Contributors

Dr. Ricardo Bello-Mendoza is an Associate Professor and co-director of the Humanitarian Engineering programme in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He earned his Bachelor’s degree (1991) at the Instituto Tecnológico de Tapachula in Mexico, followed by an M.Phil. (1997) and Ph.D. (1999) at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. Dr. Bello-Mendoza’s research expertise lies in innovative technologies for wastewater treatment and resource recovery. He is currently investigating biosand filtration as an appropriate technology for rainwater treatment in Tonga, contributing to sustainable solutions that improve drinking water quality and protect community health in this Pacific Island nation. Before joining the University of Canterbury, Dr. Bello-Mendoza served as an Investigador Titular at El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) in Mexico from 2000 to 2023. He has been part of the University of Canterbury academic community since 2013, initially as a Senior Lecturer before his current appointment as Associate Professor.

Dr Fabio Silveira is a Field and Environmental Engineering technician at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil, and Master’s and PhD degrees in Civil Engineering, specialising in stormwater quality, from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Fabio’s research focuses on improving water quality by deepening understanding of stormwater systems, wetlands, and water resource management. His work combines both academic and practical experience, including roles as a teaching assistant, research assistant, and contributions to local government projects. His PhD aims to provide scientific knowledge that addresses stormwater treatment using engineered wetlands and supports sustainable solutions for maintaining water quality. After gaining experience in the pharmaceutical industry with Novartis and working in earthquake repair and reinforcement projects in Christchurch, he was inspired to pursue advanced studies in water quality and environmental engineering after a 6-month trip around South America, where he noticed the biggest water resources in major cities were mainly used as rubbish and sewage dumps. Fabio is motivated by the opportunity to translate research into tangible improvements for the environment and the communities around us.

Dr. Andrés Valencia is a Senior Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He holds a PhD in Physics from Normandie Université in France, and a Master’s degree in Mécanique, Énergie, Procédés, Produits (MEPP) at the Université de Lorraine. He earned his Diplôme d’Ingénieur from both the École Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Metz and the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira in Colombia, with a focus on mechanical engineering. Dr. Valencia’s research expertise lies in combustion and fire safety, with a strong emphasis on both experimental and numerical methodologies. His work spans a range of fire science topics, including wildfire behaviour, fire suppression strategies, fire dynamics, advanced combustion processes, and the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools. His current research is particularly focused on understanding and modelling the complex behaviour of wildfires, especially their interactions with vegetation, atmospheric conditions, and the built environment in the wildland–urban interface (WUI). Dr. Valencia aims to develop novel engineering principles that contribute to reducing wildfire risks and enhancing community resilience.

Dr. Nick Brown is dedicated to leveraging engineering to tackle complex global issues, including poverty, inequality, and sustainability. Dr Brown completed both his master’s and doctoral studies in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Edinburgh, UK. His work focuses on empowering engineers to meet community needs both in Australia and internationally. Dr Brown is the co-founder and education lead of the Humanitarian Engineering Lab at RMIT University. In his roles as education lead, he designs and delivers innovative teaching at the crossroads of design, technology, and social change. Dr Brown’s excellence in education is demonstrated by numerous awards, including an Australia Award for University Teaching, three Engineers Australia awards, three RMIT University Vice Chancellor’s awards, and four STEM College and School of Engineering teaching awards. As a member of both the International Federation of National Teaching Fellows and Engineers Australia and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK), he maintains a prominent presence in Humanitarian Engineering Education.   Before joining RMIT University, Dr Brown served as the Research Lead at the not-for-profit organisation Engineers Without Borders Australia. In this role, he spearheaded ground-breaking humanitarian engineering education and research initiatives. These efforts generated critical advancements in knowledge and technology for sustainable development.

Dr. Russell Taylor is a Research Fellow at the National Centre for Research on Europe at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He completed his MSc in Freshwater Ecology at the University of Canterbury in 2001 and his PhD in Sustainable Development at the same institution in 2018. Dr. Taylor’s research focuses on the sustainable development of impoverished nations, applying Enpovigo and ecological principles as a developmental framework. His work highlights participation, capability building, education, basic human needs, renewable energy, powered ICTs, and pathways for sustainable self-determination. He also specialises in development theory, including participatory approaches, capability building, indigenous developmental theories, and the pursuit of happiness as a goal of remote community development. His expertise extends to international development funding, with experience across the European Development Fund, the Bretton Woods Organisations, the United Nations Development Fund, NGOs, and transnational and multinational corporate development. In addition to his academic role, Dr. Taylor is the Founder and CEO/Board Member of the EcoCARE group, an international NGO with branches in Norway and Ukraine, and regional bodies EcoCARE Africa (Kenya) and EcoCARE Pacific (New Zealand).

Dr Saurabh Sinha is a Professor and Executive Dean at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, where he leads the Faculty of Engineering and serves as part of the Senior Leadership Team. His work focuses on empowering future engineers and researchers while tackling global challenges and opportunities in engineering. He holds B.Eng., M.Eng., and Ph.D. degrees in Electronic Engineering from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and is also an alumnus of the Wharton Advanced Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. An established researcher rated by South Africa’s National Research Foundation, he has authored or co-authored more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and conference papers. With over two decades of experience across academia and industry, Saurabh spent more than 22 years at the University of Pretoria and the University of Johannesburg, advancing from academic roles to leadership positions, including institute director, executive dean, and deputy vice-chancellor. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, a recipient of a U.S. Fulbright grant, and has served as IEEE Board Director and Vice-President. Saurabh is also a Chartered Professional Engineer with Engineering New Zealand | Te Ao Rangahau.

Professor Juan Lucena is Director of the Humanitarian Engineering Undergraduate Program and Professor of Engineering, Design and Society at the Colorado School of Mines, in The United States of America (USA). He holds a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA). His work focuses on transforming engineering education and practice to advance social justice, sustainability, and community wellbeing.

Professor Lucena is internationally recognised for his scholarship at the intersection of engineering, culture, ethics, and humanitarian practice. His books include Defending the Nation: U.S. Policymaking to Create Scientists and Engineers (2005), Engineering and Sustainable Community Development (2010), Engineering Education for Social Justice (2013), and Engineering Justice: Transforming Engineering Education and Practice (2017). At the Colorado School of Mines, Professor Lucena’s research has been supported by multiple NSF-funded projects examining globalisation, humanitarian ethics, and the cultural dimensions of engineering education and practice. Drawing on ethnographic and historical approaches, his work explores how engineering identities, progress metrics, and national priorities shape both technical outcomes and social justice.

Dr Daniel Sweeney holds a Bachelor of Science and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah. He is a research scientist, lecturer and mechanical engineer at the MIT D-Lab (Development through Dialogue, Design, and Dissemination Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), a program where students practice design and engineering in low-resource settings, where Dr Daniel has been active and instructed classes since 2013. Dr Daniel works with community partners around the world on the design and evaluation of affordable products and the machines that make them at scale, and using technology to responsibly access hard-to-reach information. He was a Fulbright Fellow in Sweden focused on developing advanced processes to convert biomass residues into energy and fuels. He has been a co-founder of social businesses in Uganda and India.

Tamara is a water engineer whose journey began in Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Canterbury before she completed a Master’s in Civil Engineering, focusing her research on sustainable drinking water treatment for Pacific communities. She started her career with WSP in Aotearoa New Zealand, working across three waters and water infrastructure projects, which built a strong foundation in practical, people-centred engineering. She is now working in Vanuatu with the Malampa provincial office of the Department of Water Resources through a Volunteer Service Abroad assignment, supporting both urban and rural water supply systems with a strong emphasis on capacity building and sustainable, community-led solutions.

Namwaya Emilly is an electrical and electronic engineer from Uganda and the founder of HerTech Foundation, a women-led organisation advancing community-driven innovation, clean energy solutions, and innovation clubs in refugee schools. She works in humanitarian and displaced settings in Northern Uganda, supporting youth, women, and students to co-design practical technologies. Her award-winning work emphasises participatory design and local innovation, empowering communities to become creators rather than just recipients of solutions.