For over 25 years Minni Jain has been working with communities to regenerate their landscapes and lives. As Operations Director of the Flow Partnership, she works on community-led management of floods and droughts using simple, low-cost traditional methods. She coordinates Waterways World– a practical water school of landscape regeneration skills and methods to achieve replenishment of the world’s water bank and has also helped set up the One Pond Fund to enable communities worldwide to resource their water projects.

John Wilson is a Zimbabwean free range facilitator and activist working with organisations across Africa. These range from community-based organisations to large regional and continental networks such as the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA). Having worked in the agroecology field for over 40 years, his focus is on strategic and collaborative initiatives that can help grow the agroecology and food sovereignty movement in Africa and globally. He’s excited about becoming involved in helping the Water School Africa and sees great potential for the Water School to add significant impetus and connectedness to water-harvesting work already happening in communities across the continent to recharge Africa’s Water Bank.

Paul has worked closely with Defra and the Environment Agency and many rural organisations and NGO’s, such as Natural England, The Rivers Trusts, CPRE and RSPB in catchment management. His work focuses on a wide range of soft engineered interventions for diffuse pollution management and flood risk mitigation (including, ponds, wetlands, riparian and ditch management). Awarded the Robert Stephenson prize ICE North East 2015 for the Belford flood management project, Paul also was a Special Advisor to the Houses of Parliament Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee on 'The Future of Flooding'.

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Philip Franses uses his expertise in holistic thinking to address global challenges through multi-stakeholder processes. He works on different financial mechanisms for communities to help them restore water to its vital place within the cycles of nature. Philip studied mathematics at New College, Oxford, UK and has worked designing intelligent software for a variety of organisations. Philip teaches Holistic Science, is Editor in Chief of the Holistic Science Journal and is the author of Time Light and the Dice of Creation.

Holistic Science Journal

Jannette Macdonald has worked across the science: policy: practice interface for several years, providing the knowledge that policy makers and practitioners need to improve the water environment. Her technical expertise is in water resource and land use management and she has worked (in partnership) on the development and implementation of policy to improve water quality under the Water Framework Directive. A recent focus has been on water security and international development and she is committed to seeing our knowledge translated into change on the ground.

David Hetherington is the Global Water Research Manager for ARUP and an ardent and experienced water specialist, fluvial geomorphologist and environmentalist who promotes sustainable development in cities and river basins that works with natural processes through innovative design. He has vast experience of flood risk management and in appraisal and environmental design of hydropower schemes. David is currently advancing industry skills and knowledge relating to river basin process restoration, nature based solutions and digital technology for water.

David is the co-lead on Water-Up

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Kate Baker is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Centre for Water Systems at the University of Exeter. A Physical Geographer by training, she now works with water engineers, engaging their research across the UK, European Union, and India. Kate is co-founder and Director of the charity Agile Rabbit, producing quirky public engagement events and a core team member of the Social Engagement Platform of the UN World Water Quality Alliance. She was a 2019 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Community Engagement Fellow.

More info about Agile Rabbit

Nipun Dayachandra is a recent graduate who is fascinated by all thing’s technology. Having recently completed an MSc in Computer Science, Nipun is passionate about contributing to the advancement of technology, especially in relation to its potential for improving people’s quality of life.

Also known as the Waterman of India, Rajendra Singh, is a highly respected water warrior and social activist working with water and river issues in India. Over 35years Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), the organisation he set up to further this work, has helped the villagers build more than 12,000 water bodies (called Johads) and revived 9 rivers, dry for eighty years. Rajendra Singh has been awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leaders in 2001 and the Stockholm Water Prize in 2015.

Michal Kravcík,is a founding member and Chairman of the NGO People and Water International. He promotes sustainable programs for integrated river basin management in Slovakia, “Water for Third Millenium” and Blue Alternative. He is the author of publications including, “New Water Paradigm – Water for the Recovery of Climate” (2007), www.waterparadigm.org . He is an ASHOKA Fellow and recipient Goldman Environmental Prize from 1999.

Full biography here.

People and Water International

Maulik Sisodia is an Executive Director of Tarun Bharat Sangh. His interests are in policy level issues related to rivers and water resources. His expertise is in implementing projects at a grass roots level with the end beneficiary being the most underprivileged. He also helps initiate campaigns at national level for these causes. http://tarunbharatsangh.in/

Ashok Kumar Meena graduated from the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, India. Working as an Independent filmmaker and freelance cinematographer, he has 7 years experience making social issue documentaries and fiction films. His film KOSA, about land grabs and tribals in India , was screened at the Raindance Festival in 2020 as well as the International Film Festivals of Kerala and Kolkatta.

Mark’s interests include the design, implementation and data analyses/modelling of hydrological catchment monitoring experiments. For these catchment experiments to be successful, he considers local stakeholder involvement and the correct use of data driven hydrological models as vital components towards a successful uptake and a good understanding of the catchment processes at different scales. Mark currently coordinates research providing evidence to the Scottish Government for mitigating and adapting to flood risk using Natural Flood Management techniques.

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Mike is a catchment hydrologist with an interest in building natural flood management interventions on the ground. Current works include the Sankey catchment natural flood management initiative and Liverpool’s EU Urban GreenUP programme. As honorary research associate at the University of Liverpool his research interests include Geographic Information Systems, modelling and geomorphological feedbacks.

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Marc is a Senior Scientist at the James Hutton Institute and leads the Managing Catchments and Coasts team at the Institute to develop and apply knowledge and tools for improving delivery of integrated catchment management across issues of water quality, flooding, resource use efficiency and water-energy links. He is also the Lead of the Scottish Government’s research theme on Safe and Sustainable Supply Chains for Water and Renewable Energy and a Member of the Management Committee for the Dee Catchment Partnership.

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Alastair is one of the most experienced and influential catchment management and restoration specialists in the world. In his role as National Head of Conservation for the Environment Agency and as Conservation Manager for the Thames catchment for 18 years, he pioneered a huge range of sustainable environmental management and restoration projects, procedures and policies in river and wetland environments. He was a powerhouse behind the hugely successful restoration of the Thames catchment.

Click here to see the Thames Presentation

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Dana Kravčiková is an expert in mapping and landscape surveying. She has years of experience in managing projects from concept phase to completion. Her background in project management ranges from publicly financed projects such as from Norway Grants, the EU and Slovak municipal & regional governments to privately funded projects sought out by the private sector. Co-author of a number of publications on climate change topic.

People and Water International

Louise Tilbury is a project adviser specialising in delivering social transformation through cutting edge, creative and innovative projects. From bid and strategy writing to delivering the nitty gritty, she enjoys the challenge of turning a vision into a reality, creating teams and partnerships to make it happen. She enjoys working internationally, nationally and locally and making connections across cultures.

Louise spent 5 years at HM Treasury working on a number of high profile policy areas, culminating in leading the team for the Leitch Review of Skills in 2006. She started working as a freelance consultant in 2007 after moving to Cornwall mostly in the area of skills and economic development.

Chris Uttley has lived in Stroud for 6 years and has worked for Stroud District Council for two & a half years as the project officer for the Stroud Rural Sustainable project, the catchment wide initiative to implement Natural Flood Management throughout the 250km2 catchment of the Stroud River Frome. Chris has previously worked on the interface between water and land management for nearly 20 years in various roles with the Countryside Council for Wales (now Natural Resources Wales)

Alice Chapple is an economist and a specialist in impact investment and assessment.  She has worked with funds to design impact assessment frameworks for investments in ‘inclusive’ or pro-poor businesses; with commercial companies to evaluate their impact in developing countries; with foundations to assess the impact of their portfolios; and with NGOs to explore the structural barriers that exist to prevent capital flowing to areas that create the most positive social and environmental impacts.
http://www.impact-value.com/

Martin Kováč completed his studies in Waterworks Construction and Water Management at the Slovak Technical University, was the first director of the National Trust in Slovakia. Between 2006-2010 was responsible for development and elaboration of national flood prevention and integrated water resources management policies for local municipalities at the Association of Towns  and Communities of Slovakia (ZMOS). http://www.waterparadigm.org/

Juraj Kohutiar was consultant of the Foundation for Support of Civic Activities (NPOA) focusing on monitoring the impacts of massive scale implementation of various water retention measures on local level in towns and communities in Slovakia during implementation projects of the Landscape Revitalization and Integrated River Basin Management Program for the Slovak Republic (2010-2012). http://crvs.sk/

Jan Lambert co-edits the Valley Green Journal which is published to foster grass-roots connections, locally and globally, to help grow caring communities based on sustainable agriculture.  She has help developed Stormwater and Landscapes education (SWALE).  http://www.valleygreenjournal.com/

Richard is an agricultural scientist with over ten years experience in the Australian agricultural sector, including 5 years working as the Water Policy Manager for Australia's largest farmer representative body (NSW Farmers Association). Richard believes that new paradigm, holistic approaches to water management globally, provide some of the best opportunities for developing sustainable societies of the future. Richard is also a board member of the Ecological Agriculture Association of Australia and the founder of www.ourfoodfuture.com

John Wilson is a Zimbabwean free range facilitator and activist working with organisations across Africa. These range from community-based organisations to large regional and continental networks such as the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA). Having worked in the agroecology field for over 40 years, his focus is on strategic and collaborative initiatives that can help grow the agroecology and food sovereignty movement in Africa and globally. He’s excited about becoming involved in helping the Water School Africa and sees great potential for the Water School to add significant impetus and connectedness to water-harvesting work already happening in communities across the continent to recharge Africa’s Water Bank.

Mariana Lopes is a policy analyst specialising in Africa. She is a former OECD consultant for the Development Centre / Africa Unit, where she contributed to 3 flagship reports produced in conjunction with the African Union. Mariana has participated in overseas missions, including in France with the Red Cross; in Turkey with the European Commission, and in Brazil with Public Affairs. With more than 10 years' international experience in project implementation and 5 years' experience in political research and analysis, she has dealt with policymakers and has worked on the ground with local communities worldwide.

Marie Chantal Mukagashugi is a technical advisor and program manager experienced in natural resource management with a background in Law and Land administration. In the last 13 years, she has been working first with Rwanda Land Authority and then with the International Land Coalition. Among other duties accomplished, she promoted women ‘s Land rights and gender justice as well as youth and other marginalized groups land rights