers, and ultimately, the end customer. They will be a valuable asset in securing the long-term effectiveness of the sector’s innovation centre of excellence.
