Igor Zektser was born in Moscow in 1937 and has a long career as a hydrogeologist. He graduated as Doctor of Science in 1975 and was granted professorial status in 1982. Since 1972 he has been the Head of Laboratory of the Water Problems Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

His special interests are in groundwater resources and water balance studies and he is currently working on urban groundwater issues and assessment of vulnerability. He has been active in IAH and IAHS for many years and is currently President of the Russian National Committee of IAHS. He has worked extensively as an advisor to UNESCO. He has published 95 scientific papers and written or contributed to 13 books, the latest of these being on Groundwater Resources of the World (editor) and Submarine Groundwater (co-author).

Vice President: Eastern Europe and Central Asia