Water Quality Advisory Committee 2026–2028

• Previously Deputy Director, Curtin Water Quality Research Centre, Curtin University. The Curtin Water Quality Research Centre was a Strategic Research Alliance with the Water Corporation of WA. Member representative for Curtin University to Water Research Australia. Currently, Professor and Leader of the Curtin Water Quality Research Group.
• Chief Investigator on past ARC Linkage projects on disinfection by-products in drinking water systems, and other drinking water and wastewater projects, with partner organisations Water Corporation of WA and WaterRA.
• Current, past and future projects funded by water utilities on wastewater treatment, water recycling, corrosion and metal concentrations in drinking water systems, and drinking water treatment and distribution, including formation of disinfection by-products and analysis of their concentrations in drinking water distribution systems.
• Published numerous research papers, conference publications, reports, books and book chapters on wastewater treatment, water recycling, source water quality and drinking water treatment and distribution, including disinfection by-products.
• Participation in national and international academic and industry conferences.
• Lectures at Curtin University on environmental chemistry, water chemistry and analytical chemistry
• Current, past and future projects funded by industry partners, government (for example, NESP) and CSIRO on PFAS in drinking waters, wastewaters, water recycling and manufactured and waste products.
• Received travel support from WaterRA to attend research meetings.

• Previous Chair of the Water Quality Advisory Committee (2022-2025)
• Living Labs lead at with the Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments (CRC SAAFE) (2024-).
• WHO Technical Advisory Group on Water Quality and Health (2015–current).
• Peter Teasdale Chair in Environmental Health Risk Assessment, University of South Australia (2023-2025).
• Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Environment, Southern Cross University (2019-2023).
• Research Professor, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Canada (2013-2019).
• Competitive grants received while working at University of Alberta (2013-2019), Southern Cross University (2019-2023), Queensland University of Technology (2025-). Numerous national and international research grants and collaborations.
• International Water Association Publishing, Editor in -chief, Journal of Water and Health. Voluntary role as part of my professional contributions as a Fellow of the International Water Association.
• Water Research Foundation (WRF) Academic Advisory Committee (2016-2019) and Project Advisory Committee (PAC, 2019-2022) for WRF 5040, Successful Implementation of Decentralized Reuse and Treatment Systems, PAC (2024-2026) for WRF 5218, Inactivation of amoeba-internalized Legionella pneumophila by UV-LED and multi-barrier approaches.
• Travel, accommodation and workshop paid by SUEZ CIRSEE (Paris) for role as a mentor for their Health and Environment postgraduate conference, Cannes, France June 26-28, 2023; June 24-26, 2024, and technical advisory team with four other invited senior academics across England, France and Australia.
• One of five water quality experts invited to mentor international postgraduate students engaged in water-related research who won scholarships to present at SUEZ CIRSEE (Paris, France) Health and Environment postgraduate conference, Cannes, France and provide updates on water quality research to SUEZ's technical team. SUEZ CIRSEE covered travel, accommodation and food expenses as for all invited participants.
• Royalties from patents managed by Macquarie University, Australia.
• Senior editor for HealthStream, a quarterly newsletter from WaterRA that summarizes international literature relevant to the drinking water industry and notes recent outbreaks or investigations.
• Partner works for company Water^3.
• Wastewater reuse consultancy. National Water Research Institute (NWRI) expert panel member for the City of San Francisco (2015-2016), Advisory Panel on Regulations for Onsite Treatment and Reuse of Non-potable Water for California State Water Board, NWRI Panel on Regulations for Onsite Treatment and Reuse of non-potable Water for California State Water Board (2020-21).

• Employed by the South Australian Department for Health and Wellbeing. The Department provides specialist advice and policy on public health aspects of water quality including management and provision of drinking water, management and use of recycled water and use of recreational waters.
• Member of the WHO Drinking Water Quality Committee (since 2021). Attendance of meetings of the Committee and associated expert working groups (e.g. small water supplies, microbial aspects, chemical aspects, microplastics). Attendance at WHO guideline development meetings on recreational use of water. Contributes to the preparation of addenda to the 4th Edition of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality and the 5th Edition of the Guidelines. Contributes to Guidance documents and Fact Sheets associated with the Guidelines.
• Contributed to: WHO (2021) Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19;  NRMMC/EPHC/NHMRC (2008) Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2): Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies. enHealth guidance (2021). Reducing exposure to metals in drinking water from plumbing products. enHealth (1998, 2004, 2011)  Guidance on the Use of Rainwater Tanks. Numerous fact sheets and guidance documents for the SA Department for Health and Wellbeing on drinking water and recreational waters.
• Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments (CRC SAAFE) Policy and Regulatory Advisory Committee. Participates in risk assessment projects with CRC SAAFE, in collaboration with Water RA and the South Australian Environmental Protection Authority (SA EPA).
• Chair of, and SA representative on, the enHealth Water Quality Expert Reference Panel (since 2017).
• Member of the External Audit Panel Singapore Public Utilities Board (from 2015; Chair from 2020).
• Member of the Hong Kong Drinking Water Safety Advisory (since 2018).
• Occasional invitations to provide keynote or plenary presentations at international meetings. The last three accepted invitations were the IWA Aspire Conference and Exhibition 2025 (Christchurch) the International Water Pioneers Summit Hong Kong 2025 and the IWA Aspire Conference and Exhibition 2019 (Hong Kong).
• Membership of the International Water Association and Australian Water Association, and of the program committees for the Australian Water Association Annual Conference OzWater 2020 and 2021.
• Published a number of scientific research journal articles on issues associated with water quality.
   

• State Water Officer, Department of Health Tasmania. Health regulator for drinking water safety in Tasmania; administering legislation, policy and guidelines for both drinking water quality and fluoridation. A working understanding of the implementation of the ADWG framework.
• Appointments: Member of the WQAC since 2018. Chair of the WQAC Microbiological sub-committee and member of the WQAC Chemical sub-committee. Member of the enHealth Water Quality Expert Reference Panel. Secretariat of the Tasmanian Fluoridation Committee.
• Publication of journal articles, reports, fact sheets, guidelines and presentations at national conferences, seminars and workshops.
• Department of Health Tasmania Member Representative for WaterRA. Individual member of the Australian Water Association and occasional peer reviewer of articles for publication.
• Project co-ordinator for the update of the enHealth Guidance on the use of Rainwater Tanks monograph.
   

• Associate Professor in Health and Medical Humanities - University of Sydney
• Director, Academic Career Development – Sydney School of Public Health
• Associate Director, Arts and Wellbeing – CREATE Centre
• Recipient of a number of research grants in the last five years (since 2021).
• Royalties from published books.
• Previous member of the NSW Health Expert Advisory Panel on PFAS (2025). Provided risk communication advice.
• Previous risk communication work on topics including PFAS and water fluoridation.
• Collaborating with The Cad Factory, the Menindee Aboriginal Elders’ Council and other Aboriginal community and community organisations at Menindee, and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Fisheries and Threatened Species Team (NSW DPIRD FATS). Exploring whether an arts-based methodology can assist with integration of Indigenous knowledges and perspectives in Baaka river management decisions and policy.
• Affiliated with the Arts Health Network NSW/ACT; served as President until 2025 and is currently a member of the Executive team.
• Published peer‑reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters and online articles.
• Participated and presented at academic conferences and delivered public presentations.
• Participated in media interviews and podcasts.
   

• Recipient of multiple grants from the ARC, Melbourne Water, EPA Victoria, Defence Science Institute and Geoscience Australia, supporting research in areas such as the fate, behaviour and treatment of PFAS and other emerging contaminants, including contaminant mass flows, background levels in groundwater and aquatic systems, wastewater and water treatment processes, and mine waste sampling and analysis.
• Provides expert advice to The Loop Victorian Drug Testing Service on chemical analysis and data interpretation.
• Member of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Medical Research Advisory Group (2024 -present), providing advice on eligibility of grants under the ARC Medical Research Policy.
• Previous member of the Board of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Mass Spectrometry (2022-2024) and Society for Magnetic Resonance (2013-2019), helping run the society and meet strategic goals.
• Previous member of the Board of the International Metabolomics Society (2016-2020) helping run the society and meet strategic goals.
• Co-founder President (2012-2017) of the Australian and New Zealand Metabolomics Society, helping run the society and meet strategic goals.
• Listed Expert for the Science Media Centres of the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Spain, providing scientific commentary to the media in an unpaid, voluntary capacity.
• Provided submissions to the Select Committee on PFAS and Select Committee on Microplastics and human health inquiry, and appeared as a witness at these committee’s public hearings, including as part of a delegation from the Australian Academy of Science for the PFAS inquiry and an invited witness at the microplastic inquiry. He contributed to the Academy’s submissions to both enquiries, and also made personal submissions to both inquiries.
• Has featured and provided commentary across TV, radio and print media (including Channel 9 News, ABC News, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, The Washington Post and the Conversation), as well as on social media platforms such as X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Mastodon and LinkedIn on topics such as fluoride, PFAS and microplastics.
• Published peer‑reviewed journal articles, a book, edited books and book chapters, conference papers, technical research reports, and magazine articles and columns. Participated and presented at academic conferences. Participated in podcasts and online interviews.
• A full list of academic publications is available.
   

• Previous Chair of Water Quality Advisory Committee (2016-2021)
• Several consultancies funded by water industry, specifically on contaminants of emerging concern.
• ARC Linkage grants include many water utilities in Australia (including Water Research Australia).
• Previous member of the Project Review Team for Water Research Australia, which reviews research projects submitted for Water RA funding and provide advice on suitability to Water RA's research agenda.
• Received travel support from Water Research Australia to present on research supported by Water RA at their annual research conference.
• Teaches on water quality issues at Griffith University and has given lectures at various institutions on water quality issues and various drinking water guidelines.
• Previously involved on the Commonwealth Games Independent Expert Panel on water quality, providing advice on water quality and monitoring programme for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
• Many publications on water quality, all published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Independent Advisory Panel Member in the Faure New Water Scheme, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Member of the Advisory Committee on the Environmental Management of Industrial Chemicals (IChEMS Advisory Committee).

• Seconded 4 days a week to CRC CARE by University of Newcastle.
• Recipient of various research grants (2022 - 2026), including NHMRC funding, supporting research on clays for greenhouse gas capture, using advanced technologies to investigate the impact of PFAS exposure on the human mucosal barrier and interaction with pre-existing medical conditions, environmental and agricultural chemistry (including clay-based technologies), greenhouse gas capture, nutrient use efficiency and fertiliser development.
• Holds a number of patents, no royalties received.
   

• Provides water quality advice, policy and regulation for NSW in role at NSW Health
• Represent NSW on the enHealth Water Quality Expert Reference Panel since 2016, providing advice and national guidance on water quality and public health
• Published peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, reports and a book chapter.
• Has presented at international and national conferences, seminars and workshops on water quality related matters
• Has worked with current members of the Committee and the NHMRC Water Team through 2018-2021, and enHealth committees since 2016.
   

• No interests declared

•    No interests declared.