Dr. Jessica Williams is Assistant Lecturer at the Centre for Civil Society and Governance in the Faculty of Social Sciences. She holds an LLB in Law from the University of Exeter and a Master of Science (International Relations) from Cardiff University. She received a Ph.D. in Social Sciences from the University of Hong Kong. Her research interests lie in environmental policy, collaborative governance and sustainability. Her doctoral research focused on the transboundary water security issues in South and Southeast Asia, in particular, the governance and management of the major river systems originating from the Tibetan Plateau. Her current focus is on the governance of rural areas and communities, with a focus on sustainability issues.