Rob Vertessy
Independent Chair
Professor Rob Vertessy has a PhD from the Australian National University (1990) and is widely published in the field of hydrology. He led a distinguished career in water research, serving as Chief Executive of the Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology (2002–2004) and then Chief of CSIRO’s Land and Water Division (2004–2007). In late 2006, Rob was seconded to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to design a national water information strategy as part of the Australian Government’s National Plan for Water Security. He then joined the Bureau of Meteorology in 2007 to oversee its implementation as a new Bureau service, forming and then leading the Climate and Water Division (2007-2011). Rob served as CEO of the Bureau of Meteorology (2011-2016). After retiring from the Australian Public Service in April 2016, Rob took up a part-time role at the University of Melbourne as an Enterprise Professor in Water Resources, where he undertakes research on water security. Rob led the Australian Government’s Independent Assessment into the fish deaths in the lower Darling River. He heads Global Change Advisory, a consulting company focused on environmental intelligence. In this capacity he has recently advised governments in India, Pakistan, Iran, Jordan, Laos and Cambodia on water reform and water information
Other directorships and interests:
Chair, Murray Darling Basin Authority Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Science
Fellow, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)
Chair, ATSE Water Forum
Chair, Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Sciences (ACSEES) for the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)
Chair, governing panel for the Water and Environment Research Program, administered by the MDBA.
