About GWP Technical Committee | Technical Resources |Technical Committee Members
About GWP Technical Committee
The GWP Technical Committee (GWP TEC) supports the GWP Strategy 2020-2025 through global strategic positioning of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) issues, partnership between public and private sectors, fostering innovation, and in-country support to GWP country and regional networks around the world.
The GWP TEC has the following objectives
- Support policy makers with insights on emerging issues, drawing on the knowledge of world experts.
- Provide high-quality, peer-reviewed and evidence-based information and background material for water resource practitioners at all levels.
- Provide advice and support, and facilitate sharing of knowledge and experiences at regional and country levels.
As the knowledge engine of the GWP Network, GWP TEC has served the network and the global water community through influential and pioneering reports on all aspects of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). In recent years, GWP TEC’s approach has evolved from issuing standalone technical reports to a more inclusive and collaborative approach with the GWP Network. This cooperative approach fosters mutual learning, allowing all participants to contribute and co-create learning and knowledge.
Technical Resources
Technical Committee Members
Ms Jaehyang So, Chair
Ms Jaehyang So (“Jae”) became the GWP Technical Committee Chair on April 1, 2022.
Jae had an extensive career at the World Bank Group, working on sustainable development and finance, including infrastructure, water, urban development, gender, and public private partnerships. As Director, Trust Funds and Partnerships, she led the policy framework for the $45 billion in external funds under management by the World Bank. As Manager of the Water and Sanitation Program, she led the strategic vision and increased the Program’s capacity through a new business plan process and results-based management.
Jae led the World Bank engagement on the Sanitation and Water for All partnership and developed the World Bank PPI Database, the global industry standard for public private partnerships and investment in infrastructure. She served on the boards of the Global Water Challenge and the Water and Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.
Dr Imran Ahmad
Dr Imran Ahmad brings over twenty years experience in International Organisations, United Nations, government, non-profit, academia, and private sector leading sustainable development issues and addressing climate crisis. Imran has worked in Asia-Pacific, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Australia, USA, and Latin America. His positions include: Director East-Asia and Pacific at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) where he led green growth initiatives (Energy, Water, Green Cities and Land-Use) in the East-Asia and Pacific region; Head of Regions at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and Executive Director of Future Earth Australia. Dr. Ahmad has been a member of United Nations expert bodies on climate change and technology transfer, remained an Honorary Associate Professor at the Australian National University’s Fenner School of Environment and Society from 2016-2023 and is a WWF-Australia Governor. Imran is a well-respected climate, energy, environment and sustainability leader and regularly speaks and publishes in these areas.
Joined the GWP Technical Committee in 2024
Ms Rocío Córdoba
Ms Rocío Córdoba has an extensive career in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the formulation, follow-up and management of conservation and sustainable development programs and projects, especially integrated water resources management -IWRM- (local, national, and transboundary), biodiversity, wetlands, river basins and coastal zones in Mexico, Central America, South American as well as some Caribbean countries. In IUCN she managed portfolios from more than 30 initiatives and coordinating multidisciplinary and multicultural teams of more than 25 people. She has also worked with effective water governance at local, national and transboundary level, principles of international law and ecosystem and community-based adaptation projects. Since 2016, she has been working as an independent professional, on water governance strategies, wetland and coastal areas, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem-based adaptation, among others.
Joined the GWP Technical Committee in 2024
Mr Lance Gore
Mr Lance Gore is a Principal Water Resources Specialist for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In this role, he supports operations across all the bank’s regions and leads on water governance, IWRM, and irrigation modernisation topics. Lance has 25 years of experience in New Zealand, United Kingdom, North Africa, and Asia. All projects include best practices on climate change, IWRM, application of technology, and sustainable operation and management. He has also been responsible for publishing various knowledge products and bank policy documents, convening water and irrigation seminars and forums, and speaking at a range of international conferences. Lance has a Master of Engineering (Civil) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Joined the GWP Technical Committee in 2024
Dr Åse Johannessen
Dr Åse Johannessen is Senior Researcher and Team Lead at Deltares, a world-leading and mission-driven Dutch knowledge institute for water and the subsurface. At Deltares, she works with the International Panel on Deltas and Coasts (IPDC) and contributes to several EU Horizon projects, proposal development, and training, with her expertise on adaptation, risk reduction, governance, finance, and nature-based solutions for resilient and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM).
Åse has 25 years of experience in water, working for international organisations such as the Global Center on Adaptation, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), International Water Association (IWA), Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Åse has a PhD and a post doc from the Delft University of Technology (TU-Delft) in The Netherlands, and Lund University, Sweden. She has an MSc in Biology from Stockholm University.
Joined the GWP Technical Committee in 2024
Mr Takashi Kaji
Mr Takashi KAJI is a Senior Deputy Director of Water Resources Group, Global Environment Department at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He leads formulation and implementation of projects for promoting integrated water resources management (IWRM) and improving rural and urban water supply services in the African and Latin American and the Caribbean regions. Before joining JICA, he spent around seven years as an expert from Nippon Koei (Japanese consulting company) for assisting water environment management in river basins, water quality management, etc. in Asian and Middle East regions. Takashi holds a Master of Arts in Environment, Development and Policy from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. He is doing a PhD in Human Sciences (research topic: water governance) at the Waseda University, Tokyo.
Joined the GWP Technical Committee in 2024
Dr Alex Money
Dr Alex Money is CEO of Watermarq, a for-purpose company based in Oxford, UK. Watermarq is developing frameworks for valuing water, with outputs delivered via a series of shadow prices. He is also part-time faculty at the University of Oxford, where his research interests focus on water, finance and sustainable development. Formerly an investment manager at Citigroup and Bessemer Trust, Alex has c. 30 years of professional experience in industry and academia. He holds masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Oxford. Alex is also Chair of Trustees of the Uptime Catalyst Facility, a UK-registered charity that uses results-based contracts to support the maintenance of rural water services in developing countries.
Joined the GWP Technical Committee in 2024
Dr Franz Rojas-Ortuste
Dr Franz Rojas-Ortuste is Director of Water and Sanitation Analysis Division at CAF - development bank of Latin America, leading business intelligence and the inception and design of water and sanitation projects, knowledge management and the international water agenda.
He chairs the Water Finance Coalition (WFC) that integrates many international, regional, and national Public Development Banks, and Task-force Lead at the World Water Council 2019-2022 and 2023-2025, being Alternate Governor during 2019-2022.
Franz holds a Ph.D. in Government and Public Policy graduated with excellence; Master of Science in Hydraulic Engineering and Suma Cum Laude Civil Engineer from UNAM-Mexico. He has over 30 years of professional experience in the Water Sector in LAC, Asia and Africa, including collaboration with the World Bank, GIZ, KfW, AECID, EU, ECLAC, among others.
Joined the GWP Technical Committee in 2023
Mr Tom Williams
Tom Williams is a Senior Director, Nature Action at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and leads WBCSD’s work on accelerating the adoption of nature targets, strategies, and actions by business. Before joining WBCSD, Tom spent 14 years at the International Water Association (IWA), the largest global network of water professionals working on sustainable water management solutions. Tom’s IWA roles included Program Director and interim Executive Director. Tom has also consulted for the World Bank. He has worked in both developed and developing countries, collaborating with a range of stakeholders including government, research institutes, businesses, donor agencies, UN agencies, and NGOs.
Joined the GWP Technical Committee in 2023