Elected Director
Gavin van Tonder is Head of NEOM’s Water sector. He is responsible for developing a greenfield water infrastructure, implementing leading-edge, high-recovery desalination and brine-effluent treatment technologies for zero liquid discharge in a sustainable manner. In addition, he is leading plans for the creation of a smart water distribution and transmission network. Gavin has 20 years of industry experience, holding senior positions with water utilities and companies around the globe, providing innovative solutions, systems and products to enhance their performance and efficiency.
Prior to joining NEOM, Gavin worked at Itron, one of the world’s largest suppliers of standard and smart water technologies and systems, where he started in the water industry in 2001 as Asia Pacific Vice President. In 2010, he was transferred to Itron HQ in France as the Global Marketing and Systems Vice President for the Water & Heat Division; and, in 2013, he became President of the Water Division, responsible for the global strategy, management and growth of the sector based in France and then Austin, Texas.
Gavin has started factories, facilities and water infrastructure from the ground up in China, India, Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia and Mexico. He presently serves on water technology company advisory boards in Europe and the Americas; and has also served on boards in China, Indonesia, India and Australia. Gavin holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
