Ali Leonard is a Water–Energy Planning Associate at Newcastle University, working with United Utilities and Water Resources West to explore how emerging industries such as data centres and hydrogen production will shape future water demand. She recently completed a PhD in Water Resources Planning and now focuses on the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of water, energy and digital infrastructure.

Her work brings together industry, government and academia to improve understanding of how net-zero growth can be delivered while maintaining resilient water supplies. At this conference, she will share insights into the links between data centres and water resources, and why closer collaboration between sectors is becoming increasingly important.