Dr Francis Chiew

Research Group Leader, Water Resources Assessment And Prediction

GPO BOX 1700
CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA

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

Biography

Dr Francis Chiew has more than 25 years’ experience in research, teaching and consulting in hydroclimate and water resources, and in research 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 about 30 hydrologists working on water resources assessment, forecasting and prediction and climate change adaptation, in projects totalling more than AUD$5m per year.

Francis is highly regarded internationally for his specialist expertise in hydroclimate, hydrological modelling, climate and land use impact on water, and integrated basin management. He has received various awards and published over 250 papers, and his research is widely adopted and cited (more than 10,000 Google Scholar citations and h-index of 53). The research that Francis and his team does contributes to global development in hydrological sciences, and 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 hydroclimate projects and consultancies in South Asia, China and South America.

Professional Areas

Fields of Research

Current

Current Roles

Research Group Leader
Water Resources Assessment and Prediction

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
2004-2005

Deputy Director
CRC for Catchment Hydrology
2006-2012

CSIRO OCE Sciece Leader
CSIRO
1991-2003

Senior Research Fellow
University of Melbourne
2004-2006

Associate Professor
University of Melbourne

Achievements and Awards

2009

Biennial Medal of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand
MSSANZ
2004

2004 Tison Medal (for best paper published by International Association of Hydrological Sciences)
IAHS
2008

CSIRO Chairman's Medal
CSIRO
2016

CSIRO Impact from Science Award
CSIRO
2009, 2013, 2016

Australian Museum Eureka Award Finalist
Eureka Award

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

Staff profile