UNU Experts

Expert Capacity Development Coordinator

Salpy Ohanis

Salpy Ohanis is the Programme Coordinator for the Capacity Development Office (CDO) at United Nations University-MERIT and Maastricht University.

Expert Senior Researcher

Dr. Sanae Okamoto is a psychologist and behavioural scientist with background in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Behavioural Economics. She has an expertise in both industry and academia by applying psychology and behavioural science insights towards diverse objectives such as Circular Economy, Climate Resilience, Mental Health and Well-being from multiple angles such as Gender, Youth, Water, Disasters, Plastics, Digitalisation, AI, and Business. She also provides workshops and seminars for practitioners in public and private sectors. She is co-lead of the triinstitutional initiative of UNU-Climate Reslience Initiative.

Expert Programme Officer

Dr. Naoyuki Okano

Dr. Naoyuki Okano is a Programme Officer in the Governance for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (GCSD) programme.

Expert Research Fellow and Academic Associate

Dr. Mahesti Okitasari

Mahesti Okitasari is a Research Fellow and Academic Associate at UNU-IAS.

Expert Senior Associate

Dr. Olasunkanmi Habeeb Okunola

Dr. Olasunkanmi Habeeb Okunola possesses senior-level experience in supporting policy influencing projects through advocacy, advisory, evidence gathering and dissemination work across 10 African countries and Europe. Dr. Okunola's research focuses on understanding the responses of individuals, communities and cities to global climate change and their capacities for adaptation and transformation.

Expert Research Fellow

Rodrigo Oliveira

Rodrigo is a Research Associate at UNU-WIDER, and his research interests are Development Economics, Economics of Education, and Labor Economics.

Expert Senior Researcher: Water, Climate and Gender

Prof. Grace Oluwasanya

Grace Oluwasanya is a Water Scientist with extensive training (Bachelor’s to Doctoral) in Water Resources Management across developing and western nations with diverse opportunities to explore varied aspects from water science (Hydrology) to resource management including the associated socio-economic themes, with over 20 years’ experience in the areas of water systems risks analysis, water safety planning, water quality and public health protection and water security issues.

Expert Professorial Fellow

Prof. Dr. Jan Orbie

Jan Orbie is a part-time Professorial Fellow at UNU-CRIS. He is involved in the GREMLIN project on Global and Regional Multistakeholder Institutions, with specific attention for the involvement of civil society organisations in EU trade policies. .

Expert PhD Fellow

Dan Orendain

Dan Orendain begins his four-year PhD training with Ghent University (FPPW) and UNU-CRIS with a FWO fundamental research fellowship.

Expert Research Fellow

Dr. Ramoudane Orou Sannou

Ramoudane Orou Sannou is a Research Fellow at UNU-FLORES dedicated to advancing sustainable finance, agribusiness investment, and nature-based solutions that foster inclusive and resilient development - particularly across Africa and other emerging markets.

Expert Research Intern

Sabit Orynbassar

Sabit Orynbassar is a research intern at UNU-CRIS, contributing to the Nature, Climate and Health Cluster under the supervision of Nidhi Nagabhatla along with Vijay Kumar Chattu

Expert PhD Fellow

Iana Ovsiannikova

Iana Ovsiannikova is a PhD Fellow at UNU-CRIS

Expert Adjunct Researcher

Patrick O’Farrell

As Adjunct Researcher at UNU-FLORES, Patrick O’Farrell’s work is focused on the role of biodiversity within the Resource Nexus and its associated interconnections, linkages, and change implications.

Expert Adjunct Professor

Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey

Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey is a Professor at Department of Civil Engineering and Director at Center for Applied Research and Development (CARD), with Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

Expert JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. João Filipe Papel

João Filipe Papel is a JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow jointly affiliated with UNU-IAS and the Tokai University.

Expert Associate Project Manager

Mariam Parekhelashvili

Mariam is an Associate Project Manager within MCII's Climate Risk Finance Solutions team, where she contributes to ongoing work to address climate change, adaptation and vulnerability by promoting index-based insurance as a climate change adaptation instrument in African, Asian, Pacific and Caribbean developing countries.

Expert Academic Programme Officer