Sasha Koo-Oshima is a renowned international policy and business development leader with over 35 years of expertise in water resource management, sustainable agriculture, and environmental governance. Her extensive career has spanned leadership roles in the public, private, and multilateral sectors, where she has championed global initiatives addressing sustainability, climate resilience, and food systems transformation. Sasha is widely respected for her ability to integrate scientific innovation with policy implementation, guiding organizations and governments toward sustainable development aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Currently, Sasha serves as Director and Partner at Sustainability Frameworks, a global advisory firm supporting clients across finance, agriculture, and infrastructure to enhance environmental and social governance. Under her leadership, the firm provides strategic advisory services in ESG risk management, sustainable financing, and capacity building. Sasha’s work through Sustainability Frameworks is rooted in real-world field experience and geo-political insight, helping clients address complex global challenges from climate change to water security.
Sasha is a Governing Board Member of the World Water Council, the Global Water Alliance, and the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage. She also serves in advisory capacities to the UNEP Global Partnerships on Nutrient and Wastewater Management, and previously held roles with the G20 Agricultural Deputies, CGIAR’s Water, Land & Ecosystems program, and the OECD. These roles underscore her influence and leadership in shaping international water and environmental policy at the highest levels.
Her prior experience includes serving as Deputy Director of the Land and Water Division at the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), where she led multi-national initiatives to operationalize ESG strategies in agricultural systems. At the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), she was the Senior International Water Advisor, contributing to groundbreaking initiatives on water reuse, climate adaptation, and One Health. Sasha also advised the Millennium Challenge Corporation on sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure finance.
Earlier in her career, Sasha contributed significantly to environmental economics and lifecycle assessments at the OECD, pioneering methodologies that have shaped regulatory and sustainability frameworks worldwide. Her foundational years were spent in global environmental consulting firms, including EA Engineering and Environ (now Ramboll), where she worked on complex environmental impact assessments and compliance programs for industrial and extractive sectors.
A prolific contributor to science and policy dialogue, Sasha has authored or contributed to over 100 international publications, including UN Water Development Reports, WHO-FAO Wastewater Guidelines, and UN-Water One Health Frameworks. She has delivered hundreds of keynote presentations and public speaking engagements worldwide, influencing discourse on water financing, biodiversity offsetting, digital governance, and sustainable land management.
Sasha is a skilled communicator, fluent in English and Chinese, and professionally proficient in French, Italian, and Japanese. Her linguistic capability enhances her global engagement, particularly in multi-stakeholder dialogues involving governments, development banks, the private sector, and civil society. Her international exposure includes work in over 70 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe.
Academically, Sasha holds graduate credentials in Environmental Health Sciences from Yale University, with additional education at Goucher College and Johns Hopkins University. Her training has equipped her with the cross-sector knowledge necessary to bridge science, policy, and financing for sustainable solutions. She continues to mentor emerging leaders in environmental policy, with a particular passion for fostering inclusion and diversity in global governance.
Personally, Sasha is passionate about classical art and sports—particularly tennis, swimming, and golf—which reflect her dynamic and disciplined approach to leadership. She believes deeply in the power of global collaboration and innovation to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental and food security challenges.
Character:
Sasha is purpose-driven, combining compassion for people and the planet with the rigor of science and governance. Her personal integrity and diplomatic acumen have earned her trust among peers and international leaders alike.
Knowledge:
With 35+ years of deep, multidisciplinary experience, Sasha brings unparalleled insight into water management, environmental sustainability, public health, and ESG finance. She blends scientific literacy with applied strategy to address complex global challenges.
Strategic:
Sasha excels in high-level systems thinking and strategic foresight, helping organizations align sustainability with long-term business development. She has consistently delivered actionable frameworks for global institutions and startups alike.
Communication:
A multilingual and engaging communicator, Sasha connects across cultural and institutional boundaries. Her ability to translate technical and policy language into clear strategies has empowered cross-sector collaborations in over 70 countries.
