We are thrilled to announce that Dean Garvey-North has been selected as a winner for the World CIO 200 Summit 2024 UK Edition in the LEGEND Category. This prestigious award recognises Dean's influential role in the technology industry, where he has inspired both veteran and emerging CIOs to rethink their roles and the impact of technology across various industries.
Dean's tangible achievements primarily stem from his remarkable performance last year at Thames Water, complemented by his innovative contributions at Affinity Water. At Affinity Water, Dean has been instrumental in delivering industry-leading technology availability and robust cyber defences, empowering colleagues across the business to excel. Additionally, his work on iterating a situational awareness AI product has significantly enhanced leak detection and minimised false positives, resulting in faster repairs and reduced interruptions to water supply.
Dean Garvey-North, Director of Technology and Transformation said:
"I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the World CIO 200 Summit. At Affinity Water, our approach to innovation is holistic, focusing not only on technology but also on how we manage our work and engage with our customers. By fostering a culture of adaptability and creative problem-solving, we aim to lead the way in sustainable water management and customer satisfaction."
"I am proud of the incredible team at Affinity Water and excited about the future of our innovation journey."
The World CIO 200 Summit is a celebration of digital transformation leaders and their exceptional contributions to advancing technology. This year, the event will tour over 50 countries, culminating in a grand finale from September 16-18, 2024, in South Africa. The summit will bring together 200 top CIOs from around the world for a unique mix of thought leadership, solution showcases, networking, and vendor-customer matchmaking.
Dean joined Affinity Water in December 2024 and his leadership has since helped harness the creativity of their talented team, providing them with a platform to transform their ideas into actionable solutions.
Dean has had a long and distinguished career in technology and transformation and is driven to create change in ways that go beyond the norm, demonstrating that innovation doesn't always have to be technology-driven. Dean emphasises adaptability and the ability to quickly respond to change, viewing challenges from a fresh perspective.
At Affinity Water, innovation is about more than just technology; it’s about how they manage their work and progress through project pipelines. Dean applies constraints theory to optimise workflows and improve efficiency. The Affinity Water digital transformation project focuses on enhancing the customer journey and satisfaction, a key focus for Affinity Water, Dean and his team.
Dean also mentioned:
"We are excited to announce the creation of an innovation hub at Affinity Water, where we will leverage partnerships and build open communities to foster innovation."
This initiative aims to identify problems first and then develop creative solutions, rather than fitting solutions to existing problems. The future of innovation at Affinity Water involves rethinking leakage management and understanding their customers' needs more deeply.