Executive Director at Stockholm International Water Institute takes on a new position in Washington

Mr Anders Berntell, Executive Director at Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), will be leaving SIWI after ten successful years for a position as Executive Director of 2030 Water Resources Group at the International Finance Corporation within the World Bank Group.

”Under Berntell’s leadership, SIWI has developed into one of the world’s leading institutes on water issues and become a respected actor in the international water community. His contribution to developing the World Water Week in Stockholm has been instrumental in making it the most important international annual meeting place for the planet’s urgent water-related issues. In 2002 1,000 participated in the World Water Week – in 2011, 2,700 delegates, representing all sectors attended the conference. Mr Anders Berntell has with his competence and outstanding leadership contributed to SIWI’s success. We wish him all the best in continuing to contribute to a water wise world in his new position,” says Mr Peter Forssman, Chair of SIWI Board.

Mr Anders Berntell took over as Executive Director at SIWI in February 2002. Under his management SIWI has grown from 10 to 50 employees by the end of 2011. He has developed SIWIs well-known brands, World Water Week and Stockholm Water Prize and has also focused on developing SIWIs Knowledge Services. By offering advisory services, applied research and capacity building the Knowledge Services aims to support water management and development initiatives worldwide, helping clients from all sectors improve their decisions and strategies related to water, land and sustainable development.

“After ten years as Executive Director of SIWI, I of course have mixed feelings about leaving,” says Mr Berntell. “However, it feels very good to leave SIWI at a time when our work is going so well and continuing to expand. Our key brands, the World Water Week and the Stockholm Water Prize stands stronger than ever and have manifested themselves as world leaders in their respective fields. SIWIs work in other areas and its role as thought leader is widely recognised and appreciated. This organisation has all the potential to play an even more important role in international discussions on water and related areas in the future. I am sure SIWI will have a bright future and I will follow their development with great interest,” concludes Mr Berntell.

Mr Anders Berntell will start his new position as Executive Director of 2030 Water Resources Group in Washington, March 1, 2012. SIWI is at the present recruiting a new Executive Director.

About Stockholm International Water Institute
The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is a policy institute that contributes to international efforts to combat the world's escalating water crisis. SIWI develops and promotes future-oriented and knowledge–integrated policies towards sustainable use of the world’s water resources leading to sustainable development and poverty eradication. www.siwi.org