Mark Summerton

Mark Summerton specialises in international development projects involving reliable water supply schemes that are resilient to external impacts such as climate change. His complementary expertise is extensive ranging from hydrological – climate impact assessment models to water resources decision support systems in GIS frameworks to water services development plans. The complex nature of this work has often involved developing, working in and leading diverse teams. He has maintained an excellent network with the main players in the field of water and climate change through numerous formal publications and invitations to meetings to speak mainly on water planning and climate change. Mark is a professionally-qualified Hydrologist with ca. 20 years of experience mainly at a large water utility in South Africa where his duties included configuring and coupling climate, hydrological and water yield models to among other things, recommend adaptation options to enable continued supply of water at acceptable risk levels into the future. Mark is well-respected in the professional community, has several refereed publications, and has consequently been invited to numerous local and international meetings to present his contemporary work. Some of Mark’s more noteworthy accolades include: a) For many years Mark was a major contributor to Umgeni Water’s Infrastructure Master Plan which guides the utilities water infrastructure investment strategy over a 30 year horizon to maintain a sustainable water supply to ca. 5 million people; b) co-authoring the climate/water chapter of the current South African National Water Resources Strategy; c) spearheading the development of a universal water and sanitation access plan for KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; d) developed a strategy for expanding business into climate change related projects in Africa; e) working with Municipalities to climate proof their infrastructure projects and procure climate finance; f) member of several Water Research Commission steering committees on several water planning related projects; g) committee member of the South African chapter of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences; h) guest lecturer in Water Planning at the University of KwaZulu-Natal; i) serving on the SACNASP Professional Advisory Committee (Water Resource Science); and j) he is a recipient of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute’s branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers visiting international fellowship for exemplary work in the environmental and water resources profession.

Joined 2017

Organisation

NRG