Darren Saywell
Water Services Director, AECOM

Biography

Dr Darren Saywell is Director of Water Services at AECOM (IDEV – international development).

Darren has 25 years experience of international policy, research and advisory work in water supply, sanitation and hygiene, with special interest in the urban environment; and in more than 20 developing countries worldwide.

From 2011-2017 he was Senior Director for Water, Sanitation and Health at Plan International USA. Between 2005-2011, he was at IWA Headquarters, leading the international development program; from 2000 – 2005, he was the Program Manager at WHO (WSSCC) in Geneva, and from 1994-2000, Darren was a Program Manager at WEDC, Loughborough University in the UK.

Darren has acted in a number of advisory positions throughout his career in the WASH sector. He was Vice-Chair of Sanitation and Water For All (SWA) (from Sept 2011 to December 2014); Board member of AfricaAhead (2011-2016) and Member, International Council of American Water Works Association (2013-2016). Previous advisory roles included: Member, post-2015 sanitation working group (2011-2012); Steering committee, WSSCC (2008-2011); Human Resource capacity gap reference group Chairperson, Department for International Development, UK (2009-2011); Member, WEDC International Conference Scientific Committee (2008-2013); Sanitation policy reference group member, Department for International Development, UK (2007).

He has authored 4 books and contributed chapters/editiorial input to 9 others covering aspects of sanitation, planning, urban water security, knowledge management and pollution.