Dr. Lahbib Latrach

Lahbib holds a PhD in Biological Sciences and Water Treatment Technologies from Faculty of Sciences Semlalia / Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco). In 2014, he joined the Department of Soil & Ecological Engineering, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shimanee University (Japan), as an innovator and a lecturer in wastewater management field where he developed a new low-cost and efficient wastewater treatment system called ‘Soil Based Filter’ or ‘Filtre à sol’.

Lahbib is a serial entrepreneur with 10+yrs experience commercializing technology for social and environmental impact in the developing world. Formerly, he worked as a researcher at the National Center for Studies and Researches on Water and Energy (Morocco) in 2013 where he held various positions of increasing responsibility. From 2014 till 2017, Lahbib joined the International Institute for Water & Sanitation (IEA-ONEE), as an expert consultant, with responsibility for innovation, and new technology assessment. During this period, Lahbib was involved in several initiatives and cooperations with international institutes like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Lahbib is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for GREEN WATECH founded in 2018. Lahbib leads the global technology organization and works together with the commercial, product management, engineering, and supply chain organizations to maximize growth and competitiveness through new product introductions and other initiatives. He is also responsible for the company’s industry standards engagements, university collaborations and technical community programs.

Lahbib has extensive academic and applied background in the water sector. He has professional experience internationally, including Japan, the Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in various facets of the water industry, including decentralized wastewater treatment plant, and wastewater process engineering, hydraulics, water quality, and reuse. Lahbib has published extensively and notably in the field of environment, and he was involved in several international projects with 3 patents, 30 publications, and more than 60 international conferences participation. Lahbib contributed to the organization of 24 international conferences and workshops in the field of water and environment. In 2018, Lahbib chaired the Africa Science Week in Morocco, an African movement promoting the transition “FROM LAB TO MARKET”.

In reconnaissance of his excellent research and social entrepreneurship achievement, Lahbib received numerous awards and prizes around the world. In 2018, Dr. Lahbib received the Grand the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Prize (UNIDO-CLEANTECH / category of Water). In the same year, Lahbib selected by RUFORUM as one of the Top 20 Young African Entrepreneurs.