Betsy Otto

Betsy leads the Aqueduct project and works with the Aqueduct team to build out the tool and use it to engage business, NGOs and governments for positive change in managing water resources worldwide. Betsy also works with staff across WRI on its broader water-related work.

Betsy brings strong experience in water management, ecosystem protection, and urban water systems. She has a background in business consulting, and over 20 years experience working on water issues with the non-profit, business and government communities. Over the past two decades she has worked to promote sound land and water planning, ecologically-based riverfront revitalization efforts in cities, and urban water infrastructure systems that incorporate upstream ecosystem services, green infrastructure designs in cities, and integrate drinking water, stormwater and wastewater management. Most recently at American Rivers in Washington, DC, Betsy developed successful clean water and water supply programs, and worked closely with mayors, utilities, federal agencies and Congress to promote smart water policies and drive public and private investment toward more sustainable water infrastructure solutions.

Betsy earned a Masters in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin’s Nelson Institute, MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School, and a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois. From 2006-2007, she was a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, where she studied international water management, urban infrastructure, and water and sanitation issues.