Her first project involved protecting the “immensely biodiverse and productive” Apalachicola Bay on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. “I tried to create an understanding amongst actors upstream, such as big cities, farmers, and hydropower dam operators that their choices affect life and livelihoods downstream.” Over 30 years Ruth has conducted expert reviews on river species, led freshwater conservation programs, and participated in various negotiations around how rivers are used and altered. As senior manager at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) Ruth works with the holistic source-to-sea approach, which recognises that decisions in any one part of a river affect the system as a whole. Read more about Ruth’s work on LinkedIn.