Sophie Bhalla is a researcher, policy advisor, and mediator with expertise in international cooperation, environmental governance, and conflict resolution. She has extensive experience working with governments, local institutions, and communities on sustainable resource management, with a particular focus on water governance and collective action. Her research explores the social, cultural, and institutional factors that drive communities to collaborate on natural resource use and management. She has led projects across Africa, Asia, and North America, working closely with rural farming communities to understand behaviours, norms, and emotional responses to groundwater depletion. Her work integrates interdisciplinary methodologies, ranging from ethnographic inquiry to biophysical modelling, to provide holistic insights into environmental decision-making. Sophie holds a PhD from the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford. In addition to her research, she is a trained mediator specialising in restorative listening circles and alternative dispute resolution. She is passionate about fostering dialogue, providing guidance for individuals and communities as they reflect on their perspectives and values, and supporting them in advocating for their needs.