YWP Denmark Award
YWP Denmark Award
YWPDK and Danish Water Forum (DWF) united forces in 2022 to create a new award specifically aimed at young water professionals in Denmark.
This year, three awards have be given to three outstanding YWPs. The firs prize consist of 500€, followed by a second prize of 300€ and a third one of 200€. These prizes are sponsored by DWF.
What are the selection criteria?
The YWP Denmark Award is granted to a young water professional who has contributed to the Danish water sector, and who has the ability to play an influential role in the water industry in the future.
The jury will make the decision on the award based on the following criteria:
- Vision: The individual has set ambitious goals for the water sector – 33%
- Initiative: The individual has taken initiative and responsibility to develop new ideas and/or opening new possibilities and opportunities – 33%
- Impact to water sector: The individual has made an impact with his/her work to influence the water sector – 33%
The award judges may, at their discretion, request supporting information to verify or better substantiate any nomination.
The 2024 winners are…
The first prize for the YWPDK Award 2024 goes to Bente Højlund Hyldegaard from Region Sjælland.
A standout from her nomination reads: “Bente is a curious engineer and researcher by heart, who is motivated by understanding and solving complex challenges. This is essential in her role in Region Zealand as chief technical advisor and R&D manager within remediation of contaminated sites. She always maintains focus on the overall challenge and keeps an eye to the specifics. Bente strives towards high quality in her work and she believes that the best outcome is achieved through interdisciplinary collaboration, which she tries to arrange. Professionally and privately, she is keeping several balls in the air at once. She is also committed, sociable and accommodating.”
The second prize for the YWPDK Award 2024 goes to Maria Faragó from Rambøll.
A highlight from her nominations: “Marias dedication to advancing our understanding and implementation of sustainable urban water systems has positioned her as a trailblazer in her field. Maria has played a key role in elevating the sustainability agenda in the Danish water sector and has become a trusted adviser in sustainability matters for several clients.
She is a dedicated environmental engineer, passionate about LCA, CO2-footprint, and sustainability of water technologies and urban water systems design. She works as a sustainability and LCA Specialist at Ramboll and lead the Sustainability in Water Network at Ramboll Water in Denmark. Her PhD research, co-financed by leading Danish water utilities, was not merely an academic endeavor but a practical contribution to the field of wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Her evaluations of biogas upgrading and phosphorus recovery technologies demonstrate her commitment to harnessing renewable energy and reclaiming valuable resources from biomass, aligning with circular economy principles. The sustainability assessment of these facilities under her gaze provided actionable insights into improving their environmental footprint and resource efficiency.”
The third prize for the YWPDK Award 2024 goes to Rikke Svenningsen from Envidan.
A highlight from her nomination: “Rikke has played a pivotal role in developing a communication tool designed to convey essential climate measures in urban areas. By contributing to the creation of this communication tool in SCALGO, she has helped facilitate the easy exchange of knowledge and information about future climate action plans. The tool provides a comprehensive overview accessible to key stakeholders, including road authorities, water utilities, and other relevant entities. This has greatly enhanced the decision-making process in the water sector and other municipal departments, leading to more informed choices. Widely adopted in various comprehensive plans and climate adaptation projects, the tool has ensured transparency and a clear understanding of the consequences of different decisions. Recently, Rikke initiated a broad industry collaboration to further develop the tool into a standardized resource, usable by developers, consultants, and contractors alike. Such solutions are crucial for advancing the industry’s ability to achieve holistic development and climate-resilient cities.”