Robert Garner

Robert Garner is a chartered mechanical engineer who has a bachelor of engineering honours degree from Manchester Metropolitan University and a master’s degree in water and wastewater engineering from Cranfield University. He has 30 years’ experience in the water industry, starting his career with process and equipment solutions companies in the UK that served municipal and industrial water clients and working within the water supply and wastewater treatment sectors.  

In 2005, he relocated to the Middle East to work with consultancy firms engaged in water related projects across the GCC. After serving for two years as engineering director for a desalination plan specialist firm in Singapore, in 2019 he returned to the Middle East to take up his current role with NEOM as Director (Water Supply).  

Robert is currently based at NEOM Community in Northwest Saudi Arabia where he is focused on the development of desalination systems that utilise renewable energy and incorporate brine management systems, enabling zero emissions and generating a range of brine treatment by-products in the process. His work also includes the development of a high-quality water supply within NEOM enabling the complete removal of plastic bottles from the water supply system.