About the partnership
The Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) was formed as a joint venture agreement between South West Water and the University of Exeter, based on the Streatham Campus.
The centre was officially opened in March 2024 and represents the first purpose-built, transdisciplinary research centre in the water sector, focusing on the most pressing challenges that impact upon the provision of safe and resilient water and waste services in the UK and overseas.
CREWW supports existing research excellence by providing facilities which will:
Contribute
Strengthen
Enhance
01
Contribute to research that is part of delivering the Industrial Strategy and Defra’s 25 year Environmental Plan
02
Strengthen transdisciplinary research by bringing researchers from across academic disciplines
03
Enhance strategic research partnerships by providing collaboration and training facilities where industry staff can work with our own researchers.
“The transdisciplinary research centre at Exeter provides a great opportunity to help answer some of the big questions facing the water sector. The centre will be a focal point, not only for trialling new solutions but also for bringing together regulators, utilities, the supply chain and academia.’’
– Steve Kaye Chief Executive of UKWIR
Governance
The external advisory group includes key actors from across industry including:
The following research strategies are within the scope of CREWW:
Missions and objectives
At CREWW, our mission is to advance knowledge and innovation across the water sector, helping to safeguard our natural resources for future generations. To do this we focus on developing sustainable and resilient solutions that address the contemporary crisis of climate change, population growth, and increasing environmental pressures.
Our research is centred on the key challenges facing the water sector which align directly with our research themes: drinking water systems, waste water systems, environmental resilience, catchments and ecosystems, and infrastructure and leakage.
By working at the cutting edge of scientific research and industry collaboration, we support the development of practical solutions that deliver lasting benefits for both communities, and the environment.
People and expertise
Board Members
Sarah Heald
Chief Strategy and Reg’ Affairs, South West Water
Martin Jones
CIO, South West Water
Carolyn Cadman
Director of Natural Resources, South West Water
Stuart Brocklehurst
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Business Engagement and Innovation, University of Exeter
Dan Charman
Senior Vice-President and Provost, University of Exeter
Krasimira Tsaneva
Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact, University of Exeter
Alex Gerbasi
Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter
Research Steering Group
Peter Melville-Shreeve
CREWW Engineering theme lead, University of Exeter
Janet Geipel
CREWW Social Sciences theme lead, University of Exeter
Angus Buckling
Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research & Impact, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter
Ceri Lewis
CREWW Biosciences theme lead, University of Exeter
Claire King
Laboratory Services Manager, Water Quality, South West Water
Jason Harvey
DWS Networks Transformation & Innovation Manager, South West Water
Helen Dobby
Head of Environmental Performance, South West water
CREWW Management Team
Edward Keedwell
Professor, CREWW co-director, University of Exeter
Kate Gannon
Senior Business Development Manager, University of Exeter
David Baldock
CREWW Programme Manager, South West Water
Chris Watson
CREWW Project Officer, University of Exeter
Daisy Teague
CREWW Assistant Programme Manager, South West Water
Sharon Gove
Project Administrator, University of Exeter
Alex Huke
Head of Environment & Clean Growth, University of Exeter