Southeast Asia
Our work in Southeast Asia focuses on the four countries of the lower Mekong - Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR - where we are committed to providing evidence-based solutions to the challenges at the intersection of people and the environment.
We support governments, donors, non-government organisations, civil society organisations, private companies, and industry in managing climate risks related to floods, droughts, urban heat, and energy. This includes embracing integrated planning, and combining technical and economic rigour with inclusive, community-driven approaches.
Valuation of ecosystem services in Myanmar
Strengthening Water Resources Assessment and Restoration in Vietnam
Climate Resilience through Integrated Catchment Management and Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Lao PDR
Economic valuation of ecosystem Valuation for Ayeyarwady River Basin, Myanmar
Development of Laos National Water Resources Management Strategy
See more projects in Southeast AsiaLeadership staff in region
Our people are our greatest strength. We employ a range of scientists, economists, engineers and natural resource managers.
Simon Hammer
Regional Manager - Pacific
Simon leads the Alluvium Group's work across the Mekong , bringing a systems-thinking approach to the region’s most pressing , climate, and sustainability challenges. With qualifications in both engineering and law, and over a decade of experience across public and private sectors, Simon specialises in integrated strategy, program design, and cross-sector collaboration.<br><br>He is passionate about shaping climate-resilient futures through inclusive partnerships, nature-based and adaptive solutions, and long-term capacity strengthening. Simon works closely with governments, multilateral organisations, and community partners to deliver practical, locally grounded outcomes that align environmental sustainability with social and economic needs.<br><br>Simon’s leadership has supported regional initiatives focused on water security, basin-scale planning, and climate adaptation—particularly across Southeast Asia. He is also a recognised contributor to the water and sustainability sectors, having co-founded the non-profit Our Future Cities and held advisory and volunteer roles across Australia, Africa, and Asia.<br><br>As Regional Lead for the Mekong, Simon brings a steady hand, a collaborative mindset, and a deep commitment to supporting resilient communities across the region.
Tarek Ketelsen
Tarek Ketelsen is an environmental systems engineer with 20 years of experience across 17 countries. He began his career in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), flood studies, and engineering design in the mining sector of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. In 2008, Tarek moved to Vietnam, where he focused on integrated environmental assessments, energy transition, climate resilience, eco-hydrology, hydrological modelling, river basin planning, and policy formulation.<br><br>Tarek has led or contributed to 60 international development projects, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment for Mekong hydropower and designing a water resources program for Myanmar showcased in Australia's 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper. From 2022-2025, he led Australia’s flagship energy cooperation program with Vietnam, supporting its rapid energy transition. He has worked on policy and planning projects for governments in Laos, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Cambodia, and Myanmar.<br><br>In 2015, Tarek founded AMPERES, specializing in energy transition and environmental resilience. In 2025, AMPERES joined the Alluvium Group, where Tarek now serves as Director and Technical Lead for the Mekong region.
Phuong Tran
Phuong Tran, A Mekong Delta citizen in Vietnam, has worked for almost 20 years with INGOs. Phuong’s experience spans multiple fields, including community development such as disaster risk management and resilience, hygiene, water and sanitation loan/credit via revolving fund programs for livelihood, housing, water and sanitation. She is also a good practitioner of community participatory processes, M&E tools, conducting community-based approach activities, and training for trainers.<br> <br>Since 2020, Phuong has managed our office in HCMC in Vietnam, our operations, and the financial oversight of all project implementation. She was trained in project management skills and involved in organisational strategy planning, resource and financial management during her time with INGO life of 3.5 years with Danish Refugee Council, 8 years with CARE International in Vietnam, almost 8 years with Habitat for Humanity International in Vietnam.<br> <br>Phuong's significant milestones over the past 20 years include being the Deputy Manager for U Minh Thuong National Park Nature Resource Protection and Development Project – CARE; Project Coordinator for Community-based Resilience Nature Disaster Project – CARE , Senior Program Coordinator for Housing & WATSAN Loan Program – Habitat; Project Manager for WATSAN Community Awareness Raising – Habitat.
Russell Merz
Director
<p style="margin: 0cm">Russell Merz is a Non-Executive Director of Alluvium International. Russell has a proven track record in delivering excellence in technical quality and client service, with a focus on water-related risks, water resources resiliency, and water stewardship.</p><p style="margin: 0cm"></p><br><p style="margin: 0cm">With vast expertise in integrated water science and engineering, Russell Merz is an experienced engineering and business executive with over 30 years of international experience whilst being based out of Vancouver, Brisbane, Delhi, and Singapore. A Fellow of Engineers Australia in civil and environmental engineering, and an executive by experience, Russell was educated in Canada and the USA. Russell's technical work focusses on specialist water resources, environmental and engineering services. From developing water resources engineering criteria in Rajasthan in the early 1990's to a key role in a major consulting firm's Asia Leadership team from 2010 to 2014, Russell has a strong affiliation with water resources and ecosystems across the Indo-Pacific Region.</p>
Becky-Jay Harrington
Mekong Regional Manager
Driving Australia’s regional strategy to scale climate-smart, inclusive, and finance-ready infrastructure across Southeast Asia, Becky-Jay Harrington leads the integration of climate/disaster resilience, sustainable/climate finance, and social inclusion into more than 400 infrastructure initiatives, bridging policy ambition with investable outcomes.<br><br>A strategic systems thinker who translates climate signals into investable infrastructure decisions, she builds frameworks that embed climate, disaster, and inclusion principles across the infrastructure lifecycle, from planning and procurement to performance and finance. Her leadership has delivered transformative results: doubling DFAT’s inclusion portfolio within six months, achieving 40 per cent climate-finance alignment across P4I’s investments, and advancing partnerships that connect Australian expertise (QRA, BoM, CSIRO) with ASEAN counterparts.<br><br>Becky-Jay brings two decades of regional experience in climate and disaster resilience, sustainable finance, and inclusive systems, with a career spanning ASI, the Red Cross Movement, World Vision, and the UN. She has shaped climate and disaster-risk governance frameworks, multicriteria assessment systems, and sustainable finance mechanisms that have been adopted by governments and development institutions. Trained in Sustainable Finance (Oxford) and Climate Infrastructure (GCA), she is recognised for her ability to align technical depth with policy reform, positioning infrastructure as both a social and economic resilience asset for the Asia-Pacific region.