In the Spotlight: Matthew White

Matthew White is the Chairman of BW Water. Since 2019, he has transformed BW Water into a leading global player with an order book in excess of US$250 million.

Why did you choose a career in the water industry?
My career in the industry began after university, when I embarked on my first job operating and commissioning treatment plants around the world. As I progressed through commercial roles, I developed a passion and appreciation for water as the world’s most valuable resource. At present, the UN predicts that freshwater demand will exceed supply by 40% by 2030, driving the wastewater treatment market to exceed US$650 billion by 2025. BW Water’s treatment solutions are able to transform poor quality water into drinking water, and recycle used water, allowing every drop to be used more sustainably. This makes what we do every day impactful and meaningful.

Tell us about the journey of BW Water’s growth.
We saw the potential to build a business that serves the needs of a rapidly growing and evolving market. With our nimble approach, we could gain the trust of customers by meeting their needs in a way that larger players would find difficult. One of the challenges in water and wastewater treatment is the large resource footprint needed to install a treatment facility plant – and extensive resources, mainly energy, that are needed to achieve the required water quality. With our experienced engineering design, we can rightsize the facility and equip it with the most cost-efficient technologies, such as BW Water’s proprietary Hydro-PAQ™ and Hydro-FIL™ solutions.

In tandem with our global acquisitions and expansion, we now have a new 4,000m² fabrication facility in Penang, Malaysia; a 2,250m² state-of-the-art production facility in Dresden, Germany; and desalination competencies in the US. These capabilities enable us to deliver full-service solutions and undertake larger fabrication volumes. Coupled with our proven track record in water treatment and desalination solutions, we can now leverage economies of scale to power the next phase of our growth. We have organised our leadership team to take advantage of these synergies. I am excited to see BW Water thrive under Gethin Thomas as the new Global CEO.

Looking back, what are you most proud of?
I feel a sense of pride in taking on the position of Chairman, after serving as CEO and Executive Chairman for BW Water’s remarkable growth journey. As a leader, it is rewarding to build a strong company, team and culture. I am proud to see how our colleagues interact and collaborate with openness. We care about doing the best in our work, and we care about delivering on our promises to each other and our customers – something that’s evident from our strong order book.

In addition, the BW Water team has remained agile with organisational growth changes. They are excited to work with their customers to help find solutions to the world’s water challenges. Now, as Chairman of the Board, I am excited to steer BW Water’s growth strategy and empower the current leadership team to unlock our full potential.

What does the future hold for BW Water?
I see BW Water as a powerful force in the water industry. We have disrupted the market and captured new opportunities by providing tailored solutions for water and wastewater treatment. We provide cost-effective solutions for communities who need clean drinking water for their daily needs, and treatment solutions for industries such as agriculture and semiconductor manufacturing.

With climate change and a shift in weather patterns, ensuring water security and resilience is of increasing importance. Our technology and capabilities are increasingly in demand, and we strive to deliver innovative best-in-class solutions to meet tomorrow’s challenges today.

This interview was first published in World Horizon Issue H2 2024, the biannual magazine of the BW Group.