Bente Brunes is a Senior Hydropower specialist at the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank, where she leads the Hydropower Development Facility supporting countries across the globe in advancing hydropower initiatives at multiple scales, driving progress toward sustainable development and energy transition goals.

Bente brings over 15 years of experience in technical leadership, stakeholder engagement, strategy development and implementation, policy dialogue, and agenda setting. Her work spans diverse regional contexts including Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, where she has led multidisciplinary teams, managed complex projects, and facilitated high-level dialogues.

Bente has authored and led numerous global and regional publications, introducing innovative approaches tailored for both emerging and industrialized economies.  She holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.