Speakers
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Dr. Massimiliano Pasqui
title-1
A Senior Scientist at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IBE), specializing in climate science with a PhD in Physical Modeling for Environmental Protection from the University of Bologna. He focuses on weather and climate modeling, seasonal forecasting, and climate services to support water management, drought monitoring, and adaptation strategies across the Mediterranean, Europe, and Africa.
Climate Change: Vulnerability and Adaptation in Drylands
Dr. Andres Jaramillo
title-2
A Water Resources and Irrigation Engineer with 25+ years of global experience across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. He specializes in irrigation, groundwater, water policy, and climate-resilient management, working with governments, multilateral agencies, research institutions, and industry to deliver sustainable, efficient, and resilient water solutions worldwide.
Water Resources Mobilization and Management
Dr. Tao Wang
title-3
Dr. Tao Wang earned his Doctor of Sciences in Physical Geography from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1988. A leading expert on desert environments and aeolian desertification, he has made major contributions to combating desertification in China. He has published 300+ papers and 10 books, and held key leadership roles in national and international research organizations.
Soil Degradation and Conservation
Dr. Livia Peiser
title-5
Livia Peiser serves as Head of the Geospatial Unit within FAO’s Land and Water Division. A Senior Land and Water Officer, she has worked in the United Nations system since the early 2000s. Trained as a geographer, she applies spatial analysis to the assessment of land and water resources for food and agriculture. She worked on water productivity monitoring in the FAO WaPOR project for 10 years.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment in Drylands
Prof. Rabi H. Mohtar
title-5
A professor at Texas A&M University and global leader in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus. He has led $24M+ in research, published 400+ works, trained 100+ graduate students, and founded major initiatives at Texas A&M and American University of Beirut, earning international awards and recognition.
WEFE Nexus (Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem) in Arid Environments
TRAINING WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Filippo Sarvia
title-1
Filippo Sarvia serves as a Technical Consultant within the Geospatial Unit of FAO’s Land and Water Division. An agronomist and crop mapping specialist, he applies remote sensing and spatial analysis to land cover classification and crop type mapping in support of agricultural monitoring and policy. He has worked across multiple countries, including Tunisia, contributing to large-scale geospatial initiatives such as the SoilFER project. Trained in Agricultural Science at the University of Torino, he holds a PhD in optical remote sensing applied to agriculture.