Monash University

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Chris is a Professor of Practice at Monash University and is nationally recognized for his leadership in waterway and urban water management and for his contribution to establishing Melbourne as a world leader in water sensitive urban design. Prior to joining Monash University, he held roles as CEO of the Office of Living Victoria and General Manager at Melbourne Water which included direct responsibility for development services.

While at Melbourne Water Chris led the development of best practice environmental management standards for urban stormwater that have now been in place for 25 years. and he has since championed many of the planning reforms that have advance WSUD practice in Victoria.

Chris is a boundary spanner with a deep understanding of the value of water in our cities and a unique ability to connect research and practice for the benefit of communities and the environment.

His knowledge and experience is widely sought after by government and industry. He has chaired several Ministerial advisory committees that have led to significant planning and legislative reforms. and sat on advisory committees for Melbourne Water, Infrastructure Victoria, the Victorian Planning Authority and UDIA Victoria. He currently chairs an IWM Forum of 27 organisational leaders (CEOs and MDs) delivering the Victorian Government’s IWM framework in Melbourne and is a director of Barwon Water, servicing Victoria’s fastest growing region of Geelong.

In recognition of these achievements and his contribution to the sustainable development of cities over two decades, Chris received the Paul Jerome award from the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association in 2022

Urban Water Cycle Solutions

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Professor Peter JCoombes is problem solver and policy analyst, a provider of alternative perspectives, and a designer of sustainable cities, projects and buildings. He believes that we cannot continue to do the same things and expect different results. His research and practice is about meeting future housing demand, improving liveability and responding to climate, cost, environment and policy pressures. He is known for lateral, big‑picture systems thinking and a willingness to question long‑held assumptions across planning, engineering, policy and delivery.

Peter Coombes is an Honorary and Visiting Professor in the Crawford School of Public Policy at Australian National University and a director of Urban Water Cycle Solutions that operates as an independent research, policy and consulting group. Peter holds qualifications in Surveying, Engineering, Economics and Law. He and was most recently a Professor of Water Resources Engineering, Chair of Engineering and Associate Dean (Education) at Southern Cross University.

Peter is an editor the Urban Book of Australian Rainfall and Runoff published by Engineers Australia and was awarded the 2018 GN Medal for Hydrology and Water Resources and the 2019 Presidents Prize by Engineers Australia. Professor Coombes is a member of the steering committee at Imperial College London for the CAMELLIA research programme and a former Deputy President and treasurer of Stormwater Australia. He has held senior academic positions University of Newcastle, University of Melbourne and Swinburne University. Peter Coombes was a Chief Water Scientist in the Victorian Government and recently contributed to inquiries into stormwater management and flooding by the Senate of the Australian Parliament and into water resources by the Productivity Commission.

Peter’s experience includes managing director of Bonacci Water, a member of the water advisory group to the Prime Ministers Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, the advisory council on alternative water sources for the Victoria Government’s Our Water Our Future policy, a member of the advisory panel on urban water resources to the National Water Commission, an advisor on alternative water policy to the United Nations and a national research leader of innovative WSUD strategies in the eWater CRC. Peter Coombes has generated over 250 scientific publications (see Peter J Coombes Google Scholar and  Peter J Coombes ORCID for research impact) and designed more than 120 sustainable projects including settlements that generate all of their water resources and manage flooding. Professor Coombes was also a co-author of Australian Runoff Quality and a former chair of the Stormwater Industry Association.

He has experience in change processes in government, development of government policy, regulation and managing complex engineering and science business collaborations. His professional and research interests include systems thinking and analysis, hydrology, water resources, economics, molecular sciences, water quality and public policy.

Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA)

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Katrina brings over 20 years’ experience in the construction sector, having contributed to some of Victoria’s largest infrastructure projects. She leads the Social Value & Industry Capability team at the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority, overseeing the implementation of the Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework and Building Equality Policy across major transport and health infrastructure programs.

Katrina is passionate about using Government’s purchasing power to deliver meaningful social outcomes that leave a legacy beyond the physical infrastructure.