Annelies Mertens
PhD Researcher Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Annelies Mertens is a Bioscience Engineer specialised in water and climate science and governance with international experience addressing global environmental challenges. She is currently an interdisciplinary PhD researcher at the Department of Water and Climate and the Brussels School of Governance at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where her research examines community-based environmental monitoring to support water resilience, climate adaptation, and rights-based water governance in Biosphere Reserves. Previously, Annelies worked as Project Officer with UNESCO's Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, coordinating international projects on water security and climate adaptation and promoting Open and Citizen Science in hydrology. Annelies is committed to ensuring youth priorities shape water governance. She previously served as Youth Representative and person in charge of the thematic area of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management at the 10th World Water Forum. She also actively volunteers with local organisations supporting sustainable water management both locally and internationally. She is committed to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and brings both scientific expertise and youth engagement to global water governance.