Nethmi Jayaratne Kariyawasam

Advancing Global Heat Risk Assessments: From Exposure Metrics to Integrated Approaches

Nethmi is a DPhil student at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and the Future of Cooling Programme at the Oxford Martin School. Her research focuses on employing climate modelling and interdisciplinary risk assessment methods to develop integrated approaches for understanding climate-related risk and societal vulnerability, particularly in the context of extreme heat and inequity.

She was recently selected as an SDG Impact Lab Fellow in collaboration with the BMW Group and MINI UK, contributing to sustainability-focused innovation initiatives. Prior to her doctoral studies, Nethmi graduated with a BArch (Hons) in Architecture from the University of Moratuwa, receiving a Gold Medal for the highest overall GPA and two academic awards from the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects for outstanding academic performance. She also received a transfer scholarship to MSA Germany, where she engaged in sustainable design initiatives, and her final-year research was nominated for the RIBA President's Medals.

Nethmi has previously worked as an Assistant Architect, where she gained professional experience implementing sustainable design practices. She represented young architecture professionals as a delegate at the Royal Institute of British Architects Sri Lanka chapter and at the National Youth Dialogue on leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She has also contributed to sustainability education in design as an international jury member and advisor at the INSPIRELI Awards and as part of the project team at the Climate Hub initiative at MSA Germany.