Brian Richter

Brian Richter
President, Sustainable Waters | Adjunct Professor, University of Virginia

Brian Richter is a globally recognized authority on water science and conservation, with over 30 years of experience advancing sustainable water management practices. He is the President of Sustainable Waters, an international education and advisory organization that supports communities, governments, and industries in addressing water scarcity and promoting responsible water use. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Virginia, where he teaches upper-level courses on water sustainability and mentors graduate research.

Previously, Brian spent three decades with The Nature Conservancy, where he led the Global Water Program and directed high-impact freshwater initiatives spanning the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. He has worked on more than 170 river and water projects across six continents and regularly advises major global corporations, investment banks, and international organizations such as the United Nations.

Brian has developed foundational tools for hydrologic analysis and ecosystem restoration, including the widely used Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) software. His scientific publications place him in the top 10% of researchers worldwide by impact, and his thought leadership has been featured in global media, including a BBC documentary with Sir David Attenborough.

He is the co-author of Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature, and the author of Chasing Water: A Guide for Moving from Scarcity to Sustainability, now available in six languages.