Your enquiry has been successfully sent
Your enquiry could not be processed. Please contact us directly at www.csiro.au/Contact to make your enquiry
Biography
Dr. Cuan Petheram is a senior principal research scientist (hydrology) at CSIRO and has over 20 years’ experience working in the water and agricultural sectors, predominantly in northern Australia. Cuan leads large multi-disciplinary teams examining the opportunities and risks of water resource development in northern Australia and evaluating options for improving water security under a changing climate. He is currently the joint project manager of the Victoria, Roper and Southern Gulf Water Resource Assessment, Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment and was the joint project manager of the recently completed Bradfield Scheme evaluation, Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, Northern Australia Water Resource Assessment and the Flinders and Gilbert Agricultural Resource Assessment.
Cuan has professional experience in surface and groundwater hydrology, agriculture, water infrastructure assessment and costing and managing large multi-disciplinary teams. Cuan has published over 100 scientific papers and reports, given numerous ministerial and departmental briefings on the hydrology and agricultural potential of northern Australia and was the lead author on an appendix to the Australian Governments 2015 Whitepaper on northern Australia. He has established strong relationships with all levels of government across northern Australia as well as a variety of other stakeholders.
Cuan has a PhD in Hydrology from the CRC for Catchment Hydrology and the University of Melbourne and a BEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Melbourne.
Current Roles
-
Project manager & technical lead
Victoria catchment water resource assessment -
Project manager & technical lead
Roper catchment water resource assessment -
Project manager & technical lead
Southern gulf water resource assessment
Academic Qualifications
-
2003
PhD (Hydrology)
University of Melbourne -
1997
BEng (Civil and Environmental)
University of Melbourne
Professional Experiences
-
2022-2023
Senior principal research scientist
CSIRO (Environment) -
2015-2022
Principal research scientist
CSIRO (Land & Water) -
2011-2015
Senior research scientist
CSIRO (Land & Water) -
2011-2012
Research stream leader - Water in northern Australia
CSIRO Water for Healthy Country Flagship -
2010-2011
Deputy stream leader - Water in northern Australia
CSIRO Water for Healthy Country Flagship -
2004-2008
Research projects officer
CSIRO (Land & Water) -
2003-2004
Wind engineer
Hydro Tasmania -
1998-2002
PhD candidate
University of Melbourne & CSIRO Land &Water
Achievements and Awards
-
2021-2021
National Research and Development Award - Northern Australia Water Resource Assessment
Australian Water Association -
2020-2020
CSIRO collaboration award - Northern Australia Water Resource Assessment
CSIRO -
2015-2015
Julius Career Award
CSIRO -
2012-2012
Fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust
Peter Cullen Trust -
2012-2012
Excellence in research - South East Australian Climate Change Initiative
CSIRO -
2006-2006
Award for teamwork and collaboration - Northern Australia Irrigation Futures
CRC for Irrigation Futures -
1998-2001
Australian Postgraduate Award
Australian Government -
1998-2001
CRC Catchment Hydrology Scholarship
CRC Catchment Hydrology -
1997-1997
Gilbert H. Vasey prize for agricultural engineering
University of Melbourne -
1997-1997
GHD prize for water engineering
University of Melbourne -
1997-1997
Travel fellowship to Thailand
International Development and Technology Centre
Related links
ORCID 0000-0001-8028-1639
We have publications by Dr Cuan Petheram
Published data & software
We have published items by Dr Cuan Petheram