Dr. Alexander J.B. Zehnder, Scientific Director
Dr. Alexander J.B. Zehnder, Scientific Director of the Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI), is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on water and water management.
He is the founder and director of triple Z consulting, and is Professor emeritus of ETH Zurich. He is also the former president of the ETH Board -- the governing board of the ETH-system comprising two universities (ETH-Zurich and ETH-Lausanne), and four national laboratories (PSI, EMPA, WSL, EAWAG), which has an annual budget of over $2 billion U.S.
Dr. Zehnder is the co-founder and a member of the board of directors of SPG (Sustainable Performance Group), Europe’s largest investment company focusing on sustainable production and manufacturing, member of the industrial advisory board of Zouk Ventures in London, and of the Council STS (Science and Technology in Society) forum Kyoto.
Dr. Zehnder has been on the faculty of Stanford University, Wageningen Agricultural University, the Netherlands, and for 12 years, served as director of the Swiss Water Research Institute, EAWAG. He holds an honorary doctoral degree of the University in Nancy, France, is a Member of the Dutch Royal Academy of Sciences, the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences, and a Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He is also an ISI Highly Cited Scientist, one of the “founding fathers” of the concept of the “2000 Watt Society”, and the author of several books and over 200 articles in peer reviewed journals.
Mr. David Hill, Program Director
David Hill was appointed as the Program Director for the Alberta Water Research Institute in October of 2007. David has 35 years of experience in water management in Alberta. He has been involved in many projects related to water management. David has participated in leading-edge research projects, and in the review of provincial and federal policy, legislation and regulation. He has a keen interest in broadening participation and cooperation between diverse interests groups, with a view to achieving and implementing evidence-based pro-active water management solutions. He co-chaired a 5-year research initiative that developed highly advanced decision-support tools [computer models] for water management and on-farm irrigation practices.
David has been a member of the Alberta Water Council since its inception. He is the current President of the Canadian Committee of Irrigation and Drainage [CANCID] and sits on the Board of Trustees for Inside Education. He has also served on Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee, the Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Council and was a member of the Northwest Irrigation Operators Inc., headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Mr. Hill was a Canadian delegate to the Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy held in 2004 in Ankara, Turkey, the Rosenberg Forum in Banff, Alberta in 2006 and the recent forum held in June 2008 in conjunction with Expo 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain. In 2005, David was part of the Alberta Research Mission to Israel, exploring opportunities for collaboration in water management and research between the two regions. He has presented and published technical papers on water management, sustainable development and integrated resource management in many Alberta, Canadian and North American venues.
Ms. Val Mellesmoen, Communications Director
Val Mellesmoen has over 20 years of experience working as a journalist and communications professional in government, post-secondary education and the oil and gas industry. Her experience includes serving as the head of communications and Press Secretary to the Premier of the Government of the Northwest Territories, Canada (1996-1998), and 10 years as a senior communications director with the Government of Alberta. Prior to working with the Water Institute, Val was the Director of Communications for Alberta Environment (2001-2004), where she was actively involved in the development of the provincial water strategy, Water for Life.
A noted public speaker and consultant, she has several national awards, published various articles on communications, and is actively involved at the local, regional and international level of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Ms. Dianne White, Program Officer
Dianne White joined the Alberta Water Research Institute in November 2008 in the capacity of Program Officer. Dianne has over 20 years of experience in the Government of Alberta, working primarily with senior Ministers. She has strong experience in areas of interest to the Water Institute, having worked in Environment, Sustainable Resources Development and Finance.
