Date/Time
Date(s) - Mon Mar 09 2026
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Notes:
From Canmore’s peaks to the Himalayas, mountains shape how people live, including how they access life’s most basic need: clean water. In this presentation you will be introduced to the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST), a Calgary-born charity and engineering consulting firm who are working to create a future where people have the opportunity to succeed because their basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs have been met.
The numbers are staggering: 2.1 billion people around the world still lack safe drinking water at home. CAWST tackles this crisis not by building massive infrastructure, but by training local partners to deliver simple, affordable WASH solutions their communities can own and sustain.
We’ll explore the global WASH landscape, touching on CAWST’s work in Africa and Latin America before zooming into Asia and the focus of the afternoon: Nepal. There, CAWST is working with a local partner, ENPHO, to create lasting progress. From establishing water-testing mini-labs in remote districts to leading behaviour change campaigns in schools and households. Emily Guebert, Global WASH Advisor, will share stories from her professional experience working with ENPHO and other partners around the world who are working tirelessly to create a brighter future and better outcomes for families and communities.
Whether you’re and engineer, educator, or simply someone who cares about the world beyond our peaks, this talk will leave you with a deeper understanding of one of humanity’s most solvable challenges…and Canada’s role in solving it.
About Emily Guebert, Global WASH Advisor:
Emily joined CAWST in September 2021 as a Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Advisor, supporting the Asia region. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Master of Environmental Science, both from Taylor University (Upland, Indiana). Throughout Emily’s career, she has alternated between working in disaster settings and managing long-term sustainable programs in the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia, and East Africa. Since starting with CAWST, she continues to develop tools for WASH in Schools programs, support our partners in Asia, and conduct training events virtually and in-person.
In her spare time, Emily donates blood and volunteers at the Red Cross, and spends as much time outdoors as possible cycling, hiking, camping and geocaching. Emily especially enjoys connecting with others to hear their story.
About Bradley Woronuk, Director, Development:
Brad joined CAWST in August 2024 as Director of Development, leading fundraising efforts that help accelerate access to safe water, sanitation , and hygiene through local capacity-building. He brings over 12 years of experience helping organizations bring their mission to life through campaign leadership, strategic planning, and major-gift fundraising program growth. Before CAWST, Brad held advancement leadership roles within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta, Queen’s University, and the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary.