Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy

Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy is a seasoned professional in environmental management and disaster risk reduction, currently serving as the Director of the G20 Global Land Initiative at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification since April 2022. Previously, Thummarukudy held significant roles at the UN Environment Programme from September 2009 to April 2022, including Chief of the Resilience to Disasters and Conflicts Global Support Branch and Chief Disaster Risk Reduction, overseeing major disaster response operations. Thummarukudy's experience also includes positions as Programme Officer at the UN and various roles within UNEP, coupled with a background in corporate environmental advising at Petroleum Development Oman and Brunei Shell Petroleum Company. With a PhD in Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and various leadership and environmental law certifications, Thummarukudy has made substantial contributions to environmental research and policy.