Dr Alma Lopez-Aviles

Biography

Alma joined the University of Surrey as a research fellow working in the water sector part of the EU-funded project: SPREE (Servicizing Policy for Resource Efficient Economy).  Alma's area of expertise is water resources with special interest in flood and coastal erosion risk management, and climate change adaptation (policy and practice).  She completed a first degree in physical geography and a PhD in fluvial geomorphology at the University of Leeds, UK.

Alma has over 12 years work experience mainly in the UK, which covers academia and the private and public sectors. She has worked for the Environment Agency (EA England and Wales) as a national Climate Change Policy Advisor and expert on flood risk and coastal erosion management, and as a consultant for ATKINS and SKM-Enviros, where she was a Principal Consultant leading bids and projects for a variety of clients including DEFRA and the EA.  She was also the focal point in the UK for climate change adaptation.

Alma's last post prior to joining Surrey was as Associate Professor at the Environmental Science Programme of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, where she taught several courses and supervised a number of postgraduate students.

Alma is an experienced project manager, a chartered member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CWEM) and a Chartered Scientist (CSci), UK.

Research Interests

• Climate change adaptation (science, policy and practical adaptation measures especially related to water resources, flood and coastal erosion risk management and the built environment)
• Fluvial geomorphology investigations: geomorphological processes and potential impacts on infrastructure
• Hydrological and water resource investigations for environmental impact assessments and compliance with European Water Framework Directive
• Flood risk assessments, including hydrological and hydraulic modelling
• Surface water management, resource efficiency (water) and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS)
• Water footprinting
• Development control and flood risk management policy and regulation (including planning process, planning appealsnformal Hearings (UK)

Publications

López-Avilés, A. Evaluation reports (documenting, evaluation and recommendations) for seven projects implemented in Ethiopia under the Japanese funded AAP -African Adaptation Program (2012). Project reports soon to be available on-line in Ethiopia's Environment Protection Authority's (EPA) website:
• Bati Jatropha plantation and biofuel project;
• Tekeze Reservoir buffer zone rehabilitation project;
• Myliham biogas and micro-dam project;
• Lake Logo sustainable land management and fisheries project;
• Kebena River restoration project;
• Guna Mountain rehabilitation project;
• Environmental education in Debre Markos schools project.

López-Avilés, A. 'Flash flooding in Spain: geomorphological approaches supporting flood frequency analysis, and the implications for the design of structures’ (2007) ‘Water and Environment Journal’, Blackwell publishing for CIWEM, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 217-226.

López-Avilés, A. 'Technical Briefing papers on Climate Change Adaptation and Flood Risk Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Water Resources, and Climate Change Adaptation and Planning/the built environment', Environment Agency (2005-2006), as part of the EA’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan.

López-Avilés, A. ‘Causes, magnitude and frequency of historic floods of the rivers of the Maestrazgo-Bajo Aragón regions (NE Spain).  The study case of the Guadalope Basin’.  Pending publication in Revista Teruel.  Instituto de Estudios Turolenses, Teruel, Spain.

López-Avilés, A. (2000) ‘Las avenidas históricas registradas en diversos municipios del curso alto y medio de los ríos Guadalope y Bergantes, Maestrazgo-Bajo Aragón (NE Spain)’.  Boletín de Mas de las Matas, vol. 19.  Grupo de Estudios Masinos, Teruel, Spain, pp. 477-559.

López-Avilés, A., Ashworth, P.J. and Macklin, M.G. (1998) ‘Floods and Quaternary Sedimentation Style in a Bedrock Controlled Reach of the Bergantes River, Ebro Basin, Northeast Spain’.  In Benito, G., Baker, V.R. and Gregory, K.J. (Eds) Palaeohydrology and Environmental Change.  Wiley and Sons, Chichester, UK, pp. 181-196.

López-Avilés, A. (1997) ‘The problem of sedimentation and its immediate consequences on reservoir siltation in semi-arid regions.  Sedimentation control and retarding techniques’.  Concept Paper, IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development), Ethiopia.

López-Avilés, A., and Macklin, M.G. (1996) 'Las rases site. Floods and Quaternary sedimentation styles in a bedrock controlled reach of the Bergantes River (Ebro Basin)'.  Proceedings of the II International Meeting on Global Continental Palaeohydrology (GLOCOPH’96), Field Excursion Guide, Toledo, Spain, pp. 48-57.

López-Avilés, A. (1996) ‘Aggradation-incision cycles recorded in a bedrock controlled reach of the Bergantes River, NE Spain’.  Proceedings of the BGRG (British Geomorphological Research Group) Postgraduates National Symposium, Sheffield, UK.

López-Avilés, A. (1995) ‘Identification of different sedimentation styles in a study reach of the Bergantes River, NE Spain’.  Proceedings of the BGRG (British Geomorphological Research Group) Postgraduates National Symposium, Leeds, UK.

Affiliations

Chartered member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CWEM), UK.

Chartered Scientist (CSci), UK.

Other Skills

• Bilingual: English and Spanish
• Good organisational and project management skills;
• Experienced at translating complex scientific issues into non-technical language and policy;
• Experienced at dealing with challenging situations and objectives;
• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills;
• Experienced in working with institutions and government offices in developing countries, e.g. Addis Ababa University and Environmental Protection Agency Ethiopia;
• Good understanding of European, Scotland, England and Wales’ Environment Protection Agencies;
• Good understanding of both the regulatory and private sectors, with vast experience dealing with developers;
• Excellent track record of engaging with a variety of stakeholders, influencing decision-makers and achieving environmentally sound sustainable solutions that are both satisfactory for private sector clients while meeting the requirements of regulators and planning authorities;