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Dr Francis Chiew

Group Leader

https://people.csiro.au/C/F/Francis-Chiew

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Contact details:

GPO BOX 1700
CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA

Biography

Dr Francis Chiew has 30 years of experience in research, teaching and consulting, and in science leadership and people and project management. Francis joined CSIRO as a Science Leader in Canberra in 2006, after a 15-year academic career at the University of Melbourne. In the past ten years, Francis has led 30-40 hydrologists working on water resources assessment, forecasting and prediction, climate change adaptation, and integrated basin management, in projects totalling more than AUD$5m per year.

Francis is highly regarded internationally for his specialist expertise in hydroclimate and water resources and inter-disciplinary research. Francis has received various awards including the Volker Medal from the International Association of Hydrological Sciences and UNESCO for outstanding contributions to hydrology, particularly the application of research for the benefit of society. His research is widely adopted and cited (more than 17,000 Google Scholar citations and h-index of 66). Francis collaborates and engages strongly with universities, government and industry, and the research that Francis and his team does has a direct path to impact guiding water resources planning and adaptation in Australia and globally.

Francis is a member of several global and national water expert committees including lead author of the IPCC AR5 and AR6 Assessment Reports. Francis and his group are also active in converting research outcomes into modelling tools and guidelines for the water industry. More recently, Francis has led high impact climate and water modelling initiatives and water resources assessments in Australia, and collaborative projects and consultancies in South Asia, China and South America.

Professional Areas

Fields of Research

Current

Current Roles

  • Research Group Leader
    Surface Water and Basin Outcomes

Academic Qualifications

  • 1991

    PhD in Hydrology
    University of Melbourne

  • 1986

    B.Eng (First Class Honours, Civil Engineering)
    University of Melbourne

Professional Experiences

  • 2006-Present

    Senior Principal Research Scientist
    CSIRO

  • 2006-2012

    CSIRO OCE Sciece Leader
    CSIRO

  • 2004-2005

    Deputy Director
    CRC for Catchment Hydrology

  • 2004-2006

    Associate Professor
    University of Melbourne

  • 1991-2003

    Senior Research Fellow
    University of Melbourne

Achievements and Awards

  • 2022-2022

    Volker Medal
    International Association of Hydrological Sciences (with UNESCO and WMO)

  • 2009-2009

    Biennial Medal of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand
    MSSANZ

  • 2004-2004

    2004 Tison Medal (for best paper published by International Association of Hydrological Sciences)
    IAHS

  • 2008-2008

    CSIRO Chairman's Medal
    CSIRO

  • 2016-2016

    CSIRO Impact from Science Award
    CSIRO

  • 2009, 2013, 2016-2016

    Australian Museum Eureka Award Finalist
    Eureka Award

  • 2019- 2019

    Australian Water Association Industry Innovation Award
    Australian Water Association

Other highlights

  • 2018-2022

    Lead Author in IPCC Sixth Assessment Report

  • 2010-2014

    Lead Author in IPCC Fifth Assessment Report

  • 2006-2012

    CSIRO OCE Science Leader

  • 2004-2005

    Deputy Director, CRC for Catchment Hydrology

  • 1999-2004

    Associate Editor of Hydrological Sciences Journal

  • 2008-Present

    ARC Reader/Assessor

  • 2017-Present

    Academic Editor of Water

Publications

We have publications by Dr Francis Chiew