Harsha Ratnaweera has over 35 years of experience in the water sector, holding leadership roles in prominent international organizations as IWA and EWA.
Harsha Ratnaweera is the President of the European Water Association (EWA) and a Distinguished Fellow and Board Director of the International Water Association (IWA). He is also a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences and the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences. Since 2012, he has served as Professor of Water and Wastewater Technology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).
Prior to joining NMBU, he spent two decades at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), where he held the role of Director of International Projects and Innovation. He also holds a professorship in Water Technology at Qingdao University of Technology in China.
A strong proponent of international collaboration, Professor Ratnaweera founded the Water Harmony Initiative in 2012 ([http://www.WaterHarmony.net)]www.WaterHarmony.net) – a global education and research network that now connects over 100 universities in 54 countries. He has played a leading role in numerous EU-funded projects under Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, as well as several large-scale initiatives supported by the Norwegian government.
His work spans all continents, including Asia, Africa, North and South America, Europe, Central Asia, and Australia, focusing on research, innovation, and education in the water sector. He has also served as a consultant for international organizations such as the UNECE, World Bank, NORAD, and SIDA, and as a reviewer of research programs in countries including Norway, Romania, Cyprus, and Canada.
Appointments
- Adjunct Professor, UNU-FLORES, Germany
Professor in water and wastewater technology, Qingdao University of Technology, China (since 2025) - Professor in water and wastewater technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway (since 2012)
- Director of innovation and international projects, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Norway (1991-2011)
- Honorary Professor of 7 universities in Ukraine, Tajikistan, China, Kyrgyzstan
Research Interests
- Digital transformation of the water sector
- Water supply and wastewater treatment engineering
- Surveillance and removal of emerging contaminants
- Innovations in water education