• Professor Joan Bray Rose recognised for pioneering Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) as a global approach for assessing pathogen risks in water
• QMRA adopted into global drinking water standards and enabled safe water reuse, benefitting millions worldwide

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 April 2026 – Professor Joan Bray Rose has been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2026 for her work as a key pioneer in the development and global adoption of Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA), a science-based approach to safeguard the quality of drinking water, as well as water reuse systems. Her work has transformed the science of microbial risk management and guided policies that protect public health and ensure safe water for communities worldwide. Her expertise in the domain of water quality and health has also played a key role in strengthening Singapore’s used water management, and the introduction of NEWater, Singapore’s third National Tap.

2. Commenting on her accolade, Professor Rose, 11^th recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize said, “I am deeply honoured to receive this esteemed award. This recognition reflects our collective progress in advancing microbial risk science and its role in protecting public health today. Safe water is one of the world’s most fundamental yet unevenly distributed resource critical to sustaining human life. As microbial risks continue to evolve, strengthening the robustness of our water systems remains an ongoing endeavour to ensure they remain dependable and resilient; safeguarding both water quality and people’s lives.” She is currently the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research, Director of the Water Alliance at Michigan State University.

Uncovering invisible risks to revolutionise water safety

3. In the late 1980s and 1990s, Professor Rose led a team to investigate a series of waterborne disease outbreaks across the United States. Among the most severe was the 1993 Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where an estimated 403,000 residents fell ill and at least 69 deaths were recorded[1]. She was the first to demonstrate the widespread occurrence of Cryptosporidium as a zoonotic pathogen[2] in the United States, and its transmission to humans through inadequately filtered and disinfected drinking water supplies. By establishing Cryptosporidium as the causative agent of these outbreaks, she highlighted the vulnerability of drinking water systems to microbial contamination – a challenge with global public health implications. Her findings also revealed a critical gap: pathogens could evade conventional water treatment, existing monitoring systems detected microbes without quantifying risk, and public health responses were largely reactive rather than predictive.

4. Professor Rose then pioneered QMRA in the 1990s and early 2000s to address these critical gaps undermining water safety and public health. QMRA introduced a systematic, science-based approach to assess and manage microbial risks in drinking and other forms of water, including reuse water. By enabling scientists to quantify infection risks and illness probabilities based on pathogen concentrations, exposure pathways and consumption patterns, QMRA shifted water management from reactive “detect and correct” approaches to proactive “predict and prevent” strategies. This revolutionised water safety, boosting the quality of water systems to reliably meet health standards.

Global impact on water microbiology and water quality

5. QMRA is now widely adopted in drinking water regulations worldwide including the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Standards and the World Health Organisation’s Third Edition of the Drinking Water Quality Guidelines in 2004. Her work has enabled water utilities and regulators to define treatment requirements based on tolerable health risks for any given water source.

6. Professor Rose extended the application of QMRA beyond drinking water to assess microbial risks in treated wastewater and water reuse systems. This development greatly strengthened global confidence in leveraging recycled water as a viable and sustainable supply source, and Professor Rose has since strongly advocated for the adoption of water reuse to address global water scarcity. She also advised the Orange County Water District’s Independent Advisory Panel and the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Expert Panel on water reuse. Her guidance contributed to California’s Indirect and Direct Potable Reuse regulations, now models for water reuse standards worldwide, including in Australia, Spain, and the United States.

7. For over two decades, Professor Rose worked closely with PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, to strengthen water quality and safety. She was instrumental in the advancement of NEWater which was introduced in 2003, serving on the NEWater Expert Panel from 1998 to 2002. In her role, Professor Rose shared her expertise, provided guidance on best practices for water quality monitoring, and reviewed findings from health studies which demonstrated the long-term safety of NEWater. From 2003 to 2019, she also chaired PUB’s External Audit Panel, supporting the safe and robust implementation of water reuse in Singapore. In recognition of her significant contributions, she was conferred the Honorary Citizen Award by the Government of Singapore in 2015. Tapping on the QMRA approach, PUB has since strengthened the capabilities to use water quality surveillance data to guide treatment processes and ensure compliance with local and international drinking water standards and guidelines. (Refer to Annex on how QMRA is applied in Singapore.)

8. Beyond research, she has advanced global knowledge and capacity in microbial risk assessment through training and collaborative initiatives such as launching the QMRA Summer Institute[3] and QMRAwiki[4]. She has also strengthened preparedness for waterborne disease outbreaks worldwide by spearheading major international initiatives such as the Global Water Pathogen Project[5] and Wastewater Sphere[6].

Recognising a steadfast champion of global public health

9. Professor Rose, who recently turned 72, has dedicated her professional life to improving water quality and safeguarding public health outcomes. She is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities in water microbiology and received the 2024 International Water Association Global Water Award for her contributions. Today, she continues to lead research on emerging microbial health risks, driven by a deep and enduring commitment to improving lives worldwide. Her work remains critical as cities strengthen their water resilience against evolving public health and climate challenges.

10. Professor Rose will receive the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize – an award certificate, a gold medallion, and S$300,000, presented in partnership with Temasek Foundation – at an award ceremony on 16 June 2026, held during the official opening of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2026. She will also deliver a keynote lecture the same day. SIWW2026 is expected to gather 2,500 leaders, experts and practitioners from governments, cities, utilities, and industry, and over 25,000 trade visitors.

Annex

Application of QMRA in Singapore’s context

Leveraging on the concepts embedded in QMRA, PUB has established robust treatment processes and a comprehensive water quality surveillance programme to ensure that Singapore’s drinking water consistently meets both local drinking water regulations, as well as international drinking water standards and guidelines. Today, the approach has evolved from a reactive “end-of-pipe testing” to a “process monitoring” approach, one that is more proactive in identifying potential risks within the treatment process.

QMRA also enables PUB to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different treatment technologies in managing microbial risks. This allows for informed, evidence-based decisions when selecting suitable technology for Singapore’s water sources, further strengthening the safety and reliability of our water supply. For instance, Singapore has adopted new and advanced technologies for water treatment, such as:

(i) reverse osmosis for removal of dissolved ions and particles, including viruses, which are too small to be removed through normal filtration; and

(ii) ultraviolet disinfection and ozonation for disinfection of a broader range of waterborne pathogens.Hashtag: #SingaporeInternationalWaterWeek

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About the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize

Launched in 2008 to honour outstanding contributions by individuals or organisations towards solving the world’s water problems by developing or applying innovative technologies, or implementing policies and programmes which benefit humanity, the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize is one of the key highlights of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW).

Named after Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize laureate receives a certificate, a gold medallion and S$300,000 presented in partnership with Temasek Foundation, at the award ceremony held during SIWW.

About the Singapore International Water Week

As one of the premier global platforms, the biennial Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) gathers thought leaders, experts and practitioners from governments, cities, utilities, and industry to share knowledge and best practices on innovative water, coastal and flood solutions, and foster partnerships to tackle urban water and associated climate challenges.

Organised by Singapore International Water Week Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, the 11th edition of SIWW will be held from 15 to 18 June 2026 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

For more information, visit www.siww.com.sg

About Temasek Foundation (www.temasekfoundation.org.sg)

Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and Asia. Temasek Foundation’s programmes are made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, as well as gifts and other contributions from other donors. These programmes strive to deliver positive outcomes for individuals and communities now, and for generations to come. Collectively, Temasek Foundation’s programmes strengthen social resilience; foster international exchange and catalyse regional capabilities; advance science; and protect the planet.

For more information, visit www.temasekfoundation.org.sg.

With a proven track record of enabling banks, fintechs, and digital disruptors worldwide, Paymentology is bringing its advanced, cloud-native processing platform to support Australia’s rapidly evolving payments ecosystem.At the heart of Paymentology’s Australian launch is its local processing infrastructure, enabling seamless connectivity to domestic payment rails, real-time payment systems such as the New Payments Platform, and global card schemes. Paymentology is also working with Cuscal to support connectivity to Bank@Post (Australia Post’s banking service) and EFTPOS, further strengthening its local infrastructure and supporting domestic transactions in Australia. This integration enables access to banking services via the Australia Post network, helping clients deliver more accessible and convenient payment experiences while supporting ongoing innovation in the market.

Australia’s payments market is evolving rapidly, driven by digital adoption, embedded finance, and a new generation of fintechs and neobanks. With cash now making up less than 13% of retail transactions and mobile wallets accounting for around 45% of in-person payments, the market is well positioned for continued innovation and growth.

That momentum is also helping expand access to financial services. Across Australia and the wider region, fintechs and digital banks are increasingly serving SMEs, younger consumers, and other underserved segments. Paymentology enables them to build inclusive, accessible products that broaden financial participation.

Minh Ha Truong, Head of Growth APAC at Paymentology: “Australia is one of the most dynamic payments markets in the world, and a new generation of fintechs and embedded finance providers is redefining what customers expect from financial services. To succeed in that environment, they need infrastructure that won’t slow innovation down or limit growth. By combining global scale with local expertise, we’re helping businesses in Australia build, launch and scale with greater speed, flexibility and confidence.”

Paymentology’s expansion is further strengthened through its partnership with Constantinople, a modern banking platform designed to simplify the complexity of building and operating financial services. Together, the companies are enabling banks and fintechs to launch and scale card programmes with greater speed, flexibility, and operational efficiency, accelerating time-to-market while reducing the burden of legacy infrastructure.

Launching a payment product, however, is only the starting point. Paymentology is designed to sustain momentum beyond go-live, supporting clients as they scale, optimise, and expand into new markets. As a cloud-native issuer processor, it combines global reach with deep local expertise to help banks and fintechs build card programmes that perform consistently across geographies and deliver long-term, compounding value.

Hashtag: #Paymentology #Fintech

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About Paymentology

Paymentology is the leading next-generation issuer processor, empowering fintechs, digital banks and retail banks to effortlessly launch and manage innovative payment solutions on a global scale. The company drives greater customer choice and value through easy-to-use, integrated platforms and services that help clients to disrupt the status quo, accelerate time to market, and achieve growth.

With a superior multi-cloud platform offering a vast global footprint, and enhanced real-time data, Paymentology distinguishes itself as a leader in the payments industry. Its team of payments experts, with deep local market knowledge, operates across 50 countries and 14 time zones, providing 24/7 support. Paymentology is deeply committed to expanding financial inclusion globally, changing lives and positively impacting the communities in which it operates.

For more information, visit https://www.Paymentology.com.

The integration reflects EduCareerSG’s long-held belief that emotional management is not separate from employability, but a critical component of it. By embedding AI capabilities into its existing systems and modules, EduCareerSG is able to detect potential stress signals earlier, enabling faster intervention and more personalised support from its human welfare team.

“Technical skills and qualifications may get someone through the door, but emotional management determines whether they stay, grow, and cope when things get difficult,” said Mike Teo, Founder of EduCareerSG. “We have seen trainees who are capable on paper, but overwhelmed in practice. By integrating AI into our system, we are able to spot early warning signs and intervene sooner. Career readiness isn’t just about competence, it’s about resilience.”

Through structured weekly check-ins and ongoing engagement within the ECA ecosystem, the system helps surface early signs of workplace stress, adjustment challenges, or emotional strain commonly faced by young people entering live work environments. When potential concerns are identified, alerts are routed to EduCareerSG’s welfare team, where trained staff step in to provide direct guidance and counselling support.

Importantly, the AI functions as an assistive layer rather than a replacement for human oversight. The organisation maintains a human-first approach, with welfare officers taking over whenever emotional risk indicators arise.

The enhancement comes at a time when employers increasingly expect “day-one productivity”, while many young workers struggle with the emotional realities of adapting from classroom settings to workplace environments.

Recent Singapore reports have highlighted rising stress levels among employees and early-career professionals, alongside broader conversations around resilience and sustainable employability. Against this backdrop, EduCareerSG’s approach seeks to address not only skills gaps, but the emotional preparedness required to sustain performance in real-world settings.

Initially implemented within EduCareerSG’s ECA trainees in Singapore, the enhanced system forms part of a broader roadmap to continually upgrade the organisation’s training, welfare, and productivity frameworks. EduCareerSG will review performance and feedback over the coming months before assessing potential regional expansion.

By combining sponsored academic pathways, structured workplace immersion, and technology-enabled emotional support, EduCareerSG continues to refine a holistic workforce preparation model, one that recognises productivity, wellbeing, and long-term employability as interconnected pillars of success.
Hashtag: #EduCareerSG

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About EduCareerSG

EduCareerSG is a Singapore-based career development organisation that bridges the gap between academic qualifications and real-world employability through its Experiential Career Accelerator (ECA) programme. By combining sponsored education pathways, structured workplace traineeships, soft skills development, and continuous welfare support, EduCareerSG prepares trainees to enter the workforce with practical experience and professional resilience. Learn more at https://educareersg.com/

New test results support RZOLV as a potential breakthrough solution for complex gold-copper ores, with the potential to avoid cyanide-related SART complexity

Vancouver, British Columbia – Newsfile Corp. – April 16, 2026 – RZOLV Technologies Inc. (TSXV: RZL) (OTCQB: RZOLF) (FSE: S711) (“RZOLV” or the “Company”) is pleased to report the results of recent metallurgical test work in which the Company achieved approximately 97.0% gold recovery on a complex copper-gold ore using the RZOLV formula, without pretreatment.

The tested material graded approximately 9.6 g/t gold and 2.12% copper and is hosted within an alkaline gold-copper porphyry system. The gold mineralization is interpreted to be low-sulphidation epithermal mineralization.

The Company believes these results are significant because copper-bearing gold ores are widely recognized as challenging for conventional cyanide processing. SGS technical publications note that copper minerals can materially increase cyanide consumption and complicate solution management, and that where cyanide-soluble copper becomes significant, operators may consider adding a SART circuit to precipitate copper sulphide and recover cyanide for recycle. By achieving approximately 97.0% gold recovery on this copper-bearing ore without pretreatment, RZOLV believes the test work supports the potential for a simpler and potentially lower-cost processing route relative to a conventional cyanide alternative on similar mineralization.

RZOLV Technologies conducted bottle roll leach tests on the subject material to evaluate performance under controlled laboratory conditions. The test was conducted at 20% pulp density on a 150 g sample crushed to a target size of -500 µm and run for 168 hours with solution sampling at regular intervals.

Figure 1 — Gold Recovery Over Time (Test 137-1, Cu/Au Sample – RZOLV 168 Hours)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11597/292813_rzolv.jpg

Table 1 — Gold Recovery Over Time (Cu/Au Sample – RZOLV 168 Hours)

Analytical Basis

Testing was carried out at ambient laboratory temperature. Process pH and oxidation-reduction potential were monitored during the tests. Solution samples were collected at closely spaced intervals during the initial 4 hours to characterize early-stage kinetics, followed by additional sampling at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours.

Gold extraction values reported herein are based on internal solution and residue calculations generated during the test program. Final solid residues from the test were subsequently submitted to ALS Laboratories for independent assay verification. Results are presented above.

“This is an important result for RZOLV because it goes well beyond recovery alone,” said Duane Nelson, President & CEO of RZOLV Technologies. “To achieve this high gold recovery on a copper-bearing complex ore without pretreatment suggests that RZOLV may offer a practical alternative in mineral systems where cyanide can become penalized by copper. If supported by further work, this could translate into simpler plant design, lower capital costs, lower reagent penalty, and the potential to avoid the need for a costly SART circuit that might otherwise be required under a cyanide flowsheet.”

The Company believes the implications of this result may include:

• Potential flowsheet simplification, by reducing or potentially eliminating the need for a separate copper-cyanide management circuit;
• Lower capital intensity, through the possible avoidance of a SART plant and related supporting infrastructure;
• Reduced operating complexity, including fewer unit operations and less process management associated with copper-cyanide recycling;
• Improved project economics, particularly for lower-grade or copper-bearing gold ores where processing costs are highly sensitive to reagent consumption and circuit complexity; and
• Expanded market relevance for RZOLV, further supporting its potential application in ore types that can fall within conventional cyanide “penalty” windows.

The Company further notes that the absence of pretreatment in this test work is particularly encouraging. Pretreatment steps can add substantial cost, time, technical complexity and permitting burden to a project. Demonstrating high gold recovery without such steps may improve the commercial attractiveness of RZOLV for certain complex ore bodies.

These are ore types where conventional cyanide does not merely underperform environmentally, but can become economically burdened by complexity, copper interference, pretreatment requirements, or downstream circuit additions. If this result is supported by further work, it suggests that RZOLV may not simply be an alternative to cyanide, but a superior solution in selected copper-bearing gold systems. The Company intends to continue metallurgical work to further evaluate recovery performance, reagent optimization, copper deportment, process economics and scale-up parameters across broader sample sets and operating conditions.

Exchange Disclaimer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About RZOLV Technologies Inc.
RZOLV Technologies Inc. is a clean-technology company advancing a new generation of hydrometallurgical chemistry designed to transform how precious and critical metals are recovered from ores, concentrates, and renewables. The Company is developing proprietary, non-cyanide solutions intended to unlock value from complex materials where conventional methods can be limited.

Its flagship technology, RZOLV™, is a proprietary, water-based dissolution system designed to achieve strong recovery performance without the toxicity, permitting burden, and legacy liabilities associated with conventional cyanide-based processes. By operating in a broader and more controllable chemical window, RZOLV™ has the potential to recover precious and critical metals from challenging feedstocks and support a safer, more sustainable path forward for the mining and resource recovery industries.

For more information, please visit https://www.rzolv.com.

For further information, please contact:
Duane Nelson
President & CEO
RZOLV Technologies Inc.
Tel: +1-604-332-2662
Email: duane@rzolv.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential implications of the reported metallurgical results, including possible reductions in capital cost, operating complexity, pretreatment requirements, and the potential to reduce or eliminate the need for a SART circuit under certain conditions, as well as statements regarding future testing, scale-up, commercial applicability and economic performance. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs as of the date hereof. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the possibility that further test work does not confirm current results, that ore characteristics vary, that scale-up performance differs from laboratory results, and that economic, technical, regulatory or market conditions change. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

This year marks the second consecutive time that Hong Kong has hosted the international conference. Approximately 1,000 participants attended, including ministerial-level officials from government departments, senior representatives of international organizations, diplomatic envoys to China, leaders from prominent internet enterprises, as well as experts and scholars from more than 50 countries and regions.

John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stated that the successful hosting of the summit fully demonstrates Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework. The HKSAR Government is accelerating the development of innovation and technology, with artificial intelligence as a key pillar. Hong Kong ranks among the world’s leading economies in AI readiness and is committed to harnessing the power of AI in a responsible and inclusive manner.

Zhuang Rongwen, Chairman of the World Internet Conference and Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, noted that the summit aims to align with the accelerating trends of digitalization, networking, and intelligent transformation. It seeks to build consensus and pool strengths across sectors, leveraging new achievements and cooperation outcomes in the digital and intelligent fields to make greater contributions toward a brighter digital future for the Asia-Pacific region.

On the afternoon of April 13, the main forum of the 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit, along with the Distinguished Contributors Ceremony, was held in Hong Kong.

Wang Jingtao, Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and Francis Gurry, Vice Chairman of the World Internet Conference and former Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization, attended and delivered keynote speeches. Ren Xianliang, Secretary-General of the World Internet Conference, was also present.

Wang Jingtao pointed out that the global wave of intelligent transformation is surging, with breakthroughs in artificial intelligence emerging collectively. He emphasized the need to build consensus and deepen cooperation to address the critical question of how digital technologies can better benefit humanity. He proposed four key measures:

1. Uphold openness and cooperation to expand the digital economy;
2. Promote inclusiveness and shared benefits to bridge digital and intelligence divides;
3. Strengthen coordinated governance to build a fair and equitable cyberspace order;
4. Reinforce security foundations to safeguard cyberspace safety.

Francis Gurry stated that digital and intelligent empowerment means enabling individuals, enterprises, institutions, and diverse cultural and economic actors to adapt to the digital and AI environment, seize social and economic opportunities, and share in development dividends. He emphasized that all stakeholders bear important responsibilities in this process. The Distinguished Contributors Ceremony was established to honor individuals and enterprises that have driven the development of digital and intelligent technologies, recognizing both their technological excellence and their deep concern for the societal impact of technological transformation.

Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, and Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, also attended and delivered speeches. Other distinguished participants included Wu Jianping, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Zhongguancun Laboratory; Nii Quaynor, Chairman of Ghana Dot Com and recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Contribution Award; and Kilnam Chon, Honorary Professor at KAIST and also a 2024 award recipient. Wu Dong, Chief Engineer of the Cyberspace Administration of China, also attended the event.

The event invited individuals, enterprises, and prominent figures who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the global internet. Through keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and personal narratives, participants shared their practices and insights on building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. The program featured four thematic sections: “Tribute to the Connectors of the World,” “Tribute to Technological Innovators,” “Tribute to Digital Pioneers — Hong Kong Dialogue,” and “Tribute to Technology for Good.” Participants also explored future directions and opportunities for artificial intelligence.

During the event, the launch of the 2026 World Internet Conference Leading Science and Technology Awards and the global call for case studies on jointly building a community with a shared future in cyberspace were announced. The launch ceremony for the 2026 Distinguished Contribution Awards was also held.

On April 14, six sub-forums on different themes were held in Hong Kong. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including intelligent agent innovation and applications, digital finance, AI safety governance, smart livelihoods, digital health, and the digitalization and dissemination of classical texts.

On the same day, ten think tanks participating in the World Internet Conference Think Tank Cooperation Program released a series of research outcomes at the Smart Livelihoods and Digital Finance Forum of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Summit.

The 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit was organized by the World Internet Conference, hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and co-organized by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government.

Hashtag: #WorldInternetConference

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