In a dry continent, with increasing climate extremes, declining biodiversity and growing water demands, is Australia’s water R&D ready?

In October 2024, our panel of expert presenters discussed Australia’s water research and development (R&D) capability.

You can watch the recording via the Australian Water School.

They explored questions such as:

• What are some big research successes of the past?
• What are the big future water opportunities and challenges? 
• How can the national water R&D capability be strengthened?

They discussed the broad range of water research disciplines and research targeting both public benefit and for commercialisation by the private sector. The strength of water R&D is not just about the scale of research investment it is also research culture and the relationship between organisations required to deliver impact. There is a growing awareness of the need for challenge-led approach to research and innovation with strong partnerships across research, government and private sector. 

Our panellists for the session were:

• Mike Stewardson, CEO, One Basin CRC
• Karen Rouse, CEO, Water Research Australia
• Bradley Moggridge, A/Associate Dean (indigenous), University of Technology Sydney
• Katherine Daniell, Interim Director, School of Cybernetics & Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society
• Seth Westra, Director of Research, One Basin CRC
• Guy Roth, Director Northern Region Agriculture, the University of Sydney