Our water systems are under pressure. What once felt stable and abundant is now unpredictable. The hydrological cycle is breaking down. Droughts intensify. Floods hit harder and more often. Ecosystems are under strain. And this isn’t something far away, it’s already affecting our daily lives: our safety, our cities, our food, and our economy.
Water connects everything. Yet for a long time, we have taken it for granted. We’ve undervalued it, mismanaged it and overlooked its role in how we design and organize our world. Today, nearly three billion people live in regions facing water scarcity, and the impact is being felt everywhere.
But there’s also reason for optimism. Across the globe, people are showing that change is possible. When we treat water as a shared resource, new ideas emerge. Designers, scientists, governments and communities are working together and learning from each other. They show that when knowledge flows across borders and disciplines, we can rebuild damaged landscapes. The result? Healthier ecosystems and more resilient societies.
Speakers
Our speakers will briefly introduce their work and perspective, after which we’ll open up the discussion, with room for your questions.
Henk Ovink is a global leader in water diplomacy, resilience and design-driven transformation. As former Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Netherlands and executive director of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, he has shaped international water policy at the highest levels. Ovink advocates for a holistic, justice-centered approach that connects the hydrological cycle with climate action, ecological restoration and conservation, spatial planning, and economic reform. His work emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and design as essential cultural drivers for building a resilient and just, water-secure future.
Francis Schoups, architect and researcher at Architecture Workroom Brussels, focuses on climate-resilient landscapes and cross-border water challenges. His work on the Dommel basin -in close collaboration with JCAR ATRACE- explores how drought, extreme rainfall and shifting land-use pressures call for new forms of cooperation across sectors and regions. Schoups leads efforts to build a “sponge coalition”, bringing together farmers, industries, nature organizations, and governments to co-design integrated, upstream-to-downstream solutions. His approach champions systemic thinking, local partnerships and innovative design strategies to strengthen the resilience of shared water landscapes.
Diana Carrillo Silva is an urbanism expert at TU/e’s Department of the Built Environment, where she leads work within UrbanLabs, an initiative connecting research, education and practice to tackle complex urban challenges. She leads the Brabant WaterLand ImpactLab and coordinates the ImpactLab for the Climate Resilient City, among others, advancing water- and soil-led planning that strengthens resilience and fosters long-term, systemic change. Through research by design, Diana collaborates with municipalities, water boards, students and other stakeholders to develop integrated solutions for climate adaptation and landscape transitions.
Alfonso Gil Cantabrana is a water professional with extensive experience in urban water management, sewer systems, and climate adaptation. Most recently, he has been working as a senior advisor at Water Authority De Dommel. Alfonso has considerable experience with urban water plans and developing policies and water concepts that matter, such as the 'blue arteries' in Tilburg. At the Water Authority, together with the De Dommel team and her water partners, he puts the necessary transition of the water system into practice, guided by their vision of ‘Wat Water Wil.’
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SG & USE/ITEC registration
Please register for SG & USE/ITEC by scanning your student ID at the venue prior to the start of the program.
More information about SG & USE/ITEC can be found here.