Appointed: May 2010

Dr. Sara Venning is the Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water, a role she has held since 2014. Since joining the organisation in 2010 as Director of Customer Service Delivery, she has led a transformation focused on operational excellence, innovation, and customer- centric service.

Sara is a passionate advocate for continuous improvement and sustainability in the water sector. She has played a key role in shaping the strategic direction of NI Water, driving initiatives that enhance infrastructure resilience, environmental stewardship, and digital transformation.

She is a former President of the Institute of Water, the UK’s professional body for the water industry, and currently serves as President of the WaterAid NI Committee. In this role, she supports global efforts to improve access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Sara holds a Master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast.