Mark Oelmann

Professor Mark Oelmann is Professor of Energy and Water Economics and Head of the Bachelor's program "Business Administration - Energy and Water Management" at the Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences in Mülheim an der Ruhr since 2011. He serves as spokesperson for the university's interdisciplinary research focus area "Water Economics and Water Management" and is partner and managing director of MOcons, the first consulting firm spun off from the university. Professor Oelmann maintains extensive international connections through the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and has served on the Advisory Panel of England's water regulatory authority OFWAT.

Professor Oelmann's research focuses on economic questions in water and energy management, incentive-compatible regulatory frameworks for water sectors in emerging countries, benchmarking and tariff models, institutional and regulatory economics, and digitalization in water management. His work bridges academic research with practical applications, as evidenced by his 25+ years of industry experience in the water sector and related network industries.

His recent publications (2021-2009) demonstrate a consistent focus on digital transformation in water management, international water issues across diverse geographical contexts, and regulatory frameworks for efficient water service provision. The publications show increasing attention to digitalization trends while maintaining core expertise in water economics and regulatory models.

• Ehrhardt-Imelmann Research Prize by the University of Cologne

Professor Oelmann actively advises government bodies including the German Bundestag and Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and serves on multiple expert committees including the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) and the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA). His practical experience spans investment banking at Deutsche Bank AG, management consulting at Capgemini, and department leadership at the Scientific Institute for Infrastructure and Communication Services (WIK).

Professor Oelmann leads the Water Economics and Water Management research focus area at Ruhr West University and is chairman of the advisory board of the Competence Center for Digital Water Management. His international engagement includes a recent three-month research stay at the University of Cape Town (2024) and long-term work in countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.