Creating a Sustainable Water
Future through Innovation

Tan Cheng Guan is a veteran of Singapore’s water industry and is a pioneer in introducing new water innovations to Singapore. He brings with him more than 25 years of experience in engineering, strategy, business and project development for the utilities industry.

Adrian is a social entrepreneur and business leader with more than 15 years of C-level experience who has dedicated his career to product innovation in the water technology sector.

Adrian has built a solid reputation in technology translation and innovation. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President at Sembcorp Industries, where he was responsible for the water portfolio in China and management of more than 800 employees. Adrian also led the digital and technological transformation of Sembcorp’s Water Business. Prior to joining Sembcorp, Adrian was involved in a series of successful water start-ups, including De.mem Pte Ltd, that was listed on the ASX exchange in 2018.

As a Social Entrepreneur, he founded Water Initiative for Securing Health (WISH) in 2004, that was responsible for the installation of water filtration devices in Sumatra, Indonesia, providing safe drinking water to more than 200,000 people.

Adrian holds a PhD in Membrane Technology from Nanyang Technological University.

Tai Kee is a technology translation specialist with more than 5 years of research and management experience in the water sector.

In her most recent role as the head of Strategic Partnerships for the water business in Sembcorp Industries, she pioneered their first innovation-to-market program (SWING), scouting more than 1000 companies and partnered innovative water start-ups that can value add to their water business in Asia Pacific. She led her teams in Singapore and China to drive the technology commercialization of water start-ups by serving as their first used case for pilot testing and product validation.

She is also responsible for the management of 2,500 sqm laboratories in Sembcorp Water Hub in Nanjing, which serves as technology development facility for strategic partners and tenants. Her earlier roles include the R&D lab manager in Sembcorp’s Technology and Innovation Center, where she led feasibility studies for the development of wastewater plants in Singapore, China and UK.

Tai Kee holds a Chemical Engineering degree (B. Eng.) from National University of Singapore.

Dr. Chen Xuelong is a distinguished Senior Scientist specializing in polymers and composites, with over a decade of research and development experience. His groundbreaking work focuses on understanding the intricate relationship between material structure and its properties, innovating ways to tailor these properties through microstructure manipulation. His expertise encompasses a broad range of polymers and composites, including both thermoplastics and thermosets.

With a proven track record in the fabrication and processing of a broad spectrum of polymers and polymer composites, Dr. Chen has been instrumental in spearheading multiple projects. These initiatives have led to groundbreaking advancements in polymer-based materials, specifically tailored for high-stakes industries such as aerospace and biomedical applications.

His substantial contributions to the scientific community include more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, several book chapters, and multiple patents. Additionally, he has served as a guest editor for three internationally acclaimed journals, further solidifying his standing as a thought leader in his field.

Dr. Chen earned his Bachelor's degree in Polymer Science and Engineering from Heilongjiang University in China, followed by a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Prior to joining Atera Water, he served as a lead scientist at the Rolls-Royce Corporation Laboratory in Singapore.

Daniel serves as the Head of Investments at Inheritance Enterprises, a premier investment holding firm headquartered in Singapore. Prior to joining Inheritance, he played pivotal roles in a multinational conglomerate, where he was involved in strategic M&A initiatives, corporate strategy building, change management and developed advanced information systems for market intelligence. Daniel holds a MA (first class honours) from University of Auckland, New Zealand and a BA from Seoul National University.

Professor Hu Xiao is a leading innovator with more than 35 years of R&D experience in new materials design, synthesis, processing and fabrication for targeted end uses. He is also a founding faculty member of the Materials Engineering programme at Nanyang Technological University.

Professor Anthony Fane is a Chemical Engineer with a PhD from Imperial College. He has been working on membranes since 1973 and is a world expert on membrane science and technology. His current interests are in membranes applied to environmental applications and the water cycle, focusing on the sustainability aspects of membrane technology, including desalination, reclamation, membrane bioreactors and reuse.

Professor Fane is the former Head of the School of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry at UNSW (1998 to 2000) and a former Director of the UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology at UNSW, (1991 – 2005). He was the Founding Director of the Singapore Membrane Technology Centre (SMTC) at the Nanyang Technological University and was the Director Mentor at SMTC. Professor Fane is also an Emeritus Professor at the School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW.

Professor Fane is on the Advisory Board of the Journal of Membrane Science (a former editor, 1992 to 2005) and the Editorial Board of  Desalination, an Honorary life member of the European Membrane Society and Patron of the Membrane Society of Australasia.  He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering  and a recipient of the Centenary Medal in 2002 for services to Chemical Engineering and the Environment. In 2013 he received the International Water Association’s  Membrane Technology Award for ‘pioneering contributions in membrane technology’.