ADB partners with Isle Utilities for special edition Podcast

Asian Water Development Outlook 2025: A Progress Review in Water Security with Tanya Huizer and Vivek Raman, Asian Development Bank

Isle — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0700

In this World Water Day edition, Piers Clark speaks with Tanya Huizer, Senior Water Resilience Specialist, and Vivek Raman, Principal Urban Development Specialist from the Asian Development Bank, about the Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) 2025, which assesses 50 Asia-Pacific economies across five key dimensions of water security. They highlight ADB’s role and position the report as a practical decision-making and benchmarking tool, tracking progress since 2013, with a country’s overall rating based on its lowest-performing area, reflecting that water security is only as strong as its weakest link and ensuring the focus remains on addressing critical gaps, not competition.

00:00 Introductions

00:48 Tanya’s Water Journey

01:40 Vivek’s Path to Water

02:33 What ADB Does

03:38 About AWDO 2025 Report

05:30 Who the Report Serves

06:18 Purpose of the Report

08:56 Analysis and Contrasts

10:25 ADB's Laundry Transformation Initiative

12:36 Youth Voices in the Report

13:18 Top Performers and Resources

14:20 Advice and Wrap up

Our 360 Innovation strategy and Reaching Energy Neutrality by 2030, with Carla Correia, CEO at Águas de Portugal Internacional (AdP), Portugal

Isle — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 06:41:52 -0700

In this episode of a special series of conversations supported by Isle Utilities in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, host Piers Clark speaks with Carla Correia, the Chief Executive of Águas de Portugal. Carla shares her extensive background in legal and economic science, her transition into the water and environmental sector, and her leadership journey within Águas de Portugal Internacional. They discuss the organization's mission, its expansive infrastructure, and notably, its ambitious 360 strategy for innovation, which aims for energy neutrality by 2030 through a mix of renewable energy sources. Carla provides insights into the benefits and challenges of achieving sustainability goals and offers advice to other utilities aiming for similar targets. She also shares personal reflections on valuable life lessons she'd offer to her younger self.

00:00 Introductions
00:27 Carla Correia's Background and Career Journey

02:50 Overview of Águas de Portugal

04:47 Innovation and Energy Strategy at Águas de Portugal Internacional

07:40 Achievements and Future Goals

09:45 Advice for Other Utilities and Personal Reflections

11:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Running a Utility in a remote island in the Northwest Pacific, with Frank Kyota, CEO, Palau Public Utilities Corporation

Isle — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 01:04:21 -0700

In this special series of conversations supported by Isle Utilities in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), host Piers Clark interviews Frank Kyota, the Chief Executive of Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC). Frank shares his journey from a background in criminal justice to various roles in corporate and public sectors, culminating in his current position. He discusses the critical role of the Asian Development Bank in improving Palau's water infrastructure and the unique challenges of workforce retention on a remote island. Frank also reflects on the invaluable lessons from his parents that have shaped his leadership approach.

00:00 Introductions

00:25 Frank Kyota's Journey to Leadership

02:55 Overview of Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC)

03:33 Asian Development Bank's Impact on PPUC

07:17 Challenges in Workforce Retention

09:30 Personal Reflections and Closing Remarks

What it is like being a Mentee for the Asian Development Bank’s Water Organisation Partnership for Resilience programme (WOP4R), with Ms Evangeline Mendoza, Norzagaray Water District, Philippines.

Isle — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 21:02:00 -0700

In this episode of a special series of conversations supported by Isle Utilities in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, host Piers Clark interviews Evangeline "Vangie" Mendoza from the Norzagaray Water District in the Philippines. Vangie, with over 30 years of experience in the water sector, discusses her role and the district's operations, highlighting their reliance on purchased bulk water and local deep wells. The conversation delves into Vangie's participation in the Asian Development Bank's twinning program with Rowland Water District in California. This mentorship, focusing on non-revenue water, financial planning, asset management, and stakeholder engagement, has yielded practical benefits, including new technology and improved financial practices. Vangie reflects on the cultural exchange and the mutual learning experience, emphasizing the importance of serving the community through the water sector.

00:00 Introduction
00:20 Meet Vangie: A Journey in the Water Sector
01:10 Norzagaray Water District: An Overview
02:13 The Twinning Program with Asian Development Bank
03:57 Insights from the Mentor-Mentee Relationship
05:42 Tangible Benefits and Learnings
06:50 Cultural Exchange and Reflections
07:10 Advice to a Younger Self
07:47 Conclusion and Farewell

Water and Wastewater services in Nepal and the WOP4R Twining with VAKIN in Sweden

Isle — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 21:00:00 -0700

In this special series of conversations supported by Isle Utilities in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, host Piers Clark speaks with Anand Gautam, Municipal Water Operator Partnership Coordinator at WaterAid Nepal, about his work representing the Godawari Municipality in Nepal. Anand shares his background and details the water and sanitation infrastructure in different areas of Godawari, covering rural, peri-urban, and urban settings. He discusses the challenges faced by the community, including intermittent water supply and lack of proper wastewater treatment. Anand also highlights his involvement in various initiatives with WaterAid Nepal to improve WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services, and the impact of international cooperation through the Asian Development Bank's Twinning Program with VAKIN in Sweden. The conversation concludes with reflections on the importance of early interventions for water conservation and education.

00:00 Introduction to the Exec Exchange Podcast
00:26 Meet Anand Gautam: Background and Role
01:16 Geography and Demographics of Godawari Municipality
02:09 Water and Sanitation Infrastructure in Godawari
04:10 Wastewater Management in Godawari
05:59 Anand's Role and Initiatives in Godawari
08:10 Partnerships and Collaborations
09:18 The Twinning Program with VAKIN
11:44 Reflections and Future Advice
12:39 Conclusion and Farewell

Regulatory Realities and Water Industry Mentorship: An Exchange with John Macabinta, Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), Philippines

Isle — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:00:00 -0700

In this special series of conversations supported by Isle Utilities in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), host Piers Clark interviews John Macabinta, manager at Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) in the Philippines. John shares his career journey from electrical engineering to his 23-year tenure at MCWD. He discusses the operations and scale of MCWD, highlighting its role in serving nearly half a million people in Cebu. John also delves into his mentorship role in the ADB's Water Operators Partners for Resilience (WOP4R) program, where MCWD mentors the Kawasoti Water Utilities Committee of Nepal. They focus on non-revenue water management, GIS mapping, and business planning. John also expresses the challenges and aspirations regarding the regulatory environment in the Philippines, advocating for better support and valuation of water services. The podcast concludes with a touching personal anecdote from John about a heartfelt message from his daughter during a work trip. This episode offers valuable insights into water management practices and regulatory challenges in the Philippines.

00:00 Introduction

00:24 John Macabinta's Background and Career Journey

01:01 Overview of Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD)

01:51 Mentorship in the Asian Development Bank's Program

03:07 Comparing Water Utilities: Cebu vs. Nepal

05:30 Regulatory Environment and Challenges in the Philippines

10:10 Personal Insights: A Touching Father's Day Story

11:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Our experience of Twinning, with Lina Ong Chiew Yin, Corporate Planning, Indah Water Konsortium

Isle — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:00:00 -0700

In this episode of a special series of conversations supported by Isle Utilities in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, host Piers Clark interviews Lina Ong Chiew Yin, Senior Manager in Corporate Planning at Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) in Malaysia. They discuss Lina's career journey from studying Malay language to working in change management and the water sector. The main focus is on IWK's role as a mentor through the Asian Development Bank's Water Operators Partnership Program, specifically their work with Baguio City Environmental Parks and Management Office in the Philippines. Lina shares insights on the program's impact, the importance of developing SOPs, energy efficiency, human competency, and stakeholder management, along with the reciprocal visits and long-term benefits of the mentorship.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:24 Lina's Career Journey
01:48 Indah Water Konsortium Overview
02:33 Mentorship with Baguio City
05:21 Impact and Reflections
09:04 Final Thoughts and Advice

What it is like being a Mentor for the Asian Development Bank’s Water Organization Partnership for Resilience Programme (WOP4R), with Mr Ong Tze Ch’in, Chief Executive, PUB

Isle — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:01:00 -0700

In this episode of a special series of conversations supported by Isle Utilities in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, Piers Clark interviews Ong Tze Ch'in, Chief Executive of PUB (Public Utilities Board) in Singapore. They discuss Ong's transition from a 25-year military career to public service and the skills he brought along. Key topics include Singapore's historical and innovative efforts in water management, PUB's role in mentoring Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board through the Asian Development Bank's Water Operators Partnership (WOP4R), and the challenges PUB faces due to climate change, including flood management and ensuring sustainable water supplies.

00:00 Introduction
00:10 Guest Introduction: Ong Tze Ch'in
00:53 Transition from Military to Public Service
01:47 Singapore's Water Journey
03:23 Mentoring Program at PUB
05:09 Climate Crisis and Water Management
08:22 Challenges and Future Outlook
09:02 A Personal Touch: Cheeky Question
09:52 Conclusion and Farewell

The Asian Development Bank's utility twinning programme, with Satoshi Ishii, Director for Strategy and Partnerships, ADB and Vivek Raman, Principal, ADB

Isle — Mon, 19 May 2025 21:00:00 -0700

The Asian Development Bank's utility twinning programme, with Satoshi Ishii, Director for Strategy and Partnerships, ADB and Vivek Raman, Principal, ADB

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark interviews Satoshi Ishii and Vivek Raman from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to discuss the bank's impactful initiatives in the water sector. The conversation covers the guests' educational and professional backgrounds, the scale and purpose of the ADB, and the significance of the upcoming Water and Urban Development Forum. A key topic is the ADB's twinning program, fostering partnerships between utilities for mutual learning and development. The podcast highlights success stories, future plans for the twinning program, and concludes with career advice for aspiring professionals in the sector.

00:00 Introduction to the Exec Exchange Podcast
00:11 Meet the Guests: Satoshi Ishii and Vivek Raman
02:08 Understanding the Asian Development Bank
03:34 The Importance of the Water Forum
05:21 Exploring the Twinning Program
08:37 Success Stories and Future of the Twinning Program
12:51 Advice for Future Leaders
14:14 Conclusion and Farewell

Mastering the Art of Podcasting: A Guide for the Asian Development Bank

Isle — Wed, 14 May 2025 06:50:47 -0700

Mastering the Art of Podcasting: A Guide for the Asian Development Bank

In this teaser episode, Piers Clark, founder of the Isle Group, introduces a three-part guide to creating, editing, and marketing a successful podcast. Drawing from his experience with the Executive Exchange Podcast, Piers emphasizes the importance of understanding your audience, choosing the right speakers, and maintaining engaging content. Bradley Lusk covers the essentials of recording and editing, highlighting the importance of good hardware and software. Finally, Anna Gunn shares strategies for effective podcast distribution, including choosing the right hosting platforms, leveraging social media, and utilizing email marketing. This episode provides valuable insights for aspiring podcasters looking to make an impact.

00:00 Introduction to Podcasting

01:57 Planning Your Podcast

05:06 Interviewing Techniques

07:17 Editing Your Podcast

14:08 Marketing Your Podcast

18:45 Conclusion and Further Resources