Speakers, presenters and facilitators
The workshops offer an innovative approach to policy development and capacity building. This will be achieved by combining interactive, facilitated policy development sessions with technical information presentations from leading scientists working across water, climate, urban design, and social sciences.
Speakers and presenters:
- Associate Prof Rebekah Brown: Sociologist and Civil Engineer
- Mr Mark Pascoe: Executive Director, International Water Centre
- Prof Tony Wong: Civil Engineer & Urban Designer
- Prof Govert Geldof: Civil Engineer & Complex Systems Analyst
- Dr Megan Farrelly: Physical and Human Geographer
- Peter Morison: Social Scientist
- Prof Nigel Tapper: Climatologist
- Associate Prof Jason Beringer: Climatologist
- Associate Prof Ana Deletic: Civil Engineer
- MrTony Kelly: CEO, Yarra Valley Water
- Mr Francis Pamminger: Civil Engineer
- Mr Andre Taylor: Environmental and Social Scientist
Facilitators:
- Dr Kevin Collins: Environmental Scientist and Systems Thinker
- Professor Ray Ison: Sustainability and Systems Thinker
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Associate Professor Rebekah Brown: Sociologist and Civil Engineer Program Leader: National Urban Water Governance Program School of Geography and Environmental Science Monash University |
Rebekah is an Associate Professor within the School of Geography and Environmental Science and has specialised in environmental and sustainability issues, as a civil engineer and sociologist, over the last 17 years. Graduating at the top of her year in civil engineering, she was awarded the Australian Ove Arup & Partners Fellowship for Excellence in Engineering Studies. For the next eight years she worked as an engineering consultant advising on water management and design in major infrastructure projects such as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (UK) and the Bangkok Yannawa Wastewater Scheme (Thailand). Deciding to pursue her social science research interests, in 2003 she was awarded a PhD by the University of New South Wales focused on organisational sociology in the water sector.
Rebekah engages with interdisciplinary issues relating to institutional development and organisational change for advancing sustainable urban water futures. Through her leadership of the National Urban Water Governance Program she aims to provide a credible knowledge base for urban water strategists and policy-makers to support institutional capacity development, improve water governance and ultimately deliver more sustainable forms of water management. Her publications span socio-technical transition processes relating to adaptive governance and organisational leadership, and operational frameworks for institutional capacity building at different levels of environmental governance, and methods for interdisciplinary data collection techniques. Rebekah has been a Keynote Speaker at a number of international and local conferences, such as the: The 3rd International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design: Cities as Catchments in Adelaide 2004; The 10th International Conference on Urban Drainage in Copenhagen 2005, and The 5th South Pacific Stormwater Conference, 2007, in Auckland. In 2007, Rebekah was the recipient of the Monash University Vice Chancellor’s Early Career Researcher of the Year Award.
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Mark Pascoe: Adjunct Professor CEO, International WaterCentre |
Mark Pascoe has worked for more than 30 years of his career in the water industry – predominately in Brisbane, Australia. His professional background is in Applied Science and Environmental Engineering. He spent many years with Brisbane City Council where he was most recently the Manager, Water and Sewerage. Other roles in Brisbane City Council included Manager of Water Treatment and Manager of Wastewater Treatment. For a brief period in the mid 1990’s he worked for the environmental consultancy firm, Woodward-Clyde. He left the Brisbane City Council role to take up a position as Deputy Director, International Water Association in London, which he held for three years before returning to Brisbane early in 2005.
Mark has held positions of President, Australian Water Association; Board Member, Water Services Association of Australia; Board Member, Co-operative Research Centre, Water Quality and Treatment; Member of Panel for development of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines; Board Member, Global Water Research Coalition, Board Member of the Advanced Wastewater Management Centre, University of Queensland, and Advisory Board Member, UNEP International Environment Technology Centre, Osaka, Japan; Board Member, Environment Business Australia and Board Member of Western Corridor Water Recycling Pty Ltd. Mark is also an Adjunct Professor with the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture.
He is now CEO of International WaterCentre Pty Ltd where his role is to lead the development of the Joint Venture of The University of Queensland, Monash University, Griffith University and the University of Western Australia, in providing solutions to Water Management issues for national and international clients.
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Professor Tony Wong: Civil Engineer & Urban Designer Principal, EDAW Professor: School of Geography and Environmental Science Monash University |
Dr Tony Wong is a Principal of EDAW’s studio in Melbourne and Sydney and has over 25 years of experience in the fields of water resources engineering and management, advancing Ecologically Sustainable Development, particularly in integrated urban water cycle management and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). His expertise has been gained through consulting, research, and academia. Tony was formerly Associate Professor in Civil Engineering and led the Urban Stormwater Quality Research program of the former Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology at Monash University until 2003. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Facility for Advancing Water Biofiltration (2005) and an Honorary Professorial Fellow (2008) at Monash University.
Tony has led many innovative designs of stormwater quality improvement and water conservation/alternative water sources measures, and their integration into the urban form underpins WSUD as we know it in Australia today. Tony provides strategic advice to governments, and the land development industry, on sustainable urban water management and has led the development of many state and corporate policies on WSUD.
He has co-authored a number of book chapters for UNESCO and was Editor-in-Chief of Engineers Australia’s Book Australian Runoff Quality: A guide to Water Sensitive Urban Design, published in 2006.
He is currently a member of the Urban Water Advisory Group to the Australian Commonwealth Government’s National Water Commission and served on the Prime Minister’s Science Engineering and Innovation Council’s working group on Water for Cities in 2006-2007. He also chaired the IWA/IAHR International Working Group on WSUD between 2003 and 2008.
Tony was a founding partner and director of the consulting firm Ecological Engineering before the firm join EDAW in July 2007.
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Associate Professor Govert Geldof: Civil Engineer & Complex Systems Analyst Senior Consultant Water and Society Danish University of Technology |
Govert Geldof has been working at the frontiers of urban water management in Europe in the last twenty years and has introduced many techniques for Water Sensitive Urban Design in the Netherlands, both as scientist and practitioner. He calls himself a ‘Reflective Practitioner’, in the way described by Donald Schön.
Govert Geldof, studied Civil Engineering at the University of Technology in Delft from 1980 to 1986. After his study he focused primarily on the introduction integrated water urban management. Together with others he worked on the transition from ‘end of pipe’ technology to ‘source control’. Also, as an engineer, he discovered the beauty of (some) social sciences and felt the need to bridge the gap between technical and societal processes. This resulted in many nice practical projects and a PhD thesis about “Coping with Complexity in Integrated Water Management.” He has been working at consultancies in the Netherlands and at the University of Twente.
Now he has his own company and teaches ‘Environmental Ethics and Management’ at DTU, the Danish Technical University. He is involved in many European and Dutch research programmes, e.g. an innovative study about the role of experience knowledge (tacit knowledge) in water management. At this moment he involved in making a long term vision for the urban water cycle for the Dutch Ministry of Environment and develops strategies for water boards and municipalities to work together. He participated in the European policy development on “Water Scarcity and Drought” and is active in Syria and Iran on Integrated Water Demand Management.
Govert Geldof gives many presentations and workshops, mainly at the western part of Europe (England, Scotland, France, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands) and has also been addressing keynote speeches at conferences in Melbourne (2006), Brisbane (2006) and Auckland (2007). At the workshops in February he will bring in European experiences and new knowledge about making water attractive for citizens and politicians.
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National Urban Water Governance Program School of Geography and Environmental Science Monash University |
Over the last six years, Megan Farrelly has developed a strong background in applied social science research, examining complex governance issues in urban and rural environments. In 2006, Megan joined the National Urban Water Governance Program as a Research Fellow, based at Monash University. In her current role, Megan contributes to a variety of projects and engages with urban water professionals to understand the institutional complexities faced in their day-to-day operational experiences. She has also contributed to research investigating the appropriate institutional mechanisms required to support a citywide transition towards creating a water sensitive city. Megan currently leads a national research project investigating the role and importance of demonstration projects in the urban water sector for promoting institutional learning. She has undertaken extensive interviewing (over 150 individuals) in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, and conducted detailed reviews of twelve ‘demonstration projects’ (e.g. Inkerman Oasis, Melbourne; Wungong Urban Water Project, Perth; Payne Road, Brisbane). Drawing on this varied experience, Megan has provided policy advice to governments around the need for advancing more sustainable urban water management practices. Furthermore, Megan has presented on key research findings of the NUWGP at numerous national and international forums.
Megan has broad professional experience and interest in sustainable urban water management, sustainable cities, integrated environmental planning and management, policy formulation and evaluation, institutional capacity building and community engagement and participation. She is a member of the Australian Water Association, the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, and the Institute of Australian Geographers.
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Peter Morison: Social Scientist National Urban Water Governance Program School of Geography and Environmental Science Monash University |
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Professor Nigel Tapper: Climatologist Head, School of Geography and Environmental Science Monash University |
Professor Nigel Tapper holds a Personal Chair in Environmental Science at Monash University where he is currently Head of the School of Geography and Environmental Science.
Until February 2007 he was Foundation Director of the Monash Sustainability Institute, a University research institute responsible for facilitating and coordinating Monash-wide research across the key themes of Climate, Water, Energy, Biodiversity and Transport. He was also Joint Coordinator of the Monash Atmospheric Science Program until 2006.
Nigel has current research interests in surface- atmosphere interaction, climate change and variability and climate impacts, including urban environments and fire. He is particularly known for his work on the meteorology and climatology of Australia’s arid zone and seasonally wet tropics and for his collaborative work on the climate dynamics of the maritime continent (the vast area of tropical ocean and islands lying to the north of Australia that plays a critical role in Australia’s climate).
He has been a Chief Investigator/ Project Leader on a number of international meteorological field experiments in the region, including AMEX (Australian Monsoon Experiment), MCTEX (Maritime Continent Field Experiment), and more recently TWP-ICE (Tropical Warm Pool – International Cloud Experiment), CAFÉ (Central Australian Fronts Experiment), GLEX (Gulf Lines Experiment) and SAFE (the Savanna Fire Experiment) that has demonstrated the strong links between fire and climate in the Australian tropical savannas. In October 2007 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was jointly awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize (shared with former US Vice-President Al Gore).
Nigel, along with many other scientists contributed to the work of the IPCC that lead to the award of that prize. Nigel is co-author of the classic text on Australian climate and weather (Sturman, A. and Tapper, N., The Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand, Oxford University Press, 2nd edn. 2005), and recently co-edited Bridging Wallace's Line: Environmental and Human History and Dynamics of the Southeast Asian-Australian Region (Springer-Verlag, 2002). He has also had two other books, ten book chapters and over 100 research publications in an academic career spanning nearly 25 years. He has held ARC competitive funding almost continuously since 1985.
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Associate Professor Jason Beringer: Climatologist
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Ecosystems provide us with essential services such as carbon sequestration, water, clean air and biodiversity, valued at US$33 trillion globally. Jason’s research is aimed at understanding how vegetation responds to climate and land-use change (including urbanisation), which is a fundamental perquisite for their future management. Jason leads an integrated multidisciplinary research program that evaluates the sustainability of ecosystem services and health. He has demonstrated success in assessing the interaction between the urban landscape, climate change and vegetation. He has worked on the Urban Heat Island effect and more recently has developed a framework for assessing the multiple benefits of urban vegetation in terms of improved urban water cycles, carbon sequestration, improved local climate and better air quality. He also has skills in assessing carbon sequestration in native and managed vegetated systems. His research program will develop new observational sites and novel technologies, including advanced modelling, to predict the responses of Australian ecosystems to environmental change and provide options for sustainable ecosystem management at both a regional and national scales. Outcomes of Jason’s research include options for managing ecosystems for multiple benefits including carbon sequestration, water yield and enhancing biodiversity. Since 2000 he has produced 41 peer reviewed publications, 50 international and national conference presentations (including 6 invited), 28 research students (honours, PhD) and 4 post-doctoral researchers, and successful grants totaling $4.368 million (plus another $1.95 million in ARC networks).
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Professor Ana Deletic: Civil Engineer Co-Director, Institute for Sustainable Water Resources Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Monash University |
Ana is a Professor in Water Engineering within Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University. She is currently Director of Research of the Department, as well as the Deputy Director of the Institute for Sustainable Water Research (ISWR) that coordinates water research within Faculty of Engineering. She is also Research Manager of the Facility for Advancing Water Biofiltration (FAWB) that is a $4.3 million research venture between Monash University and EDAW Australia (that includes over 20 researchers and PhD students from three Monash Faculties and a number of industry partners).
Ana became involved in urban water research in the early ‘90s, while working on characterisation and modelling of stormwater runoff in Belgrade (Yugoslavia) and Lund (Sweden). She became Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) in 1995, where she focused her research on sustainable stormwater management. While leading a small research team, she also completed her own PhD on modelling sediment behaviour in runoff over grassed areas (awarded in 2001). Since 2003, when she moved to Monash University, she attracted as a lead or co-lead investigator approximately AU$7.5 million to conduct research on: (1) investigation and modelling of clogging of infiltration systems, (2) technical recommendations for stormwater re-use, (3) large scale monitoring and modeling of stormwater in Melbourne, (4) modelling surface stormwater treatment systems, (5) aquifer storage and recovery, (6) modelling pathogens in drinking water catchments, (7) characterisation and modelling of pathogens in stormwater, (8) development of filters for stormwater treatment, (9) efficiency of porous pavements, and (10) uncertainties in stormwater modeling. She has supervised 14 PhD students, of which 4 already graduated, and 2 recently submitted. She published over 100 scientific publications, while also consulting on various urban water topics in Australia, UK and Yugoslavia.
Ana is an elected member and current treasurer of the Joint Committee on Urban Drainage (JCUD) that manages one of the largest specialist groups of IWA (International Water Association) and IAHR (International Association of Hydraulic Research). She is the Chair of the Working Group on Data and Models (that works under JCUD), and the Australian representative on the Committee of Sewer Systems and Processes Working Group. Ana co-chaired the UNESCO Urban Water Data Management IHP VI project, as well as the joint Int. 7th Urban Drainage Modelling and 4th Water Sensitive Urban Design Conference, held in 2006 in Melbourne. She won the Dean's Award for Excellence in Engineering Research in 2008.
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Yarra Valley Water |
Tony, a civil engineer, has spent nearly 30 years in the water industry with extensive experience in planning, design and construction roles as well as key roles in strategic planning. As a strategic planner he has been involved in major utility reforms including water authority mergers, corporatisation, pricing, and contracting out.
Since joining Yarra Valley Water Ltd at its inception in 1995, Tony has held four General Manager positions covering engineering, billing, marketing and business strategy. Tony was appointed Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water in January 2003.
Tony chairs WaterAid Australia, an international charity that aims to provide clean, safe drinking water and sanitation services to developing countries. He is also Chairman of savewater Alliance, a not for profit alliance promoting water conservation.
Tony chaired the Victorian Water industry Association’s Sustainability Task Group which produced the Triple Bottom Line Reporting Guidelines for the water industry in 2002, played an important role in producing the Greenhouse Gas Guidelines for the Victorian water industry in 2006 and established an annual sustainability seminar and a training course in sustainability in partnership with RMIT.
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Mr Francis Pamminger: Civil Engineer Sustainability Manager, Yarra Valley Water |
Francis Pamminger is the Research and Innovation Manager at Yarra Valley Water. He has 28 years experience in the water industry. Francis has an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and post graduate qualifications in Engineering and Water Supply, Water Resources, and Business. He has a diverse range of professional experience spanning groundwater projects, flood studies, yield analyses, and environmental flows, together with his present experience in the urban water industry. Francis has now been with Yarra Valley Water for eleven years and in that time has worked in Asset Management, Water Quality, and Business Strategy positions.
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Mr André Taylor: Environmental and Social Scientist National Urban Water Governance Program School of Geography and Environmental Science Monash University |
André Taylor (B.Sc. Hons, MEM) is a full-time PhD student with the National Urban Water Governance Research Program at Monash University (2006-09) and also a consultant. His PhD is investigating the leadership dimensions of sustainable urban water management. Specifically, André is using leadership-related research techniques to investigate emergent leaders (sometimes called 'champions') who operate as change agents in Australian water agencies to accelerate the adoption of sustainable urban water management. He is also using knowledge about these leaders and the leadership process to develop practical guidance on ways to build leadership capacity within urban water agencies and assist the transition towards more ‘water sensitive cities’.
André has 17 years of experience in the fields of environmental management and specifically urban water and waterway management. His expertise has been gained through working in five Australian States for consultancies, State government, local government and academia. His areas of expertise currently include:
o Leadership research and development.
o Urban water cycle policy, strategic planning, governance and capacity building.
o Urban stormwater and water quality management.
o Non-structural urban stormwater management measures.
o Life cycle costing and triple-bottom-line assessment.
Facilitators
Dr Kevin Collins: Environmental Scientist and Systems Thinker Director, Open Systems Research Group The Open University, UK
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Dr Kevin Collins is a Research Fellow in the Department of Communications and Systems at the Open University in the UK. He is also Director of the Open Systems Research Group in the Department which engages in applied use of systems approaches for decision-making. An environmental scientist and geographer by training, Kevin is a highly experienced systems thinker and practitioner. The focus of his work is on developing systems approaches for water resource managing, working with government agencies, private sector and communities at policy and practice levels. He has international experience of designing and facilitating learning systems for improving natural resource managing.
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Professor Ray Ison: Sustainability and Systems Thinker Systems for Sustainability School of Geography and Environmental Science Monash University |
Professor Ray Ison holds chairs at Monash University, where he is Professor, Systems for Sustainability (located in the School of Geography and Environmental Science) and the Open University (UK) where he has been Professor of Systems since 1994. At Monash his research contributes to the activities of Monash Sustainability Institute and Uniwater. Ray has an established international reputation in Systems scholarship in relation to natural resource management issues including water. His work is relevant to how we act in a climate change world – he is currently working on a book entitled ‘How to act in a climate change world: systems practice, systemic inquiry and action research’. Through his research, teaching and consultancy he has made significant contributions in the areas of systems practice and social learning, systemic environmental decision making, ‘knowledge transfer’, design of learning/inquiring systems and agricultural systems. His work has found practical application in diverse fields including water management, organisational change, staff induction, Higher Education reform and rural development. His recent work with colleagues elucidates through empirical, theoretical and systemic-design research how social learning could be employed as an alternative governance mechanism for managing in complex, or ‘wicked’ situations, particularly water catchments and other multiple stakeholder settings.
