Dhesigen Naidoo is a leader, a scientist and activist for positive social change. He currently serves in Senior Advisory and Board roles in Water, Agriculture and Climate Change-related national and international entities.

He is a Senior Research Associate and Head of the African Climate Risk and Human Security Project at the Institute for Security Studies, Africa. He is a Board member and former President of the global NGO, HumanRight2Water, and a Founding Member of the Water Policy Group. He is on the Integrated Partnership Board of the CGIAR, the Boards of the International Potato Centre, World Fish (ICLARM) and the University of Stellenbosch School of Climate Studies. He was the Senior Climate Adaptation Advisor to the South African Presidential Climate Commission. He has a track record in Climate Change with an emphasis on Adaptation and a longer track record in Water. He was the CEO of the Water Research Commission (WRC), South Africa. He has also served in the South African Government as Deputy Director-General.