Presentation

Jerson Kelman was born in Rio de Janeiro (1948), has been married since 1970, and has two children and five grandchildren. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering (EE-UFRJ, 1971), a master's degree in hydraulics (M.Sc. COPPE-UFRJ, 1973), a Ph.D. in Hydrology and Water Resources (Colorado State University, 1976), and the title of Livre-Docente (EE-UFRJ, 1985).

He currently serves as a member of three boards of directors (IGUÁ, EVOLTZ, and ORIZON) and sits on the advisory council of the National Academy of Engineering (ANE) and the Infrastructure Department of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (DEINFRA-FIESP). He is also a consultant to the Instituto Clima e Sociedade (ICS) and a columnist for Folha de São Paulo and Brasil Energia.

He was president of SABESP, the water utility of the State of São Paulo (2015–2018), federal intervenor at ENERSUL, an energy company in Mato Grosso do Sul (2013–2014), president of Grupo Light (2010–2012), director-general of ANEEL — Brazil’s National Electric Energy Agency (2005–2008) — president of ANA — Brazil’s National Water Agency (2001–2004) — and a consultant to the World Bank (1997–1998). He was also a member of several administrative and advisory boards, including ENEVA (as chairman), SABESP, FEBRABAN, ONS, ELETROPAULO, ABENGOA, CNPE, CMSE, CONAMA, CNRH, and FBDS.

He was a professor of water resources at COPPE-UFRJ for 47 years (1974–2020). In this role, he participated in 66 master's and doctoral examination boards (26 as advisor).

He was one of the founders, director, and president of ABRH (Brazilian Water Resources Association).

He coordinated the task force appointed by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso to investigate and explain the 2001 electricity rationing crisis.

He is the author of 3 books, "Guta e suas amiguinhas" (2014), "Cheias e Aproveitamentos Hidrelétricos" (1987), and "Desafios do Regulador" (2009), 42 book chapters, 30 book prefaces, 127 scientific or technical articles, 373 articles published by Brazil’s most influential newspapers, and 569 conferences and lectures.

He received the World Water Council’s King Hassan II Great World Water Prize, is a Commander of the Order of Rio Branco (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and of the Order of Scientific Merit (Ministry of Science), received the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award from Colorado State University, and was named Person of the Year by ABRAGE, APINE, and ABRADEE.