Dr Rivka Kfir
Chief Executive Officer
CEO of the WRC, with many years of experience in health-related water research and knowledge management
She has also held senior management positions in the CSIR and NRF.
Internationally, she serves on the board of the International Water
Management Institute (IWMI), is Chairperson of Streams of Knowledge and
plays a leading role in the Global Water Research Coalition.
Director: Human Resources and Administration
Reshmili Frank is Human Resource Generalist with an MBA in Strategic
Human Resource Management. She also has a background in environmental
studies. She has worked at Sappi and Nokia before being appointed as a
Director at the WRC.
Director: Water-Centred Knowledge
Professional Natural Scientist with 15 years experience in the wastewater sector. She established the ERWAT Chair in Wastewater Management and worked as a waste specialist for a global consulting engineering company. She is currently the Vice President of WISA and a member of the management board of the Sludge Management Specialist Group of the IWA.
Ms Eiman Karar
Director: Water Resource Management
Ms Karar has 15 years of experience in natural physical sciences coupled with strong managerial competence at national government policy development levels as well as coal face ground implementation level. Practical experience in the water sector was acquired mainly in South Africa and complemented by information and experience gained from Sudan, her place of birth.
Dr Steve Mitchell
Director: Water-linked Ecosystems
Ecologist and conservationist, he also has the responsibility for medium to long term planning of programmes to ensure that knowledge and skills in the water sector are available when required.
Mr Jay Bhagwan
Director: Water Use and Waste Management
Qualified civil engineer with extensive research and management experience in all aspects of water supply and sanitation in developing areas. He has the added responsibility of contributing to the WRC's business development. Currently also a member of the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry's Advisory Council.
Dr Gerhard Backeberg
Director: Water Utilisation in Agriculture
Agricultural economist with main fields of interest in irrigation farming systems analysis and planning, financial and economic feasibility studies of irrigation development projects and analysis of policy and institutions in irrigated agriculture. He also focuses, more broadly, on assessing impacts of WRC research.