June 27, 2024

WestWater Welcomes Oliver Browne as California Regional Director

We are excited to announce the newest addition to the WestWater Research team, Dr. Oliver Browne, who will be serving as the California Regional Director. Oliver brings a wealth of expertise and experience in water resource economics, making him an invaluable asset to our organization and clients.

In his role at WestWater Research, Dr. Browne will utilize his extensive background in economic theory and econometric data analysis to guide clients on water markets, water supply reliability, and the regional benefits and costs of water resource projects and policies. He has advised a diverse range of clients on these issues, including private businesses, utilities, municipalities, state and federal agencies, and legal counsel.

Oliver’s journey to WestWater Research is marked by a series of notable academic and consulting positions. Prior to joining us, he held senior consultant roles at several leading economic consulting firms, where he specialized in water resource economics, natural resource damages, and competition matters. His over a decade of consulting experience has equipped him with the insights and skills necessary to tackle the complex challenges faced by our clients.

In addition to his consulting career, Dr. Browne has made significant contributions to academia. He has taught courses in water resource economics and computational economics as a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Chicago. His academic work has been published in leading academic journals, including The Review of Economics and Statistics, the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Energy Economics, and Energy Policy.

Oliver holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago and undergraduate degrees in engineering science and economics, both with first-class honours, from the University of Auckland. His educational background and professional experience make him uniquely qualified to lead our efforts in California.

“We are thrilled to welcome Oliver to the WestWater team as our California Regional Director. With his extensive expertise in water resource economics and a proven track record of advising a diverse range of clients, Oliver brings a wealth of knowledge and insight that will greatly benefit our organization and clients. We look forward to the innovative and impactful contributions he will make to our team,” said Clay Landry, CEO of WestWater Research.

Dr. Browne also shared his enthusiasm about joining WestWater Research, stating, “As the new California Regional Director at WestWater Research, I look forward to working with new and existing clients to address the many and growing water supply challenges the state faces. I am excited to join a firm with unparalleled leadership and expertise in this area.”

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Oliver Browne to WestWater Research. We are confident that his leadership and expertise will drive continued success and growth for our clients and our team.

 

Oliver Browne

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Environmental, Agricultural, and Resource Economics
  • Applied Econometrics
  • Water Supply Reliability Forecasting & Planning
  • Economic Analysis of Projects
  • Water Markets

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. Economics, University of Chicago, 2018
  • B.A. (Honours), Economics, University of Auckland, 2011
  • B.E. (Honours), Engineering Science, University of Auckland, 2010

EXPERIENCE

  • Associate Director, Berkeley Research Group, LLC, 2022-2024
  • Senior Associate, The Brattle Group, 2018-2022
  • Researcher, Urban Energy And Environment Lab, University of Chicago, 2015-2018
  • Researcher, The Energy Center, University of Auckland, 2010 – 2013
  • Lecturer, Water Resource Economics, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Berkeley, 2020
  • Lecturer, Computational Economics, University of Chicago, 2016