Enabling sustainable development with innovative solutions for the water and waste sectors



1.   Congratulations on your recent appointment as the new CEO of Cambi! Tell us a bit about yourself and your aspirations in the new role. 

Thank you! I have a background in business, and have worked in various industries in Norway, Argentina and Singapore. I joined Cambi in 2019 after moving back to Norway, where I now live with my wife and two amazing sons.

Over the last few years, there has been an increasing focus on sustainable development, with sanitation, climate change mitigation, circular economy, and renewable energy as main sub-themes. Each country and city have their own set of challenges, and which theme predominates is linked to these. Sometimes the water utilities take the lead and voluntarily adopt best available technology, in other cases there is a regulatory push, and yet in others financial institutions require new and more sustainable solutions. My aspiration is for Cambi to be part of the solution, whether it is to provide our technology and services, or to enable cities to achieve their targets through public private partnerships.

2.   Cambi is a global leader in thermal hydrolysis processes, turning sludge and bio-degradable waste into valuable resources. Operating in 25 countries on six continents, through Cambi’s well tested processes, material and energy recovery is lifted to a whole new level, while minimizing the amount of end-product & maximizing its quality. How would you define your value proposition and why clients choose Cambi for its products and services? 

Cambi delivers a unique disruptive technology for the water and waste sectors, advancing the circular economy by ensuring full hygienisation and maximum resource recovery from sewage sludge and other difficult to treat organic wastes. Many cities, including Brussels, London, Washington, all use our solutions to make sludge management at wastewater treatment plants easier, cheaper, and more sustainable.

Our solution, the thermal hydrolysis process or THP, has the lowest carbon footprint of all sludge treatment methods, independent of how the treated sludge is reused or disposed of. And usually, at the same time, it also has the lowest lifecycle costs associated with sludge treatment. In many cities, investing in thermal hydrolysis should be the obvious decision.

3.   Innovation is the hallmark for Nordic way of thinking, and especially when it comes to sustainability and green/clean technology. Can share with our readers how innovation happens in your company? What other values you deem important for running a successful business? 

There are multiple levels to it. One of the things that distinguishes Cambi, is our focus on customers, and our people’s ability to put themselves in the customer’s shoes to deliver the best possible solution for their current and future needs. That is an important part of our culture that drives innovation, which can originate from all parts of the organization. We like to be number one at what we do.

Cambi is turning 30 this year and it’s exciting to see how we have grown into a mature supplier of a reliable world-class technology by always being curious and listening to our customers’ needs. We’re always welcoming a challenge and we have been continuously developing the thermal hydrolysis process.

Recently, a lot of work has been put into developing new THP models that make the process even more available, efficient and robust. And into developing a digital process monitoring and support platform called Cambi PLUS, which assists THP plant operators optimize process performance in real-time with Cambi’s support. It is exciting to see how the first contracts for these models and for Cambi PLUS are already signed. These projects demonstrate our commitment and cement our position at the forefront of sustainable sludge treatment technologies for the coming decades.

Our core philosophy is customer focus, quality and integrity. To run a successful business, I believe one should do business at all times in an ethical and transparent manner, having sustainable value creation for the customers at the heart of everything you do, and provide solutions, products and services with high quality.

4.   Cambi has been a long-term member of Nordic Business Alliance in Serbia. Where do you see the biggest development potential in Serbia, and how is your company positioned to address these opportunities?

Cambi has been committed to developing business in Serbia for the past 10 years. We have been actively following the National Sludge Strategy in Serbia, and we hope to contribute to the country’s overall shift strategy of implementing technologies that will ensure a more sustainable management of sewage sludge.

5.   Finally, we are entering the holiday season. What is your favorite summer holiday destination and why?

I like to visit new places, but if I am to pick a favorite destination it will be Singapore. It is like a second home to me, but unfortunately our flight got cancelled this summer.