Blanca Antizar
Company: Isle Utilities Ltd
Country: UK
Words from the finalist…
Blanca Antizar, awarded the iAgua Mujer del Año (Woman of the Year) in 2022 for her significant contributions to the water sector globally, is the Director of Consultancy at Isle Utilities, where she has played a pivotal role in positioning the company as a global leading consultancy in technology and innovation, aiding clients in making informed decisions, and positioning anaerobic digestion (AD) as a cornerstone of circular economy. Her award-winning work includes managing a diverse portfolio of projects that have unlocked substantial public and private funding, enabling collaboration with numerous stakeholders across various countries to drive AD innovation, which includes leading strategic commercial initiatives to move wastewater treatment plants to resource recovery facilities (e.g., INCOVER, €7m), recover nutrients from wastewater (e.g., Run4Life, €8m), convert biogenic CO2 to organic acids (e.g., Vivaldi, €7m), and decentralized conversion of biogenic CO2 -to-methanol fuel (e.g., UP-TO-ME, €3m) to mention a few, and ultimately contributing to a net-zero economy. Blanca’s achievements also include her academic background, with a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, she is a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the International Water Association, she is a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor at the University College London, and a Member of the Industrial Advisory Board at the School of Engineering, University of Glasgow. These recognitions not only highlight her professional accomplishments but also aims to provide role models for young women in the sector, encouraging greater female participation.