As a legal expert specialising in water resource, sanitation and water supply management, service governance and people’s rights to access these services, Laure-Elise has been involved in case studies in countries such as South Africa, Bangladesh and South Korea. Awarded a Young Water Leader prize during her Master’s studies, she continued her research by focusing on the national and cross-border issues raised by the Mekong River dams. Working in both basin organisation countries (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam) and neighbouring countries (China, Myanmar), she used an inter-connected approach to examine the issues posed by these dams and explore their environmental, social and economic impacts on governance, national and international law and resource management. She particularly focused on the social impacts and studied the resettlement provisions put in place for affected communities, as well as the institutional and legal measures available to help affected communities advocate for their water rights the event of cross-border issues. A strong believer in sustainable development, Laure-Elise advocated for compromise when responding to the economic, social and environmental problems associated with these major dam investment programmes.

Laure-Elise has published a number of academic papers and spoke at the 17th World Water Congress, highlighting the issues created by dams, both in Asia and Africa, while recommending tangible adjustments to sustainable development and hydropower policy.

Having built up extensive experience of raising awareness and lobbying on domestic water use, she joined the Water For Life and Peace department of the NGO Greencross International, where she helped formulate a project to improve management of the Jordan river basin. Laure-Elise ensured that the project took an inclusive and eco-systemic approach to river basin management, which included all its stakeholders, issues and governance levels. As a member of AIDA, she occasionally represents the association at UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme. In 2025, Laure-Elise joined Hydroconseil, where she is providing support to our Global Development Group clients using her skills in comparative analysis and adaptation to improve water resource institutional set-ups and governance.