Cramwinckel to Lead Multisector Industry Initiative

WBCSD President Björn Stigson made the announcement during the 2010 World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, saying: "Business depends on water today more than ever. From energy and manufacturing to agriculture and healthcare, society will grow ever more reliant on sustainable use and development of the world's water resources. As a result, we're increasing our investment in the WBCSD Water Programme and creating a platform for creativity and new solutions," he added.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to help the WBCSD start a new chapter in its important efforts around water," said Water Programme Director Cramwinckel. The global water challenges in terms of access and quality within the wider context of population growth, development and environmental degradation are huge. This provides a risk and an opportunity for business. The focus will therefore be on supporting business in its efforts to achieve sustainable water stewardship. We will help define its role in addressing the needs of those who lack access of water and sanitation. Furthermore we aim to create a better understanding of the complex interrelationship between the energy, water and food securities in support of business decision making. And, lastly we will take a supportive role in the creation of innovate, game changing and integrated solutions.

The WBCSD Water Progamme started in 1997. Over the years, it has succeeded in putting water high on corporates' agenda and has increasingly been recognised as the major collective business voice on water in leading international processes like the World Water Week and the UN World Water Development Reports. The programme played a major role in enhancing business understanding of key water issues and drivers, promoting mutual understanding between the business community and non-business stakeholders on water management issues, and developing tools and models to support effective business action like the publication in 2005 of ground breaking water scenarios to 2025 and the launch in 2007 of the Global Water Tool. The expanded Water Programme will build on the success of the Scenarios and the Global Water Tool and serve as a catalyst for the development of new solutions in sustainable water management.

Before joining the WBCSD, Cramwinckel was Sustainable Development Lead for Shell International Exploration and Production B.V. He joined Shell in 1985 and eventually served as environmental lead in Brunei and Oman. From 2001-2003 he was part of Shell's Corporate Sustainable Development team, with a specific focus on integrating Sustainable Development in Shell's internal decision-making process. In 2003 he became the Shell Issue Manager for Water. While at Shell, as a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Water Working Group, he was the driving force behind the development of the WBCSD "Business in the World of Water" scenarios, and he lead the energy and water work stream. Most recently, Cramwinckel was named an official member of the Stockholm International Water Institute's (SIWI) advisory committee for the Stockholm World Water Week.

WBCSD Water Programme Leadership Group consists of Accenture, BASF, Bayer CropScience, Borealis, DSM, Dupont, Holcim, IBM, ITT, Kimberly-Clark, PepsiCo, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rio Tinto, Royal Dutch Shell, Siemens, Suncor Energy, Swarovski and Unilever.