About the Talk 

Decarbonising Singapore’s water system is a complex challenge due to the energy-intensive nature of water treatment, limited renewable resources, infrastructure constraints, and the need for technological innovation. Singapore's urban landscape and space constraints further complicate efforts to retrofit existing infrastructure for decarbonisation. Overcoming these challenges requires significant investment in research and development, as well as multi-stakeholder collaboration to drive sustainable practices. Successfully decarbonising the water system will contribute to Singapore's sustainability goals and pave the way for a greener and more resilient future. 

About the speaker:

Dr. Gurdev is the Chief Engineering and Technology Officer at PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency. In this role, he provides oversight to PUB’s Technology and Engineering Department (TED) and Specialist Groups, which are instrumental in driving applied research and development efforts. Since joining PUB in 2016, Dr. Gurdev has played a pivotal role in steering the agency's R&D initiatives, overseeing key projects and driving innovation. 

With prior operational experience as the General Manager of PUB’s largest desalination plant and 15 years of technology enterprise development experience, Dr. Gurdev brings a wealth of knowledge to his current position. He leverages his expertise to strategize innovation and address business needs, facilitating the transition of technologies from the R&D phase to deployment. 

Dr. Gurdev holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from the National University of Singapore, earned in 2003. Additionally, he completed the Advanced Management Program in Leadership and Management at the University of California, Berkeley in 2015, and the Advanced Management Program in Strategy and Business at the National Technological University in 2014.