Dr Ananya Mukherjee

(she/her)

Biography

Ananya Mukherjee has more than 15 years’ experience as an inter-disciplinary social scientist researching and working on complex environmental issues, renewable energy programmes from organic bio-waste using circular economy principles, sustainable development, climate change adaptation and biodiversity policy issues where NbS has been used in climate adaptation work. She also has demonstrated history of working in academia and the non-profit sector collaborating with SMEs and the industry on complex Climate change issues including M&E work. This includes promoting participatory systems thinking using systems mapping software to address the challenges surrounding climate change & sustainable management of environmental resources. This includes disaster risk response and building resilience using participatory design approach and social innovation. She has recently worked on a BEIS funded Biomethane project where a systems approach has been used to develop a sustainable biomethane pathway using a Theory of Change framework.

Dr. Ananya Mukherjee has also worked on Horizon Europe’s programme on creating decentralised energy systems using a systems approach which involved using the principles of circular economy of food waste management and social innovations. Currently she works on another Horizon Europe project, TITAN which examines Transparency and solutions for transforming the food system using digital technology such as Internet of Things and Blockchain technology.

In addition, Dr. Ananya Mukherjee has previously worked on international biodiversity conservation programmes working with regional and national governments in South Asia developing and implementing advocacy strategies and capacity building programmes on complex environmental and developmental issues. Her interdisciplinary training has made her skilled in organising participatory transborder workshops for building capacity among partner countries. She has led and managed projects funded by the World Bank and IUCN on complex biodiversity projects. Her recent experience includes working on the CoCoRE Project funded by DCMS (UK) examining the socio-economic and environmental challenges to infrastructural development and the uptake of 5G services in rural Wales. She was also involved in the GCRF Catalyst Project examining the nexus between water, food and socio-ecological systems in urban and per-urban areas of East Africa.

A former CECAN Fellow with the University of Surrey, her experience includes working on developmental and complex climate adaptation work overseas. Her work focussed on Disaster Risk Reduction programme in urban Nepal (DFID funded) where Ananya led the research work for IOD PARC conducting literature reviews, stakeholder meetings and focus group studies with programme implementers in Nepal and evaluating the various intervention measures in rebuilding peri-urban and urban areas that would lead to the best value for money.

Her work with the Wales Centre for Public Policy, on an ESRC funded (LIPSIT) project involved identifying institutional and organisational arrangements at the regional level that tend to lead to the ‘good’ management of policy trade-offs associated with increasing productivity, inclusivity and sustainability.

Professional memberships

Programme Advisory member of IUCN Gland's Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme reviewing aspects of human geography, indigenous rights and environmental and social safeguard aspects of the project proponents.