Heidi Mottram CBE

Heidi Mottram CBE, Chief Executive of Northumbrian Water Group (NWG), is one of the UK’s most experienced utility leaders and the first woman to lead a major UK water company. Her sustained tenure has combined rigorous commercial delivery with an ethical, inclusive, customer‑first culture. NWG serves 2.8m customers in the North East and 2.0m in Essex & Suffolk (4.8m total) and employs 4,200+ colleagues. It invests in the regions we serve by spending 60p in every £1 locally and is delivering a £4.5bn 2025–30 programme to strengthen resilience, environmental outcomes and long‑term growth. Under Heidi’s leadership, NWG has been a sector‑top C‑MeX performer, including 1st in 2022/23, 3rd in 2023/24 and 1st in 2024/25. NWG has received World’s Most Ethical Companies recognition and Good Business Charter accreditation. Heidi founded the globally recognised NWG Innovation Festival, catalysing partnerships and practical solutions; recent festivals drew 3,000+ participants from 39 countries and 500 organisations, with ideas valued at ~£68m p.a. She champions women in STEM, including 67% women in the inaugural graduate cohort.