Cost:

FWA Members: $35  |  Non-Members: $50

 

Registration closes at 11:59 pm EST on Dec 1, 2025.

 

 

Description: 

 

The world is facing a growing water crisis driven by climate change, population growth, industrial and agricultural demand, pollution, aging infrastructure and mismanagement. For businesses, this is not just an environmental issue, it's a material risk. Agriculture, manufacturing, technology and other industries depend on reliable water access. Data centers require large volumes for cooling, while food and beverage companies rely on stable supplies for crops. In water stressed regions, competition for limited resources can strain community relations, adding to operational and reputational risks. As a result, water management is now integral to risk planning, supply chain strategy and long-term growth.

 

While the challenges are urgent, so are the opportunities. Governments and companies are investing in transformative solutions, from smart irrigation and solar desalinization to advanced recycling and efficiency technologies. The U.S. alone faces a $1 trillion need to modernize water infrastructure over the next 25 years. This creates compelling opportunities for investors -- from municipal bonds and water-focused ETFs to private equity support for breakthrough technologies in filtration, monitoring and reuse. This timely panel will explore: the drivers of the water crisis, responses across sectors and the opportunties for investors to make both impact and returns. Join us to gain insights into one of the most pressing sustainability challenges of our time, and discover how innovation, policy and investment are converging to shape the future of water.

 

 

Bios:

 

Alma Cortes Selva, Senior Advisor Climate Institute, BMO

 

Alma Cortes Selva spearheads the BMO Climate Institute’s research into sustainable commercial real estate (CRE) and agriculture, focusing on the financial and environmental viability of transitioning these sectors toward net-zero emissions. She holds a PhD in agricultural economics and over a decade of experience in fiscal policy, renewable energy incentives, and climate-related financial risk analysis.

 

 

Aleem Remtula, Managing Director, WaterEquity                      

 

Aleem Remtula heads private equity and infrastructure investments at WaterEquity, focusing on clean water, sanitation, and climate resilience. With over 25 years in impact investing, he has managed more than $150 million in investments in emerging markets, supporting sectors like financial inclusion, WASH, healthcare, and education. Before WaterEquity, Aleem was a partner at Developing World Markets, where he led global investments in banks and financial institutions. He’s also held roles at impact-focused organizations including the New York City Investment Fund, Bridges Fund Management, and Living Cities. Aleem began his career in corporate finance at JP Morgan and has served on boards of companies and nonprofits across the U.S., India, Sri Lanka, China, Georgia, and Armenia. He holds a BA in Economics and Finance from Princeton and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

 

 

Hedy Gutfreund, Principal, Global Impact Fund, KKR             

 

Hedy Gutfreund (New York) joined KKR in 2021 and is a Principal on the Global Impact team, focused on investing in businesses that promote commercial solutions to global issues. She has been involved in the firm’s investments in Axius Water, CoolIT Systems, KnowBe4, and Resource Environmental Solutions. Previously, she worked as a management consultant with Bain & Company in Boston and also worked at Blue Meridian Partners, a philanthropic capital aggregator in New York, on the portfolio management and strategy team. She received a B.A. from Yale University and is on the Junior Board of Breaking Ground in New York City.

 

 

Marc Robert, Chief Operating Officer, Water Asset Management LLC                   

 

Since 2006 Mr. Robert has been Chief Operating Officer and a Partner at Water Asset Management, a global investor in water companies and assets ensuring water availability and quality. Prior to joining Water Asset Management LLC, he was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, a member of the Equity Capital Commitment Committee and the North American Equity Management Committee. Mr. Robert is presently the Board Chair of Sylvester Manor Educational Farm in Shelter Island NY and a trustee of WaterAid America, a global charity focused on providing access to safe water and sanitation.  He graduated from Brown University in 1982 with a BA in Religious Studies.