Ken Lykens

Ken Lykens, P.E. is a nationally respected water industry leader with more than three decades of experience helping utilities strengthen infrastructure, improve organizational performance, and prepare for the future. Throughout his career, he has worked from both the utility and consulting perspectives, giving him a unique understanding of the operational, strategic, and governance challenges facing today’s water sector.

Ken serves as a senior leader with HDR, where he partners with utilities across North America on long-term infrastructure planning, utility management, capital investment strategies, and organizational excellence. Prior to joining HDR, he held leadership positions with MWH Americas and spent more than a decade with Denver Water, one of the nation’s largest and most respected public water utilities.

A licensed Professional Engineer, Ken has long been recognized as a trusted voice in the water profession. He previously served as Chair of the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) Water Utility Council, where he helped guide the association’s national government affairs priorities and represented the interests of water utilities on critical legislative and regulatory issues. The council brings together senior utility leaders from across North America to shape policy and advance the long-term sustainability of the water sector.

Throughout his career, Ken has been passionate about developing strong utility leaders and organizations that can successfully navigate growth, aging infrastructure, workforce challenges, and evolving community expectations. His collaborative leadership style and deep industry experience have made him a sought-after advisor to utilities, engineers, and public sector leaders across the country.

As a member of Rogue Water Lab’s Advisory Leadership Council, Ken provides strategic guidance that helps advance Rogue’s mission to equip, inspire, and empower water leaders to build trust, strengthen governance, and better serve the communities that depend on them.