Raphael Gaillard

Raphaël Gaillard is the founder and CEO of WATERTRACKS, a French company specializing in robotic solutions for underwater works and sediment management in dams and reservoirs.

A mechanical engineer with an Executive MBA, he co-developed the NESSIE® range of remotely operated dredging robots, designed to remove sediment while hydropower facilities remain in operation and with minimal environmental impact.

Under his leadership, WATERTRACKS has delivered complex sediment-removal projects for major European hydropower operators, at depths of up to 130 meters and over pipeline distances of more than a mile. In 2025, the company’s technology received the Bronze Medal at the ICOLD Innovation Awards.

Raphaël is also a member of ICOLD’s Technical Committee on Sedimentation of Reservoirs and is actively involved in advancing sustainable, low-impact approaches to preserving reservoir capacity and improving the long-term resilience of hydropower assets.