Biwater's Chairman, Adrian E. White, Honoured With Knighthood

Biwater are pleased to announce that its Chairman, Adrian E. White, CBE, has been honoured with a Knighthood by Her Majesty the Queen in the annual Birthday Honours List, in recognition of services to Trade and Exporting.

Sir Adrian is married to Gillian and has five children. A Chartered Scientist and Engineer, he established ‘Biwater Treatment’ in 1968 at the age of 25. He remains fully committed to the industry over 45 years later in his role as Chairman of the Biwater Group.

He has expressed his delight at the award saying, “I am both proud and honoured by the recognition of personal and professional contributions I have been able to make over the years in trying to improve the lives of people through the provision of basic human services such as drinking water and sanitation, whilst also ensuring that people have access to the public health care that they deserve.

“I believe that Britain upholds the strong moral and ethical standards necessary to provide people with the right environment in which to live and prosper, and I will continue to embrace these values through my work and personal activities.

“Whilst being truly honoured, I feel humbled by this award, and would like to thank my wife, family and colleagues who rightly should share this recognition.

“I feel I still have much to contribute in assisting foreign governments with their water and wastewater challenges, and in providing financial and technical solutions to those countries that have huge pressures on their regional and federal budgets.”

Boosting British exports: Sir Adrian, whose inventions and patented designs for rural water supplies, filters and contamination prevention in municipal swimming pools have enabled Biwater to secure many large contracts overseas, resulting in Biwater winning five Queen’s Awards for Industry.

In 1993, Sir Adrian founded British Water in order to boost British water expertise and products worldwide by merging the ‘British Water & Effluent Treatment Plant Association’ with the ‘British Water Industry Group’. He joined the UK Government’s Overseas Projects Board that helped to coordinate British Water’s drive for exports, allowing it to become the leading trade body for the water industry.

Supported by the UK Department of Trade & Industry and the Ministry of Defence, Sir Adrian led British industry in the rectification of Kuwait, resulting in large contracts for British businesses in subsequent years.

In 1993, Sir Adrian was awarded Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to exporting and the water industry.

Other achievements and accolades: Sir Adrian served as Governor of the BBC for five years, from 1995 to 2000. He was Chairman of the Epsom Healthcare NHS Trust in Surrey for seven years, from 1992 to 1999. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey and in 2006 High Sheriff of Surrey.

He arranged an innovative self-build project for the Epsom Healthcare NHS Trust, which included the construction of the new maternity building and the Cottage Hospital in Cobham. Thereafter, he also funded developments at Epsom General Hospital through the ‘Denbies Trust’, providing a new accident and emergency unit and the South-West London Orthopaedic hip and knee unit in a dedicated four-storey ‘Denbies Wing’.

He established the St Kilda Trust, providing funds to build a doctors and nurses accommodation block on the Epsom General Hospital site, and is President of the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund, which continues to raise funds for hospital equipment.

Sir Adrian remains a Trustee of the Children’s Trust in Tadworth, which assists children suffering from brain injuries, after retiring as their Chairman in 2013. He also remains President of the Surrey Care Trust, which works to benefit the unemployed and disabled.

He has held various other positions over the years, which have included being Patron of the Brigitte Trust, the Surrey Family Mediation Service, the Voluntary Association for Surrey Disabled, President of Surrey’s Performing Arts Library, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Millfield School, as well as being a member of the University of Surrey Council from whose Chancellor, HRH Duke of Kent, he received an honourary Doctorate.

He also founded, and is Settlor of the Denbies Trust, which has been able to support many local charities, and over the years, has been a supporter of various causes in the Surrey area, including donating bronze statues of some of Dorking’s most famous residents, such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, the composer, and Thomas Cubitt the master builder.

Perhaps Sir Adrian’s most interesting pastime outside of Biwater and his philanthropic activities has been the creation of the UK’s largest vineyard, Denbies Wine Estate, which yields over 10 percent of the UK’s annual wine production. The vineyard extends over 265 acres in Dorking, Surrey, and produces over 450,000 bottles of wine a year. It was awarded the Best Rosé in the Worldin the International Wine Challenge in 2011, and many other gold awards since the vines were first planted in 1985.

About Biwater:
Biwater provides large-scale water and wastewater solutions for clients across the world. Since its inception in 1968, Biwater has gained recognition for its innovative approaches aimed at overcoming the world’s most pressing water-related challenges. Throughout its history, the company has grown to meet the demands of many water-stressed countries and their burgeoning populations. It has a successful record of accomplishment, having completed over 25,000 projects in over 90 countries – financing, consulting, process engineering, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and owning water facilities – in both rural and urban environments. For more information, visit biwater.com.

About Denbies Wine Estate:
Denbies Wine Estate is the largest single estate vineyard in the UK with 265 acres of vines. The Estate has a range of 14 wines and produces over 450,000 bottles annually. Denbies is located in Dorking, Surrey, with direct rail access from London Waterloo and Victoria mainline stations. For more information, visit denbies.co.uk.