Aliya has a PhD and MPA. She is a research fellow at the Natural Resources Institute, DKU, Kazakhstan. Her research focus is on financing water infrastructure, mobilizing blended finance, WASH, and gender aspects in water sector.

Dr. Shen is the Asia Editor at Global Water Intelligence (GWI), a research, consulting, and events company that provides market-leading analysis of the international water sector. She is responsible for GWI’s coverage of East Asia and Pacific, including analysis of financing trends, corporate M&A activity, regulations and policies, and PPP project opportunities. She began working for GWI’s editorial team in 2014, and prior to this role he was responsible for GWI’s People's Republic of China coverage.

Christine Emboltorio is currently the Head of Strategic Asset Planning Department of Manila Water Company Inc. and leads the development of the water and wastewater masterplan of the Company’s Manila East Zone Concession. She has been with Manila Water for almost 20 years and has worked across the different units of the Company – Business Operations, Water Network Planning, New Business Development, and Project Management.

Mike Ashford is Director of Chemonics International’s Water, Energy and Sustainable Cities Practice headquartered in Washington, DC. He is an energy and water infrastructure professional with over 20 years’ experience in project development and program management. His current work focuses on the financial sustainability of infrastructure development and utility services in water and energy on behalf of donor agencies.