Charmaine Okros

Charmaine Okros is an Asset Manager within Auckland Council's Asset Management Centre of Excellence, specialising in Asset Information Management, Asset Information Standards, asset data quality, and geospatial information to support evidence-based asset management. 

Working across one of New Zealand's largest and most diverse public asset portfolios, Charmaine leads initiatives that improve the quality, consistency, and governance of asset information, enabling better lifecycle planning, investment decision-making, risk management, and service delivery. 

Her expertise sits at the intersection of asset management, asset information management, GIS, and information governance. She is passionate about helping organisations transform asset data into trusted asset information by establishing practical standards, improving data quality, and embedding consistent information practices throughout the asset lifecycle. 

Charmaine believes that trusted asset information is fundamental to effective asset management. Through collaboration, standardisation, and innovation, she works to strengthen the information foundations that enable more resilient infrastructure and better outcomes for communities. 

At the IAM Global Virtual Forum, Charmaine will present Building Asset Intelligence: Developing Better Asset Information Through People, Standards and Innovation, sharing how Auckland Council is building trusted asset intelligence through structured information standards, innovative workforce development, and practical approaches to improving asset information. 

Horace Muhamya

Eng. Horace Muhamya is an asset management practitioner, infrastructure systems thinker, and emerging global thought leader working at the intersection of asset management, institutional capability, and sustainable infrastructure delivery.

He currently works within Uganda’s national water and sanitation sector, where he is directly involved in strengthening asset management practice across multi-district utility systems, supporting operational decision-making, lifecycle planning, and performance improvement in complex, resource-constrained environments. His work spans both strategic and applied asset management, with a strong focus on embedding practice inside organisations rather than relying on short-term consultancy interventions.

Horace is a founding leader of the IAM Uganda Chapter initiative and an active contributor to the global asset management community, advocating for peer-to-peer learning, practice-based capability building, and the professionalisation of asset management across both the Global South and Global North. He brings a unique perspective shaped by hands-on experience with real assets, real service pressures, and real investment trade-offs.

His professional interests focus on how asset management is learned, practiced, and sustained within organisations, particularly in the context of climate stress, infrastructure financing gaps, and rapid digitalisation. He is currently developing the Global Asset Management Partnerships (GAMP) concept, inspired by the Water Operator Partnerships model, to create a global, IAM-hosted platform for peer learning, knowledge transfer, and embedded asset management practice.

Horace is passionate about positioning the Institute of Asset Management not only as a standard-setting body, but as a global custodian of asset management practice capable of shaping real infrastructure outcomes worldwide.

David McKeown

David is well known as the first CEO and a Founder Member of the IAM.  He is an experienced infrastructure engineer but emphasises the need to integrate all professions and create the right culture in order to do asset management well.  He continues to offer thought leadership and work with organisations seeking to improve the built environment and finance infrastructure more wisely.

Together with Prof Tom Smith, he is working to help organisations respond to rapidly changing demands while also succeeding long term.  Connected asset systems challenge our ability to see priorities clearly, especially when we try to think multi-dimensionally or holistically.  Organisations cannot understand all their resources, risks and activities by thinking only about money.

Professor Thomas Smith

Thomas Smith is the USA Country Vice President of the IAM, a Fellow of the IAM, and a winner of the IAM President's Award. Tom is retired from the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he conducted research and taught courses in energy, environment, and asset management. Tom is a member of the US Delegation to the ISO Technical Committee 251, which oversees the 55000 series of standards for asset management.  He is also a member of the Council of the ANSI National Accreditation Board, which reviews and accredits Certifying Bodies for all ISO Management Systems Standards in the US. Tom is an author and frequent presenter at conferences and meetings related to asset management. He also provides advice and consultation to organizations around their asset management journey and uses this experience to add vitality to his presentations.