Across the United States, leading wastewater utilities are reaching the same conclusion: the future of the sector extends far beyond treating wastewater.

From resource recovery and renewable energy to climate resilience, circular economies and international collaboration, utilities are increasingly becoming the foundation of tomorrow’s urban bio-refineries.

No utility, technology provider or country can make that transition alone. Progress depends on collaboration, knowledge exchange and building the partnerships that turn innovation into implementation. That is precisely why the WEX Global Bioeconomy Summit exists and why we’re delighted to welcome Ryan Welsh (Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati), Frank Dick (City of Gresham) and Stacia Eckenwieler (Clean Water Services) to Lisbon this November.

Although they represent different organisations from across the U.S., their message is remarkably consistent: the greatest opportunities lie in sharing knowledge, accelerating innovation and working together to unlock the full value of wastewater as a resource. Like many of our international speakers, they recognise that WEX Global Bioeconomy Summit is more than a conference—it is a carefully curated global community where the relationships and ideas developed in Lisbon create opportunities that extend far beyond the event itself.

We asked each of them why they believe this is such an important moment for the global water and bioeconomy sectors—and why they believe international collaboration has never been more important.