Dr Karen G. Villholth is Director of Water Cycle Innovation (Pty) Ltd (WCI), a unique consultancy specializing in water for climate resilience and food security, serving the needs of policy makers, implementors, donors, governments, UN organizations and international institutions, non-governmental institutions (NGOs), and the private sector. She is currently working for the World Bank as Consultant.

She holds more than 30 years’ experience in research for development. She chairs the Groundwater Solutions Initiative for Policy and Practice (GRIPP), a global partnership of 30 international organizations with mandates in sustainable development, use and management of groundwater. She has led and managed multiple international research projects and has experience with managing large research teams.

Her areas of expertise include transboundary aquifers, groundwater and food security, groundwater resources assessment and modelling, climate change and groundwater, groundwater-dependent ecosystems and groundwater-based natural infrastructure, groundwater protection, management and governance.