Michael Talhami

Guest Author

Michael Talhami is a senior program manager for critical infrastructure and essential services in the Near and Middle East at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Previously he was the ICRC’s urban services adviser in the Water and Habitat Unit where he oversaw humanitarian support to water and electricity service providers that aimed to strengthen the resilience of essential services to the combined effects of conflict and climate change. Before that, he worked in the Middle East for 12 years, part of it with the ICRC as a regional water and habitat adviser and the other part as a senior policy adviser addressing issues pertaining to the management and governance of water resources in conflict settings, as a consultant. Prior to working in the Middle East, he had a career as an environmental engineer in Canada, the United States, and parts of Oceania. Michael holds a master’s degree in environment and development from King’s College London with a specialization in water resources and water policy with a geographic focus on the Middle East, and a bachelor’s degree in environmental and water engineering.