Living without water and sanitation hold back the prosperity and health of people in developing countries. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a golden opportunity to tackle extreme poverty and guarantee access to safe water & sanitation for all. The water sector leaders have an obligation to do everything in their power to make SDG six a reality.  In her speech, Barbara Frost states that SDG is achievable, but it requires political commitment, investment, innovation and behaviour change. Water champions can advocate for goal six, hold goverments accountable and actively collaborate across sectors for the innovations needed to realize the SDGs.

Barbara Frost has been Chief Executive of WaterAid UK since September 2005. During this time the global organisation has expanded into 37 countries and substantially increased its income from £27 million a year to over £90 million in 2014/15. Barbara oversaw WaterAid’s Global Strategy “Everyone Everywhere by 2030”, linking the work of teams across the globe with the Sustainable Development Goals. She played a pivotal role in creating WaterAid international. WaterAid’s success is due to retaining a clear focus on safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation as essential to poverty eradication and an emphasis on everyone’s right to these most basic of services.