Betsy Otto
Betsy Otto
Aqueduct Director
botto@wri.org+1 (202) 729-7615
Betsy Otto is the Director of the Aqueduct project in the Markets and Enterprise Program Aqueduct is a global water risk assessment and mapping tool to inform private and public sector investment and water management decisions. 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. See www.wri.org/aqueduct for more information. Betsy also works with staff across WRI on its broader water-related work.
Betsy has over 20 years experience working on water issues with the non-profit, business and government communities. She brings strong experience in water resource management, ecosystem protection, and urban water systems Over the past two decades she has worked to promote sound land and water planning and urban water infrastructure systems that incorporate upstream ecosystem services, green infrastructure designs in cities, and integrate drinking water, stormwater and wastewater management. Prior to joining WRI, Betsy developed successful clean water and water supply programs for American Rivers in Washington, DC, where she 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, a 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.
Betsy loves cycling, flat water kayaking, history, and watching water pour over Great Falls on the Potomac river.
