Girija Ramakrishna
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- Show on Map: No
- Layout: Single Item Slider
- Background Color: White
Short Bio
Girija Ramakrishna is a development professional and research scholar specialising in sustainable sanitation, resource recovery, and circular economy principles. She currently serves as the Technical Expert (Reuse and Circularity) at CDD India, Bengaluru, where she leads projects focused on sanitation systems — including the treatment and reuse of used water, faecal sludge, sewage sludge, and municipal solid waste. With over a decade of experience, her work spans research, policy development, and implementation at the intersection of sanitation, health, and food security.
She is currently a PhD researcher at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, focusing on resource recovery from sanitation systems and closing the loop between waste and resource. Girija previously worked with the Foundation for Ecological Security, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. She represents India on the Management Committee of the International Water Association’s Resource-Oriented Sanitation Specialist Group, where she advocates for integrating circular approaches into sanitation systems.
Her contributions have received international recognition: her work was featured in CGTN America’s Zero Hour during COP26, and she received the Bright Polestar and Innovative Polestar Team Awards from the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) at COP27. She also served as a Global Youth Ambassador for Climate Action, promoting youth-led initiatives for climate resilience and sustainability.
Motivation/Commitment to the GSC
I am eager to contribute to the SuSanA Global Steering Committee by advancing its agenda on safe sanitation, resource recovery, circular economy, and climate-resilient systems. With over fifteen years of experience, my work bridges science, policy, and practice. I have led award-winning reuse pilots, authored policy briefs, and supported South–South knowledge exchange. As an IWA ROS Committee member and Global Youth Ambassador, I bring technical depth and collaborative leadership. I am confident in committing beyond the required time to GSC, contributing sector knowledge through grounded field experience and inclusive dialogue and strategic partnerships.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the SuSanA community?
I see SuSanA as a unique global platform that not only connects practitioners, researchers, and policymakers but is now evolving strategically through SuSanA 2.0. I am particularly excited by the renewed focus on international advocacy, knowledge exchange, and regional chapter engagement. I look forward to contributing actively, not just through technical expertise, but also by strengthening chapter participation, supporting KPI-driven accountability, and amplifying field-based learning from the Global South in shaping post-2030 sanitation dialogues.
