Ton Bresser

Ton Bresser has his Masters degree in civil engineering (hydrogeology and sanitary engineering) from the Technical University Delft. The first decade of his career he obtained extensive experience in research projects in water use and supply in the Netherlands and abroad including integrated planning of water supply in relation to natural values, economy and other fields of interest.

He then moved to the acid rain research programme in the Netherlands which he guided as secretary for more than 7 years, meanwhile being responsible for the integrated policy oriented modeling projects within this programme.

His next assignments have been as head of the Laboratory for Water Materials and Emissions and as head of the Laboratory for Water and Drinking Water Research at the National Institute of Public Health and Environment.

His last assignments before joining UNESCO-IHE in 2005 were in the field of climate change and water management. He was responsible for some important reports to the government by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP) on the risks of flooding (Dutch dikes and risks hike), water quality management (from Insight to Transparency) and the Effects of Climate Change in the Netherlands.

He has been a representative of the Netherlands in many European fora on drinking water supply, acid rain research, environmental research programmes and water quality (e.g. Water Framework Directive). He has been the co-organizer of many national and international conferences on acid rain research; on nitrogen and the environment; and on water issues (including virtual water). He is a member of the Netherlands’ National Committee for the International Hydrological Programme (IHP).

At UNESCO-IHE Ton is responsible for the inter-core theme climate change and integrated water resources management.

• Publications