Ali Hasnain Sayed is a sustainable development practitioner having worked in climate change, water resource management, environment/social assessments, and Disaster risk reduction, with over 22 years of experience leading to impactful initiatives at national and international levels. Ali excels in integrating global frameworks with local solutions, building multi-stakeholder partnerships, and advancing sustainability. As a thought leader, he drives impactful projects promoting equitable, sustainable practices and resilience against climate challenges. . Ali has worked with prominent global institutions, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), EU, United Nations (UN), World Bank, GIZ and WWF Network to name a few.
Serving as a Lead Consultant on Climate Finance for ADB, Ali advised Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division on strategic financing and the development of Climate Investment Plans (CIPs). His focus spans energy, water, agriculture, and transport, ensuring alignment with Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). His tenure on the Punjab Chief Minister’s Task Force on Climate Change involved crafting policies to mitigate climate risks. At WWF-Pakistan, Ali while focusing on Climate and water policy led initiatives such as the Integrated River Basin Management Plan for the Indus and introduced Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standards to the private sector, including companies like Nestlé, Coke, and GSK etc . He also guided projects in industrial water efficiency and ecosystem restoration.
In academia, Ali has contributed as a researcher and lecturer at International institutions like Australian National University (ANU), University of Canberra, Monash University and LUMS (business school), teaching climate resilience and sustainable business practices. His work spans the water-energy-food nexus, renewable energy, and climate-smart agriculture, with landmark projects such as drip irrigation in Punjab and an FAO-supported initiative to bolster agricultural resilience as Director Innovation at NUST the top ranked Pakistani university.
His efforts were recognised with international recognition such National Energy Globe Award (UNESCO) and Australian Alumni Excellence Awards. His leadership drives sustainable growth, enhances climate resilience, and fosters partnerships across public, private, and academic sectors.
Ali is a Mechanical Engineer from UET Lahore and has a Master in Environment and Sustainability from Monash University Australia.