Dr Shagun is an environmental engineer and water scientist from India, whose early research on water quality and community health in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region shaped her commitment to protecting water resources and the communities that depend on them. She works across the water sector, focusing on satellite remote sensing, water quality modelling and urban stormwater management.

Shagun completed her PhD in Environmental Engineering at Deakin University, where she investigated the influence of climate on urban stormwater quality modelling across temperate and tropical catchments, with findings published in Water Research and the Journal of Hydrology. She then joined Western University, Canada, as a Postdoctoral Associate, assessing the performance of low impact development and stormwater infrastructure in cold climates using hydraulic modelling and statistical analysis.

As an Associate Lecturer and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Water Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Shagun is applying satellite remote sensing to broader water quality challenges. Through collaborations with Melbourne Water, Hunter Water and CSIRO, she contributes to research on harmful algal bloom detection, wetland vegetation and turbidity monitoring, and the harmonisation of multi-sensor satellite data. Her work aims to provide scalable, evidence-based tools that support water utilities in managing water quality and protecting public and environmental health