Paul Cobbin Honoured as 2025 Pacific Water Professional of the Year

Thursday 28 August 2025, Honiara: The Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) proudly recognised Mr. Paul Cobbin as the 2025 Pacific Water Professional of the Year at the Gala Awards Night held in Honiara on Thursday 28 August.

The award announcement and citation were delivered by PWWA Chairman, Fuimaono Dominic Schwalger, who commended Mr. Cobbin’s unparalleled service and leadership in the Pacific water sector.

“Paul’s lifelong dedication to the Pacific region has set a benchmark for professional excellence,” said Fuimaono. “From overseeing complex infrastructure projects to building the next generation of Pacific water leaders, his vision, integrity, and tireless commitment have strengthened utilities, fostered collaboration, and advanced climate resilience across our islands. Tonight, we honour not only his achievements but also his enduring legacy to our region.”

Paul’s career spans more than four decades, beginning in 1976 when he was first introduced to wastewater treatment alongside his father on Mana Island, Fiji. That early exposure sparked a vocation that would see him dedicate his life to ensuring Pacific communities have access to reliable, sustainable, and climate-resilient water and sanitation services.

His professional journey has been marked by leadership, innovation, and an ability to unite diverse stakeholders around a shared vision for water security. As CEO of the Pacific sector for his company, Paul spearheaded the delivery of infrastructure solutions designed to meet the unique challenges of island nations. His rare ability to translate highly technical and often complex concepts into language understood by ministers, engineers, and villagers alike made him a trusted leader and advocate across the region.

Paul directly oversaw the successful execution of more than sixty projects across six Pacific nations, in roles ranging from site foreman and project manager to design lead, general manager, and CEO. Among his most notable contributions was his ability to deliver projects during times of immense challenge, including his early work in Papua New Guinea during the Sandline Coup of 1997, where he led a treatment plant installation under conditions that required workers from opposing political factions to unite for the project’s completion.

In addition to his professional achievements, Paul devoted himself to strengthening PWWA and its role as a regional platform for collaboration and advocacy. As a Director and later as Secretary of the organisation, he actively advanced initiatives that improved utility capacity, championed inter-island knowledge-sharing, and secured funding opportunities to expand the region’s resilience.

He played a vital role in mentoring the next generation through the Young Water Professionals (YWP) programme, advocating strongly for youth leadership in water governance. His belief in capacity building and local ownership inspired technical teams and engineers across the Pacific, leaving behind not only infrastructure but also empowered communities and institutions.

Paul also championed integrated water planning that connected sanitation, supply, and climate policy, embedding long-term resilience strategies into the region’s water governance framework.

Although health challenges following the 2024 Cook Islands Conference required Paul to step back from active leadership in the Pacific, his influence remains profound. He continues to serve in leadership roles with Hydroflux Epco in Australia, a company he has dedicated many years of his professional life to.

The award was accepted on his behalf by Ms. Sorrell Handforth, Lead Sustainability Consultant at Cress Consulting of Hydroflux Australia.

The Pacific water community celebrates Paul’s extraordinary achievements and extends its deepest gratitude for his vision, leadership, and lifetime service to advancing water security and resilience across the Pacific.