David Purkey

David Purkey is the Centre Director for SEI Latin America, based in Bogotá, Colombia.

Previously, David led the Water Group within the US Center, with staff located in both the Somerville, Massachusetts and Davis offices.

Much of his work centers around the development, dissemination and application of SEI’s Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system. His research interests include understanding the potential impacts of and adaptation to climate change in the water sector and aquatic ecosystems, integrated water resources management that focuses on linking the management of surface water and groundwater to meet a broad spectrum of objectives, and equitable management of transboundary water resources.

David and his team are experienced in applying a range of hydrologic, hydraulic, and planning models in settings as diverse as California, the US-Mexico border, the Great Lakes, West and Southern Africa, and Latin America.

David has previously served as the theme leader of Managing Environmental Systems.

David received his Ph.D. in hydrology from the University of California, Davis in 1998 and holds a B.A. in Geology from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.