Gary White

Gary White is a civil engineer and social entrepreneur recognized for his work in addressing the global water and sanitation crisis. White holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, as well as a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering with an emphasis on water supply and sanitation in developing countries from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His commitment to water and sanitation solutions began after visiting communities in Honduras, where he observed the challenges faced by those without access to safe water or sanitation.

White co-founded WaterPartners, a nonprofit organization focused on expanding access to safe drinking water and sanitation in developing countries. WaterPartners later merged with H2O Africa Foundation to form Water.org. As co-founder and CEO of Water.org and WaterEquity, White leads efforts to develop market-driven solutions to the global water crisis. His experience in India, where he encountered families burdened by high-interest loans for basic sanitation, inspired him to pioneer WaterCredit, a program that applies microfinance principles to the water sector. This initiative has enabled millions of people to access affordable water and sanitation services.

White expanded his impact through WaterEquity, an impact investment manager dedicated to financing water and sanitation businesses serving low-income communities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He also introduced WaterConnect, which focuses on investment in climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure. White has mobilized more than $5.7 billion in philanthropic and investment capital toward achieving clean water and sanitation for all, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6.

With more than 30 years of experience, White advises organizations such as IKEA Foundation, Inditex, Reckitt, AB InBev, Amazon Web Services, the Water Resilience Coalition, and Bank of America on water and sanitation strategies. His work has been recognized by TIME magazine, the Fulbright Prize for International Understanding, the Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Water. White is a founding member of the Global Water Challenge, the Millennium Water Alliance, and serves as chairman of the steering committee for WASH Advocates. He co-authored "The Worth of Water" with Matt Damon, sharing insights into the impact of water and sanitation access worldwide. Under White's leadership, Water.org has grown into an international organization working across four continents to address water and sanitation challenges.