Prof. Chris J Spray

Professor Chris J Spray MBE, FRSA, MA (Cantab), PhD, MCIEEM holds the Chair of Water Science & Policy at the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy & Science at the University of Dundee. Before joining the university in 2009, he had over 25 years of practical experience of integrated water resource management from a number of distinct perspectives. These included working in regulation and policy as Director of Environmental Science for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency; in water supply and services as Director of Environment for Northumbrian Water Group; in river basin management planning as chair of Tweed River Area Advisory Group; and with a wide range of environmental NGOs (past trustee of Tweed Forum, FBA, RSPB, WWT, BTO). His current research focuses on wetland ecosystem services (co-author of UKNEA chapter on water and wetlands); on the use of the Ecosystem Approach for delivery of the Scottish Land Use Strategy; and on water science and catchment restoration. His PhD at Aberdeen was on territorial behaviour of carrion crows, after which he studied the population dynamics of mute swans, including publishing papers on lead poisoning. His interest in the linkages between science and policy are currently also being pursued as a part-time Senior Research Fellow for NERC working with the Welsh Government.