Dr. David Smith is the director of the consulting company, Water, Environment and Business for Development (WE&B). He has a Bachelor’s degree in Botany and Zoology (2000) and an Honors Degree in Limnology (2001) from the University of Cape Town (RSA). He has a Masters Degree in Water and Environmental Management from Loughborough University (UK) (2015) and a PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Environmental Science and Technology. David has managed more than 30 projects on environmental studies across the globe for clients such as the European Commission, the World Bank, the InterAmerican Development Bank, the Global Green Growth Institute, United Nations Organisations, amongst others. His expertise in economic and social development is focused on environmental management, integrated water resource management, Green Growth, environmental business models, ecosystem services, stakeholder participation and engagement strategies, climate change adaptation and mitigation and capacity development. David was an elected board member (2012 – 2013) of Water Europe (the European Water Platform). He was an elected as Co-chair of the water reuse task force (2011 – 2013) and is currently the elected chair of the Water Beyond Europe working group of the Water Europe Network.

Mr. Tebaldo Vinciguerra graduated in 2007 in Political Science and International Studies (Political Science Institute of Bordeaux – Faculty of Political Science of Turin). Currently, he is enrolled in a PhD program in Economics (LUMSA University of Rome). He has been working on water related issues as a researcher on natural disasters at the Italian Ministry of Defense (2008-2009), and as the coordinator of the Manchay Verde project of the Archdiocese of Lima, Peru (2009-2010). Since 2011, he works on environmental issues at the service of the Holy See. He is married to Diane and they have four children.

Johan Schaar is an Associate Senior Fellow with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), and the vice chair of the Expert Group for Aid Studies under the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He worked at the World Resources Institute in Washington DC, and was the Director of the International Commission on Climate Change and Development. At Swedish Sida he led the Department for Climate Change and Environment, and the Humanitarian Unit, respectively. He holds a PhD from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and has working experience from the Middle East and SE Asia.

Renée Larivière is the Senior Director of Programmes at Interpeace where she provides strategic leadership and oversight of peacebuilding operations worldwide. Operating in fragile societies, she has extensive experience in working closely with the different stakeholders that have an interest in building sustainable peace. Renée came to Interpeace in 2007 with field experience from Peru, Pakistan and Indonesia. While her focus has always been related to supporting fragile societies, her past related to conflict over natural resources. While in Peru, working for Grupo GEA, Renée was a Visiting Professor at the Post Graduate School of La Molina National University. Renée also worked for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Dr. Susanne Schmeier is an Associate Professor in Water Law and Diplomacy and the Head of the Water Governance Department at IHE Delft in The Netherlands. Her research and advisory work focuses on the linkages between environmental and water challenges and conflict/cooperation, with a particular interest in legal and institutional mechanisms for conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution. Susanne also advises various governments and international organizations on related topics. Prior to joining IHE Delft, she worked for the German Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the World Bank and the Mekong River Commission among others.