Willi Struckmeier has worked with IAH since he began his professional career in 1975 as a scientific coordinator of the International Hydrogeological Map of Europe, in Krefeld and Hannover, Germany. He has been active in IAH as Chair of the Commission for Hydrogeological Maps (1981-present), Treasurer (1996-2004), Vice-President Western Europe (2004-2006) and Secretary General (2006-present). He has worked for numerous hydrogeological mapping projects all over the world, both at international and national scale, e.g. in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe, as well as Indonesia, Jordan, Cyprus, Algeria, Botswana and Namibia. He is currently a director for International Cooperation, Groundwater at BGR, the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources. He has published several books, more than 60 papers and about 20 hydrogeological maps.

Personal statement

Within the next four years the IAH must strengthen its role as the most prominent non-governmental organisation for groundwater world-wide and must improve its impact to the political agenda on global, continental, regional, international and national levels. IAH must at the same time maintain or even improve the high scientific standard of its Journal and other publications, and focus on translating the collective knowledge about groundwater and its management into policy recommendations, best practice guides and research priorities.

IAH having just celebrated its 50th anniversary, it will be also necessary to revisit and consolidate the internal structures of IAH for efficiency, continue the discussion about options and priorities for cooperation with other important players in the field of water and increase the visibility and outreach of the Association – thereby safeguarding the satisfaction and commitment of its members.

President