Nora Balboni

I’m a Principal Consultant at Aegaea and Team Lead of our FRA and SuDS team. I am a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (C.WEM), and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) with 10 years of experience helping diverse clients in both the private and public sectors navigate the complexities of water management. My career has taken me from leading strategic flood risk assessments for local authorities to coordinating sustainable infrastructure for conservation-led masterplans internationally. As Team Lead at Aegaea, I now focus on flood risk and SuDS for both small and large scale projects across the UK, acting as both technical lead and line manager. I thrive on driving forward best practices and delivering resilient, innovative solutions that deliver development while protecting communities and the environment.

How I can help you

• Strategic Project Management: I manage complex, multi-disciplinary projects from inception to planning submission, balancing programme, commercial performance, team coordination, and client expectations to achieve successful outcomes.
• Holistic Water Management: I can advise on a wide range of water-related challenges, from site due diligence and development feasibility assessments to flood risk, SuDS, sequential testing, and nutrient neutrality to support planning applications.
• Policy and Compliance Guidance: Drawing on my experience working in the public sector, as a Water Policy Officer for the Greater London Authority (GLA), I provide specialist advice on meeting local and national planning objectives.
• Innovative SuDS Design: I specialise in sustainable drainage strategies that go beyond traditional methods, finding creative discharge solutions for sites with significant constraints.

Expertise in action

• Turning constraints into opportunities (Thurrock, Essex): I led the Flood Risk Assessment for a 69-unit residential development where shallow groundwater was identified as a potential constraint. Working closely with the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), I facilitated evidence-based discussions to demonstrate that groundwater risks could be appropriately managed and were unlikely to present a significant issue for the scheme. Through proactive stakeholder engagement and clear communication with both the authorities and the project team, we successfully agreed that groundwater monitoring was not required, avoiding unnecessary programme delays and additional project costs.
• Electric Vehicle Charging Flood Risk Appraisals (Various Locations across South East England): I acted as Client Account Manager and Project Lead for a programme of flood risk appraisals across several proposed EV charging locations on Affinity Water sites. This involved analysing a range of flood risk datasets, undertaking site visits to verify findings, and providing practical advice on site suitability and appropriate mitigation measures. By identifying viable locations and managing flood risk constraints, I helped facilitate the delivery of sustainable EV charging infrastructure for a large number of users.
• Development in Flood Zone 3 (West Lancashire): I managed the hydraulic modelling, drainage strategy, and Flood Risk Assessment for a 24-home development on a site located within Flood Zone 3. This involved balancing planning policy requirements, development aspirations, and technical flood risk and drainage constraints to develop a viable, resilient scheme that secured approval from the Environment Agency.
• Commercial Development in London (Brixton): I led the flood risk, surface water, and foul drainage design for a proposed hotel development in Brixton on an extremely constrained urban site. Working within significant spatial and infrastructure limitations, I helped embed sustainability into the scheme through the integration of blue-green roofs and water reuse measures, delivering a practical and resilient drainage strategy.
• Urban Regeneration (London): I acted as the sustainable drainage and flood risk lead for the landmark redevelopment of Stag Brewery, enlivening the Riverside frontage and creating vibrant, flood-resilient links between the town and the River Thames.
• Conservation-Led Infrastructure (Saudi Arabia): I coordinated the sustainable infrastructure strategy for a cutting-edge nature reserve masterplan based on 100% renewable and climate-resilient principles.
• Environmentally Sensitive Drainage (East Sussex): I collaborated with Natural England and the Forestry Commission at Downlands Farm to design an innovative surface water solution that conserved the unique hydrological characteristics of Ancient Woodland.
• National Infrastructure Schemes (HS2 & A46): I have led drainage and environmental impact assessments for major national projects, including route optimization for High Speed Rail 2 and junction upgrades in high-risk flood zones

A bit about me

I’ve lived in London since 2011, having moved from Switzerland to study Environmental Engineering. I’ve always had a passion for water, whether that’s swimming in it, cycling or walking alongside it, living near it, or designing it into the built environment through my 10-year career in flood risk and SuDS.

Beyond being a flood risk and SuDS nerd, I’m also a qualified yoga teacher, although I prefer to keep yoga as a personal passion for now. Being half Italian and half German, I can also help with (most) European language needs, so I’m always happy to assist where I can.