Kisvárdai, Gábor

Head of Secretariat of the Vice-President for Water Services and Waste Regulation
Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (MEKH)
Hungary

Gábor Kisvárdai is a recognized water professional. He is a lawyer by profession and an expert in international relations. He also has a master’s degree in public policy and management. When the newly established water regulator was set up in 2012 in Hungary, he participated in the review of water operators and issued the first operational licences to the companies. He became an advisor for the vice-president in 2015 and later the head of secretariat of the office of the vice-president for public utilities. Currently, he is the leader of the team reforming the water regulator’s data collection process and strategy. Since 2021, he is a guest lecturer at the National University for Public Services in Budapest where he gives several classes regarding the fundamental aspects of water regulation and financing the water sector.

Most recently he is focused on international issues and the cooperation of water regulators. He is also conducting researches regarding the independence of regulatory agencies and behavioural economics. His experience and professional knowledge is recognized on an international level as well. He served as the member of WAREG Secretariat from 2015 until 2021. Currently he leads the Water Governance Task Force within the organization. He is a constant presenter at training courses (ERRA water training courses and TAIEX program) and several international fora and conferences (World Bank Danube Water Program, IWA conferences, OECD Network of Economic Regulators and Water Governance Initiative).