About Geert-Jan Nijsten

Geert-Jan is a hydrogeologist with 30+ years of experience in groundwater exploration, development, integrated (ground)management and governance. His experience includes research, consultancy, policy development and implementation.

As early career hydrogeologist, he worked in Mauritania and Botswana in groundwater exploration, development and research. In the Netherlands he worked in applied research, consultancy and as a policy advisor. From 2012 to 2019 Geert-Jan worked full-time on international groundwater projects, with a focus on transboundary groundwater assessment and management and high-level groundwater advocacy.

At Deltares Geert-Jan operates in research programmes in the Netherlands and internationally often in the role of project development and project management.

His career spans from specialised groundwater studies to integrated multi-disciplinary projects and policy development / implementation. Geert-Jan has extensive experience as project and programme manager, both in the Netherlands and in an international context.

Geert-Jan completed his MSc Geology at the ‘Vrije Universiteit’ of Amsterdam and specialised in Hydrogeology. In the early days of his career he worked on technical groundwater studies using geophysical techniques, isotope analyses and groundwater modelling. Through exposure in complex projects involving specialist from other disciplines and varieties of stakeholders, Geert-Jan developed a strong interest in the wider context of groundwater management, policy and governance issues; fields in which he mostly operates now.