Hunt Named Among the 75 Most Influential People in Hydropower

Dina Hunt, PE

In recognition of her advocacy for dam safety and seismic engineering, International Water Power and Dam Construction (IWP&DC) magazine has named GFT Vice President and Chief Earthquake Hazard Engineer Dina Hunt, PE, as one of the 75 most influential people in hydropower.

For nearly two decades, Hunt has leveraged her civil and geotechnical engineering background to develop extensive knowledge of seismic codes and design guidelines and perform seismology research. She excels in performing site-specific seismic hazard evaluations using probabilistic and deterministic approaches to aid dam owners in risk management and seismic resiliency. A sought-after thought leader, Hunt has authored several technical papers on seismic hazards and has held multiple leadership positions in the United States Society on Dams (USSD).

Currently, Hunt is completing the first year of her three-year term as president of USSD, a national organization dedicated to advancing dam and levee systems and building a community of practice. Under her leadership, USSD has:

• Formed the Committee on Climate Change for Dams and Reservoirs to address risks induced by extreme climate patterns and enhance resilience.
• Hosted over 800 dam and levee professionals at the 2024 USSD Annual Conference to explore topics such as risk-based dam and levee management, community awareness, and climate challenges.
• Launched a new website to promote continuing education opportunities and foster career paths for young professionals.

Hunt’s work in dam and levee safety supports the crucial role of dams in hydropower generation. Dams create reservoirs that provide the water to drive the turbines that generate electricity, providing a steady and reliable energy source and making hydropower one of the most consistent and renewable energy sources.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized among such distinguished leaders in the hydropower industry,” said Hunt. “Together, we are pushing the boundaries of innovation and resilience in dam and hydropower development to meet our future clean energy needs while safeguarding communities and preserving our natural environment.”

IWP&DC’s list of hydropower industry influencers includes pioneers of industry advancements, innovative thinkers in cutting-edge technologies, and champions of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Launched in 1949, IWP&DC is the leading monthly international publication on dam construction and hydroelectricity industry developments.