Our team | Water Security & Sustainable Development Hub

The Water Security Hub brings together over 100 individuals from across the world with a multitude of different backgrounds, experiences, and skills. This diversity of disciplines, geographies, and contexts enables the cross-pollination of ideas and impacts essential to tackling complex societal challenges.

Hub members are already involved in the international dialogue and in-country initiatives around water security, especially its relationship with climate change and health. Our researchers hold leadership roles and contribute to critical discourse at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, UK Climate Change Committee, World Health Organisation, International Water Association, UK National Infrastructure Commission, and United Nations. Individual colleagues have won awards, featured on journal editorial boards, published in top journals, and co-edited journal special issues. Our four collaboratories bring together researchers and stakeholders working in the same geographical areas, whilst also facilitating international and interdisciplinary knowledge exchanges.

We are investing in the next generation of early career researchers to produce a global network of interdisciplinary researchers who can be leaders in their own fields, with the rounded experience to tackle global water security from a systems approach. The Hub’s Early Career Network (ECN) comprises 50+ researchers in fields as diverse as gender studies, political economy, education, international development, computer science, public health, engineering, geomatics, hydrology, and economics.

Core team

Prof Richard Dawson

Hub Director

Working on floods, drought and climate risk management for cities and infrastructure

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Dr Jaime Amezega

Hub Deputy Director

Deputy Director and Ethics Committee chair; leading role in impact and policy research

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Dr Claire Walsh

Hub Research and Collaboratory Lead

Research Committee chair; leading establishing a global network of local water collaboratories

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Caroline Grundy

Hub Manager

Responsible for the overall operation, coordination and governance of the Hub

Dr Victoria Anker

Hub Impact and Communications Manager

Monitors the Hub’s impact and capacity building activities, and manages stakeholder communications

Julie Duncan

Hub Coordinator

Coordinating activity to support the development and success of the Hub

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Livia Douse

Hub Communications Officer

Coordinating internal and external Hub communications

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

Akshay Jaiswal

Researcher

Prof Ashvin Gosain

Co-Principal Investigator

India co-collaboratory lead; works on hydrological modelling, urban hydrology, IWRM

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Prof Dhanya C. T.

Co-Investigator

WS3 co-lead; works on hydrological extremes, improvised hydrological modelling, early-warning method

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Dinesh Kumar

Researcher

PhD student working on hydro-economics

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Harsha Yadav

Researcher

PhD student working on urban flooding

Maya Krishnan

Hub Operations

India Collaboratory manager; tracking project, communications, outreach, and stakeholder engagement

Dr Prabhakar Shukla

Researcher

Works on climate change, groundwater modelling, water demand, and water quality issues

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Raghav Agrawal

Researcher

Intern working on flood modelling for B.Tech project

Prof Rakesh Khosa

Co-Investigator

Works on water resources systems, conflict resolution, urban water supply, and storm water systems

Dr Sandhya Rao

Researcher

Works on climate change impacts, vulnerability and risk assessments in water and health sectors

Sayantan Samui

Researcher

Shailendra Singh Shah

Researcher

Smit Doshi

Researcher

Teeka Ram

Hub Operations

Umer Jeelanie Banday

Researcher

International Water Management Institute

Abel Nigussie

PhD Researcher

Alan Nicol

Co-Principal Investigator

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Dr Alemseged Tamiru Haile

Researcher

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Dr Amare Haileslassie Tekle

Co-Investigator

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Kirubel Demissie

PhD Researcher

Likimyelesh Woldegiorgis

Researcher

A social science researcher, contributing to equity and governance aspects of the Hub’s programme

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Meklit Berihun

PhD Researcher

Mihret Mersha

PhD Researcher

Tesfaye Muluneh

PhD Researcher

Tilaye Woku

PhD Researcher

Wegayehu Asfaw

PhD Researcher

INTRAC

Dan James

MEL Consultant

Newcastle University

Dr Ajay Bhave

Researcher

Core Research Fellow in decision making under uncertainty for water security decision contexts

Dr Angelos Tsolakis

Researcher

Ashwini More

PhD Researcher

Caroline Grundy

Hub Manager

Responsible for the overall operation, coordination and governance of the Hub

Dr Cat Button

Co-Investigator

WS4 co-lead; focusing on socio-cultural values, knowledge, and practices

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Dr Claire Walsh

Hub Research and Collaboratory Lead

Research Committee chair; leading establishing a global network of local water collaboratories

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Prof David Graham

Co-Investigator

Studies water quality and sanitation around the world, especially AMR spread and exposure in wastes

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Prof David Werner

Co-Investigator

Working on innovative water quality surveying, mapping and communication methods

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Elle Young

PhD Researcher

Kids Action Thru Science (KATS) Lead; delivering the Hub's education programme

Elliot Rooney

PhD Researcher

Dr Geoff Parkin

Co-Investigator

Supporting citizen science data collection for effective modelling and water management

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Dr Graham Morgan

Co-Investigator

Creator of Game Lab, a world leading laboratory in video game research and teaching

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Dr Greg O'Donnell

Researcher

Senior researcher in catchment hydrology

Dr Helen Underhill

Researcher

Investigating socio-cultural values of water using collaborative and creative research methods.

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Dr Jaime Amezega

Hub Deputy Director

Deputy Director and Ethics Committee chair; leading role in impact and policy research

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Prof Jon Mills

Co-Investigator

Working on the development and application of geospatial solutions to water systems challenges

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Julie Duncan

Hub Coordinator

Coordinating activity to support the development and success of the Hub

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Livia Douse

Hub Communications Officer

Coordinating internal and external Hub communications

Louise Rayne

Researcher

Dr Maggie Roe

Co-Investigator

Working primarily on revealing and expressing the hidden socio-cultural values of water systems

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Dr Maria Valasia Peppa

Researcher

Developing photogrammetric computer vision solutions to help solve global water security problems

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Dr Mohsen Nagheeby

Researcher

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Dr Nasser Tuqan

Researcher

Prof Pauline Dixon

Co-Investigator

Project- and enquiry-based learning through participation and peer education focusing on UN SDGs

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Prof Richard Dawson

Hub Director

Working on floods, drought and climate risk management for cities and infrastructure

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Dr Roya Olyazadeh

Researcher

Working to develop a spatial decision support system using geospatial technologies and solutions

Dr Selma Guerreiro

Researcher

Dr Steve Humble

Researcher

Project- and enquiry-based learning through participation and peer education focusing on UN SDGs

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Prof Tom Curtis

Co-Investigator

WS3 co-lead; environmental engineer focusing on biological treatment and microbial ecology

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Tsedenya Tafesse

PhD Researcher

Dr Victoria Anker

Hub Impact and Communications Manager

Monitors the Hub’s impact and capacity building activities, and manages stakeholder communications

Xanthe Polaine

PhD Researcher

NUMed Malaysia

Dr Cindy Lee Ik Sing

Senior Researcher

Dominic Shuen Wei

Technician

Kwa Yee Chu

Researcher

Dr Michaela Goodson

Co-Investigator

Expertise in health outcome-related projects in Malaysia and other collaboratories

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Nur Raihan M Razak

Hub Operations

Oversees financial governance for the NUMed team

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School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi

Ankush

Researcher

Water governance and water sensitive planning (WSP)

Anubhav Chatterjee

Researcher

Water and sanitation; working on sanitation plans in the Barapullah sub-basin

Prof Ashok Kumar

Co-Principal Investigator

India co-collaboratory lead; water governance and policy, water sensitive planning (WSP)

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Beenish Mushtaq

Researcher

Water values

Nitin Singh

Researcher

Water governance

Prof Dr P.S.N. Rao

Co-Investigator

Water risks, demand management, reuse and recycling, policy, and quality issues

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Prof Rabidyuti Biswas

Co-Investigator

Residential water management, demand management, water efficiency and conservation, and water values

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Radhika Modi

Researcher

Water values

Shambhavi Gupta

Researcher

Water governance and water sensitive planning (WSP)

Shilpa Sharma

Researcher

Water risks

Surbhi Garg

Assistant Project Manager

Vikas Kumar

Researcher

Water governance

Universidad del Cauca

Alejandro Figueroa Benitez

Researcher

Prof Apolinar Figueroa Casas

Co-Investigator

Dr Diana Ruíz Ordóñez

Researcher

Esteban Andrés

Electronic and Telecommunications Engineer

Juliana Salazar Benítez

Researcher

Leonairo Pencue-Fierro

Researcher

Mario Milver Patiño Velasco

Researcher

Rachael Maysels

Project Manager

Yady Tatiana Solano Correa

Researcher

Universidad del Valle

Andrés Fernando Toro Vélez

Researcher

Carolina Blanco Moreno

PhD Researcher

Carolina Salcedo Portilla

Researcher

Catalina Trujillo Osorio

PhD Researcher

David Chaquea Romero

PhD Researcher

Prof Edgar Quiroga Rubiano

Co-Investigator

Esteban Correa

PhD Researcher

Prof Fabián Méndez Paz

Co-Investigator

Federico Pinzón

Researcher

Julián Zúñiga-Barragán

Project Manager

Prof Luis Darío Sánchez Torres

Co-Investigator

Prof Mariela García Vargas

Co-Investigator

Prof Mario Alejandro Pérez Rincón

Co-Investigator

Prof Miguel Ricardo Peña Varón

Co-Investigator

Natalia Andrea Duque Achipiz

Researcher

Samy Andrés Mafla

Researcher

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Ainul Syarmimi Rosli

PhD Researcher

Prof Dr Azmi Aris

Co-Investigator

Malaysia Collaboratory lead, works on water quality modelling for the river basin

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Prof Dr Choong Weng Wai

Co-Investigator

Expertise in community engagement and environmental behaviour studies

Fateha Abdul Razak

Project Manager

Dr Juhaizah Talib @ Harun

Hub Operations

Manages the financial aspects of research projects related to UTM's researchers

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Mohd Faiz Foze

Hub Operations

Involved in field work related to hydrological and water quality sampling and analysis

Muhammad Anwar Ramzan

PhD Researcher

Dr Neo Sau Mei

Researcher

Involved in community engagement and environmental behaviour studies

Dr Nor Eliza binti Alias

Researcher

Malaysia Collaboratory Co-Investigator

Dr Nor Zaiha Arman

Researcher

Involved in water quality and data acquisition for the development of Sg. Johor DBM System

Dr Salmiati

Co-Investigator

Expertise in water quality, land use, and activities for development of Sg. Jojor DBM system

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Wan Asiah Nurjannah Wan Ahmad Tajuddin

PhD Researcher

Prof Dr Zainura Zainon Noor

Co-Investigator

Expertise in water availability and sustainable river basin index studies for water governance

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Dr Zulfaqar Sa'adi

Researcher

Involved in hydro-climatological modelling and future projection for hydrologic resilience

Prof Dr Zulkifli Yusop

Co-Investigator

WS2 co-lead, expertise in hydro-climatological modelling and projection for hydrologic resilience

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University of Leeds

Alesia Ofori

PhD Researcher

Dr Andy Carr

Researcher

Ángela Bayona-Valderrama

PhD Researcher

Ann Marie Boyle

Hub Operations

Admin support for the water@leeds team

Dr Anna Mdee

Co-Investigator

WS5 co-lead; governance and politics of water, institutional reform and development intervention

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Prof Barbara Evans

Co-Investigator

Developing effective strategies for delivering sustained high-quality equitable water and sanitation

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Dr Carolina Montoya Pachongo

Researcher

Dr Gaby Lopez Gonzalez

Hub Operations

Admin support for the water@leeds team

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Jemma Phillips

PhD Researcher

Joshua Cohen

PhD Researcher

Dr Lata Narayanaswamy

Co-Investigator

Ethics Committee member; gender, decolonising knowledge and ethics, political economy of evidence

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Dr Mark Trigg

Co-Investigator

Working in WS3; water risk, hydrology, hydraulics, remote sensing, global datasets, web platforms

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Dr Miller Alonso Camargo-Valero

Co-Investigator

Working in WS3; delivering sustainable sanitation services via resource recovery from waste streams

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Tatiana Zúñiga-Burgos

Researcher

University of Oxford

Dr Anna Murgatroyd

Researcher

Dr Cheryl Doss

Co-Investigator

Focusing on issues related to assets, agriculture and gender at household and intrahousehold levels

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Dr Dustin Garrick

Co-Investigator

Working at the interface of water and economy, on institutional analysis of water allocation reform

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Prof Jim Hall

Co-Investigator

Works on management of climate-related risks in infrastructure systems

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Dr Katrina Charles

Co-Investigator

Using interdisciplinary approaches to achieve safe drinking water for all

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Marya Hillesland

Researcher

Prof Rob Hope

Co-Investigator

Works on water policy, poverty and economics, to deliver sustainable rural water supplies

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Water and Land Resource Center

Dr Adey Nigatu

Researcher

Water science engineering background and water resource systems researcher

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Dr Amare Bantider Dagnew

Co-Investigator

Natural resource management professional and governance research

Dr Bamlaku Tadesse

Researcher

Dr Bezaye Gorfu Tessema

Researcher

Environmentalist conducting research on water quality

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Biniyam Yohannes

Researcher

Dr Bitew Kassaw

Project Manager and Researcher

Dr Degefie Tibebe

Researcher

Climate researcher and geospatial scientist

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Dessalew Getenet

Communications Officer

Elizabeth Dejene

Hub Operations

Programme administration

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Endaweke Assegide

Researcher

GIS and remote sensing background, research on water quality

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Dr Ermias Teferi

Researcher

Hydrologist and geospatial scientist

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Dr Gete Zeleke Eshetu

Co-Principal Investigator

Ethiopia Collaboratory lead, expertise in natural resource management

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Dr Taye Alemayehu Hulluka

Co-Investigator

Groundwater hydrologist, conducting groundwater assessment research in Central Rift Valley

Dr Tena Alamirew Agumassie

Co-Investigator

Water resource management professional, focusing on monitoring water quality

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Dr Tibebu Kassawmar

Researcher

GIS and remote sensing professional

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Venusia Gete

Researcher

Prof Woldeamlak Bewket

Researcher

Natural resource management professionally, with a focus on climate/environmental change

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