“The water sector is an amazing place to be right now because there is such a need for innovation. We have some of the biggest challenges that you could potentially face; so I think the appetite for innovation, people are now seeing as a ‘necessary’ and not a ‘nice-to-have’. We have a huge program at Northumbrian Water that’s really trying to promote women in STEM, so this could be our current workforce trying to open up opportunities to come into a STEM role even if they haven’t got a STEM background.”
In this latest episode of Distilled, host Will Sarni, CEO of Water Foundry, welcomes a new guest to discuss innovation and the imminent changes in the water sector. They delve into the importance of purpose in driving and facilitating these changes and explore the guest’s journey throughout the water sector.
Dr. Angela MacOscar, Head of Innovation at Northumbrian Water, joined Will to talk through her background. Kicking off the discussion, Will began by asking Angela about what got her hooked on water.
Watch the full video episode below or keep reading for the write-up.
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Angela on how she got hooked on water
Raised in Chester, in the northwest of England, Angela and her twin brother were extremely competitive with one another. Although she always had a keen interest in science — chemistry in particular — this competitiveness influenced Angela to leave school at 16 and start working, while her brother continued into higher education.
This decision — one of the best she ever made — led her to an apprenticeship with oil company Shell’s lubricant laboratory. The transformational nature of experiments fascinated her, and she knew this was the career path she wanted to pursue.
At Shell, her mentors encouraged her to pursue higher education at university, and, not only did they help her fill out university application forms, but they also took her to open days. She eventually attended Manchester University to earn a BSc in chemistry.
Angela thrived in the university environment in a way she never predicted at age 16. She developed a taste for research and decided to pursue a PhD. Her family’s engineering legacy, with her father and grandfather both being engineers, played a key role in her decision to pursue higher education.
Despite the love and support from her family, Angela also faced skepticism. She recalls telling her grandfather about her plans to pursue a PhD, and he, although loving, warned her that nobody would want to marry her if she did. This reflected the less supportive environment for women pursuing higher education in the 1980s and 90s.
Angela’s story highlights the challenges women have traditionally faced in pursuing higher education and careers in STEM fields.
Angela on imminent change in the water sector
Will then asked Angela about the differences and similarities between today’s water sector and the one she experienced at the beginning of her career.
Angela pointed out that many experienced professionals in the water sector are now nearing retirement which will inevitably lead to a change in the workforce. She said that white men overwhelmingly dominate most of the UK water sector’s current leadership positions.
As the head of innovation at Northumbrian Water, Angela stressed the importance of diversity in coming up with new ideas and solutions. She believes the sector’s focus on innovation shows how crucial diversity is. Over the last five years, she has noticed a slow but steady shift in the diversity of audiences and speakers at industry events, noting this as a positive sign.
“Diversity is absolutely key to actually coming up with new solutions, new ideas, and really doing things differently. So therefore, by nature of what we’re doing now and what all of the water companies are embracing, they’re seeing that innovation is the only way forward. You need that diversity.”
Angela is incredibly passionate about intentionally bringing more women into the sector. She supports creating future role models by working with schools, partnering with universities, and mentoring women within the organization, and believes these steps will make a huge difference.
In her day-to-day role, Angela oversees all aspects of driving new ideas and solutions throughout the company. Her role isn’t just about technology solutions; it’s about innovating how the company serves employees and customers and manages operations.
Day to day, Angela handles a variety of challenges, from exploring new technologies to rethinking business models and navigating regulatory changes. Each task demands a different skill set and background knowledge, highlighting the need for truly diverse perspectives.
Angela mentioned the Innovation Festival as a major catalyst for change. Having participated in all eight editions, she vividly remembers the stark gender divide in the early years. Over time, she and her team have worked hard to create a more inclusive environment.
Now, when Angela looks out at the festival audience, she sees a diverse group of participants. This diversity has not only enriched discussions but also boosted the festival’s impact. Angela believes that when people feel free to bring their authentic selves and share ideas openly, it leads to demonstrably better outcomes year after year.
Angela on being purposeful and intentional when trying to drive change
Will then asked Angela to elaborate on the proactive nature of her role in increasing levels of diversity.
Angela stressed the need to be intentional when driving change. At Northumbrian Water, she mentioned how they’ve actively worked to include more women and diverse voices at events like the Innovation Festival. This proactive approach has successfully diversified the lineup and audience.
But, they also make sure that their efforts extend beyond events. Angela mentioned Northumbrian Water’s program to support women in STEM, encouraging current employees to explore STEM careers regardless of their background.
“At Northumbrian Water, we also want to create new role models for the future, so people can see that there is actually a place where they can go for mentoring and coaching to be more confident and to perhaps get over some of the barriers that women are facing.”
Angela is deeply involved in community outreach, connecting with students, women entrepreneurs, and diverse groups. Her goal is to expand networks and attract new voices to participate in initiatives like the Innovation Festival and become part of the supply chain and culture.
Angela sees the water sector as a close community where everyone knows each other well and is familiar with the supply chain at industry events. To break this routine, she and her team attend events in other sectors as an opportunity to learn, connect with new networks, and discover technology solutions that haven’t yet made their way into the water industry.
She’s especially curious about the healthcare, medicine, and military sectors where there’s more investment in research development and faster digital advancements. These fields often pioneer innovations that could eventually become practical and scalable for water applications.
Angela wants to bring these fresh ideas and solutions into the water sector to attract interest and collaboration. Her approach aims to expand perspectives and introduce innovative solutions that can benefit the development of the water sector.
Angela on innovation in the water sector
Will then asked Angela for her prediction on how innovation will evolve within the water sector.
Angela sees the water sector as it stands as an exciting place because there’s such a pressing need for innovation. With climate change posing major challenges, she views these challenges as opportunities for both growth and improvement.
She said she’s noticed a growing enthusiasm for innovation and points out that regulators have also recognized this shift, as evidenced by a £200 million innovation fund allocated over the past three years. This funding has sparked increased interest and facilitated unique collaborations across different sectors.
She mentions that innovation bids typically involve around 13 different partners on average, many of whom come from diverse sectors. She said that these collaborations are essential for finding new solutions to the sector’s big challenges.
“The theme for our Innovation Festival this year is speed and scale because I am super conscious that we do not move at the pace at which we could. And I think that if we want to achieve our goals, we do need to be faster. But I also totally appreciate that there are reasons why we are not slow. We cannot be risky, right? We are dealing with drinking water and sanitation, right? If we get that wrong, that’s a big no-no, right? So care does need to be taken.”
Angela said that she’s noticed that attitudes toward change and innovation in the water sector are evolving, although not uniformly across companies. While some are embracing innovation more enthusiastically, others still show resistance or slower adoption.
She pointed out a common challenge where successful innovations in one area often struggle to be implemented more widely due to varying mindsets within organizations. Angela acknowledged that pockets of resistance exist throughout the industry, resulting in uneven progress in adopting new ideas.
She appreciated breaking down these dynamics into smaller parts rather than viewing the sector as a single entity. Angela believes this nuanced perspective is essential for accelerating innovation across the utility sector.
Angela highlighted how her team’s focus is on empowering the organization to innovate by smoothing the path and reducing obstacles. During discussions on potential innovations, Angela urges her team to initially set aside concerns like cost and feasibility to allow for creative brainstorming and exploring new ideas freely.
She emphasized their role in breaking down barriers, keeping projects moving forward, and overcoming obstacles that could otherwise stall progress. Angela fosters a culture where biases are left behind, encouraging an open-minded approach that embraces change.
Angela said that she and her team ultimately aim to drive cultural change within the organization by expanding perspectives on what’s achievable through innovation.
Angela on facilitating, promoting, and encouraging curiosity
Finally, Will asked Angela about what other transformations she thinks are necessary, not only within the water sector but also in shaping public perception.
Angela stressed the need for swift action to address challenges and rebuild customer trust. She highlighted the importance of customers playing a role in conserving water and shared anecdotes about unusual items found in sewers (such as a six-foot python!)
She emphasized the importance of shifting towards a partnership between customers and the water service, believing it’s crucial for future relationships. She envisions a future where interactions with the utility are not just satisfactory but delightful, celebrating the essential services provided worldwide.
“We definitely need to do things differently. And I think we need to have more of a partnership approach with our customers. We were invisible, so people didn’t value what we did because people took it for granted that they turned on their taps, or flushed toilets and got the services, and it was only really visible when things were not working properly. And that kind of worked for a while.
We are now not invisible in the UK at all, but that brings an opportunity for somebody like me, because it drives the urgency of change. So, I totally see that we need to drive this change.”
In her view, promoting awareness and pride in the utility’s achievements could strengthen this partnership and help prepare for future challenges with innovative solutions and expanded services.
She also stressed the importance of changing our culture and behaviors to drive change in the water sector. She believes everyone, regardless of their role in the sector, has the power to make a difference.
At Northumbrian Water, she said that they actively promote innovation as a core value. Events like the Innovation Festival involve about a third of the workforce, showing how employees can contribute to positive changes while also enjoying themselves.
Interested in more Distilled content?
Hosted by Water Foundry CEO Will Sarni, Distilled is a video podcast series that features water leaders from around the world. Each one-on-one conversation explores the guest’s unique career path, discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the water industry, and considers what’s next for water.
You’ll find more episodes here.
