Meet our team

Jeremy is the founder and Director General of ICEM and a leading figure in environmental planning and climate adaptation in Asia and the Pacific. Over the past three decades, he has worked across 30 countries, including 25 years in Vietnam, where ICEM’s regional headquarters is located. 

Jeremy was the inaugural Director of SPREP (the South Pacific Regional Environment Program) in New Caledonia and later served as IUCN’s Director of Conservation based in Switzerland. 

Jeremy holds a BSc (Honours) in freshwater ecology and a PhD in Environmental Impact Assessment, with expertise in climate vulnerability assessment, adaptation, and integrating these approaches into national planning systems. A pioneer in using Nature-based Solutions (NbS), Jeremy’s work and expertise focus on restoring resilience and biodiversity across forest, agricultural, urban and coastal landscapes. for climate change resilience and biodiversity restoration. He has led 37 ICEM projects in Asia and the Pacific, including award-winning Strategic Environmental Assessments and groundbreaking initiatives to weave nature into urban development.

Harvey has worked on environmental and climate initiatives across Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. He brings seven years of experience in environmental management, climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. His work focuses on research, policy analysis, environmental assessment, project management, and capacity development. Harvey holds a Master’s degree in Environment and Sustainable Development from University College London (UCL).

Nghia specializes in sustainable forest and nature management, holding a Master’s degree from Bangor University and Göttingen University. He has six years of experience in the forestry sector, working on GIS and remote sensing, biodiversity conservation, and payment for forest environmental services. Recently, his work has focused on designing and demonstrating nature-based solutions, supporting voluntary carbon markets for the private sector, and advancing forest restoration and deforestation reduction efforts in Vietnam.

Nicolas brings 10 years of experience in environmental engineering and humanitarian action across Africa, Asia, and Europe. He has led wastewater treatment and water supply projects in both rural and urban settings and worked directly with communities affected by conflict and natural disasters in South Sudan and the Philippines. His research includes constructed wetlands in China and composting municipal organic waste for agriculture. Nicolas holds two Master’s degrees: one in Climate Change and Development from SOAS University of London and another in Environmental Engineering from ENTPE Lyon.

Alexandra holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University and has six years of experience in ecosystem management, biodiversity conservation, and Nature-based Solutions. She has worked with IUCN, government agencies, and NGOs across Central Asia and Europe. Her expertise includes project management, land degradation assessment, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building.

Sam is a hydrogeologist with four years of experience in groundwater and surface water management, water resource planning, and major infrastructure projects. He has worked in the UK, the Middle East, and the Mekong region with public utilities, government agencies, and engineering firms. Sam holds Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Hydrogeology from the University of Birmingham, UK.

Michela is a water resources engineer with seven years of experience across consulting, research, and government in Indonesia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, the U.S., India, and Rwanda. She specializes in hydrological and water quality modeling, pollution prevention, green infrastructure design, and flood control. Michela holds a Master’s of Environmental Management from Yale University, a Master’s in Environmental Engineering from Tsinghua University, and a Bachelor’s in Biology from Cornell University. She has advanced expertise in geospatial analysis and water modeling tools.

Harsh is a specialist in ecohydrology, wetland management, and water governance with eight years of experience across South Asia. He has led hydrological modeling, climate risk assessments, and wetland ecosystem evaluations in the Himalayas and Indo-Gangetic plains. His work includes preparing Ramsar Site management plans, valuing ecosystem services, and developing wetland trend indices. Harsh holds a Master’s in Water Science and Governance and a Bachelor’s in Mechatronics Engineering.

Rachel has six years of experience working on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, resilient livelihoods, and gender equity across the Asia-Pacific. She specializes in GEDSI-responsive approaches, ecotourism, and sustainable livelihood development. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Environmental Management (Honours) and a Diploma in Global Issues from the University of Queensland, Australia.

Jago has 20 years of experience in environmental and development economics throughout Asia and the Pacific. He specializes in local development, economic risk analysis, climate transition, biodiversity valuation, and infrastructure planning. Dr. Penrose holds a PhD in Development Economics from the University of London and has worked extensively with local governments and communities to prepare socio-economic development plans that promote ecological sustainability.

Simona has eight years of experience in disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, project implementation, and policy development. She has worked with IOM and the World Bank to support migrant integration, minority communities, and climate-affected populations in Europe and Asia. Simona holds an MSc in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation from Lund University and an MA in Law and International Relations from Slovakia.

Maddy has nine years of experience in land-to-sea water governance across arid, tropical, and coastal regions in Australia, Vietnam, Palau, and Indonesia. She uses field data to inform conservation strategies and integrated water policy, collaborating with government agencies, communities, and global partners to support climate-resilient ecosystem management. Maddy holds a PhD in ecohydrology and climate adaptation from The University of Queensland (Australia), with research experience at Can Tho University, the University of Leeds, and The Nature Conservancy’s Water Program in the USA.