Er. Sanju Lamichhane is an emerging leader in Nepal’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector with a background in civil engineering. She currently serves as Senior Divisional Engineer and Chief of the Planning and Disaster Management Section at the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management (DWSSM), Government of Nepal.

Her expertise spans WASH sector planning, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, water quality management and sustainable infrastructure development. She has contributed to several national policies and strategic initiatives, including the National Cholera Elimination Plan (2026–2030), climate-resilient WASH programming, sector planning and monitoring systems, and emergency preparedness.

Er. Lamichhane has been serving as the National Focal Person for the Sustainable WASH for All (SUSWA) programme, a EUR 31 million initiative jointly funded by the Governments of Finland and Nepal with support from the European Union. In this role, she coordinates programme implementation across Karnali Province, strengthening climate-resilient and inclusive WASH services through collaboration with provincial and local governments, development partners, and sector stakeholders.

Beyond her government responsibilities, she serves as the General Secretary of the 12th Executive Committee of the Society of Public Health Engineers, Nepal (SOPHEN) and Partnership and Outreach Coordinator of the International Water Association Young Water Professionals (IWA YWP) Nepal. She is passionate about advancing professional collaboration, youth leadership and sustainable WASH systems through strong partnerships and evidence-based policymaking.