Ekta Patel
Senior Policy Analyst, Water Program
Ekta joined EPIC in 2025 as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Water Program. Previously, she served as a Water and Policy Advisor at USAID, where she developed strategies to advance water security and provided technical assistance to water, sanitation, and hygiene projects, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Her experience spans water management in the western US, desalination, infrastructure financing, and US and international water governance. Earlier in her career, Ekta was a business analyst and product designer at an education technology start-up. She holds a PhD in Environmental Policy from Duke University and a BA with honors in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University.
Get to Know Me Further
I was born in Nairobi and raised in metro Atlanta — both places I call home, and both places with unique water realities. From unreliable supply to boil advisories and aging pipes, these challenges sparked my fascination with improving public services. I’ve spent the last decade pursuing this mission through political campaigns, academic research, and international development work. In my spare time, I enjoy long-form journalism, sci-fi books, international films, soccer, and motor racing (Formula 1 and water policy have more in common than one would think). Summer gardening and inventing new food recipes also bring me joy. I’m currently based in Washington, DC.