Surabhi Karambelkar

Role: Panelist, Speaker

Surabhi Karambelkar is the Policy Director of the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI), a national non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the impacts of hydropower generation and supporting projects that prioritizes environmental, recreational, historical, and cultural resource protection. Surabhi leads the organization’s policy efforts to integrate LIHI’s Low Impact Hydropower Certification Program into the everchanging energy and climate policy landscape with the goal of fostering river stewardship while delivering economic benefits to Low Impact Certified® hydropower projects. She has extensive experience in policy advocacy, the water-energy nexus, and public interest representation in utility proceedings. Surabhi has successfully advocated for energy and climate policies, including passing renewable portfolio standards that prioritize socio-environmentally responsible hydropower. She has also advanced progressive utility policies related to customer bill affordability, access to high-speed broadband, and eliminating digital discrimination. Prior to joining LIHI, Surabhi worked on water and energy projects in South Asia and Latin America and most recently, spearheaded the Policy Section of the Communications and Water Policy Branch of the Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission. She holds a PhD from the University of Arizona and an MSc from University College London.