Stefano Burchi is the Executive Chairman of the International Association for Water Law (AIDA). He is an internationally recognised expert in comparative and international water law. From 1983 to 2008, he served in the Development Law Service of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization where he concluded his tenure as Service Chief. At FAO, Mr Burchi served as in-house legal expert and advisor on domestic and international water law to FAO member countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. His work included reviewing, analysing, and drafting principal and subsidiary water resources legislation, as well as advising on legal and institutional mechanisms related to transboundary freshwaters. In addition, Mr Burchi advised various organisations and programs on global and transboundary water issues, including the UN International Law Commission, UNESCO/ISARM Programme, and the World Bank.

Mr Burchi has authored numerous publications on water resources law and administration, including FAO Legislative Study Nos. 52 and 80 on "Preparing national regulations for water resources management: Principles and Practice", and Legislative Study No. 86 on "Groundwater in International Law: Compilation of Treaties and Other Legal Instruments". Since 1995, he has contributed an annual Fresh Water section to the "Year in Review" feature of the Yearbook of International Environmental Law, and since 2001, an annual Year-End-Review to the Journal of Water Law.

Mr Burchi holds an LLB from La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, an LLM from Harvard Law School, and an MS from the University of Michigan.