Alejandro Sturniolo has joined Aqua Positive as Head of Sustainability Strategy, marking a significant milestone in the company’s mission to drive sustainable water solutions on a global scale. Sturniolo, a seasoned leader in water stewardship and corporate sustainability, brings over two decades of experience in water purification, reuse, and strategic sustainability initiatives.
Aqua Positive is a Water Benefit Project Developer and advisory firm dedicated to implementing Water Positive strategies. The company structures projects through Volumetric Water Benefits (VWBs), monetizes them, and uploads them to the Aqua Positive Marketplace. These projects are acquired by corporations seeking to compensate for their water footprint in specific regions.
Sturniolo expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I am very happy with this new position as it represents the natural evolution of my career. My journey in water reuse began in 2006, and since then, I have gained a deep understanding of the interdependence between sustainability and water.” He emphasized the need for a broader approach to water sustainability, noting that while the concept of “Water Positive” has historically focused on efficiency and conservation, it must also include the generation of fresh water through purification. “Without the creation of new fresh water, achieving true water positivity is impossible. This realization connects my experience with what I consider the greatest opportunity of my career — the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy.”
As Head of Sustainability Strategy, Sturniolo will lead the team responsible for structuring and engineering projects that generate a positive impact on water resources, ensuring that volumetric water benefits are of the highest quality and comply with the latest standards within the Water Positive initiative.
Aqua Positive’s appointment of Sturniolo aligns with the growing global emphasis on regenerative sustainability strategies. His vision goes beyond conventional water management, advocating for a systemic shift in how water is valued across industries, communities, and policy frameworks. “Since the first UN Water Conference in 1977 in Mar del Plata to the second one in 2023 in New York, the world’s population has doubled from 4 billion to 8 billion. Yet, we still address water primarily through SDG 6, when in reality, it is crucial to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.”
Sturniolo also underscored the urgent need to rethink water consumption. “The true water footprint is not the 100 liters per day estimated by the WHO but rather the 3,000 to 5,000 liters required to produce everything we consume. At Aqua Positive, I see an opportunity to bridge my expertise in water resource management and sustainability with a regenerative sustainability vision.”
With a distinguished career spanning global leadership roles, Sturniolo has held key positions in water-focused organizations, including serving as Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Fluence Corporation and Head of Sustainability Strategy at H2O Innovation. He has also held leadership roles in the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) and the Latin American Desalination and Reuse Association (ALADYR). Currently, as General Secretary of the Water Positive Think Tank, Sturniolo focuses on redefining how industries, governments, and communities value and manage water.
Sturniolo’s academic background includes a Chemical Engineering degree from the National University of Mar del Plata, postgraduate studies in Marketing, Negotiation, and Leadership, and executive education in Business Sustainability Strategy and Neuroscience for Business from MIT.
In his own words, “We are not just facing a water crisis but also a crisis of knowledge. If we can purify a glass of seawater with less energy than an internet search, no one should be thirsty. This is why I embrace this challenge.”
His appointment signals a bold step forward for Aqua Positive as the company aims to implement innovative, science-based solutions for water sustainability. With Sturniolo’s leadership, Aqua Positive is poised to make a significant impact on the future of water management and sustainability worldwide.
© 2025 Aquapositive. All rights reserved. Further distribution is not permitted without authorization from Aquapositive.
