Chief Executive Officer and Founder

With over two decades of experience in water policy, climate resilience, and technical analysis, Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud is widely recognized as a leading expert in addressing the complex challenges at the intersection of climate change and water security.

In addition to his current role of Chief Executive Officer at the Climate and Water Initiative, Dr. Mahmoud is also the Lead for Middle East Climate and Water Policy with the United Nations University’s Institute of Water, Environment, and Health.

Prior to founding the Climate and Water Initiative, Dr. Mahmoud held several influential leadership positions. He served as the Founding Director of the Climate and Water Program at the Middle East Institute, where he led research and policy initiatives on water governance, environmental cooperation, and climate adaptation in the Middle East and North Africa.

Dr. Mahmoud also served as Chair of the Water Utility Climate Alliance, a coalition of 12 of the nation’s largest water utilities that collectively provide water to over 50 million people in the United States. Under his leadership, WUCA focused on integrating climate science into water management strategies to enhance resilience against climate change impacts.

As President of the North American Weather Modification Council, Dr. Mahmoud oversaw efforts to advance weather modification research for drought mitigation and water augmentation. Notably, he negotiated and formalized a 10-year multi-state cloud seeding funding agreement among seven Colorado River Basin states, aiming to enhance precipitation and water resources in the region.

His professional accomplishments include developing and implementing the first-ever climate adaptation plan for the largest water conservation district in the state of Arizona, demonstrating his commitment to proactive climate resilience planning. Additionally, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, he helped secure a $1.1 million grant from NASA for Arizona State University to study the impacts of climate change on the hydrology of the Western United States, contributing to the scientific understanding of climate dynamics in arid regions for the benefit of water utilities.

Recognized as one of the Top 100 Middle East Sustainability Voices, Dr. Mahmoud is a sought-after speaker, commentator, and advisor on climate change and water security issues. His analysis has been featured in leading global forums, policy discussions, and media outlets. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University, and a Ph.D. in Hydrology and Water Resources from the University of Arizona. Dr. Mahmoud remains committed to fostering innovative, collaborative, and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing climate and water challenges.

Areas of Expertise:

• Climate Adaptation

• Water Management

• Program Development