PUBLIC LECTURE: The third public forum in the Our Drying Climate series

Jim Gill, Shaun Cox and Ross Young, with Geraldine Mellet

As Australia's population continues to grow, particularly in our cities, the community and the water industry face many environmental challenges to maintain and improve public health and community well-being.

In the third public forum of the Our Drying Climate lecture series, leaders from two state-based water authorities and one national water body will provide a comparative view of current innovative responses to our drying climate, to water consumption and finding better ways of living with limited water.

Facilitated by Geraldine Mellet, speakers include Dr Jim Gill, CEO of Western Australia’s Water Corporation; Mr Shaun Cox, Director of Gold Coast Water; and Mr Ross Young, Executive Director, Water Services Association of Australia.

About the participants

Jim Gill

Dr Jim Gill is the Chief Executive Officer of Western Australia’s Water Corporation and has held this position since 1996. A major focus during that time has been a program to greatly increase the State’s water source capacity to compensate for rapidly diminishing rainfall.

He was Western Australia’s Commissioner of Railways from 1988 to 1995, when the popular Joondalup line was built. Jim was born in Western Australia and holds degrees from the Universities of Western Australia, Cambridge and Harvard. He is a recent President of the Western Australia Division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a member of the Premier’s Sustainability Round-Table.

Shaun Cox

Shaun Cox is the Director of Gold Coast Water. He is Chairperson of the Water Services Association of Australia’s Water, Health, Environment and Sustainability Committee and Deputy Chair of the Board of the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA).

Shaun represents Gold Coast City Council at various WSAA and Australian Water Association meetings and holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree and a Masters in Engineering and Technology Management. He is also a member of the Institution of Engineers of Australia.

Ross Young

Ross Young commenced as the Executive Director of the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) in December 2003. WSAA is the peak body for the urban water industry and its members provide water services to 15 million Australians (75% of the population).

Ross has extensive experience in urban water management at a senior level having held a number of key executive positions with Melbourne Water for over a decade. In 2002 he was the Chair of the Project Management Group which oversaw the development of a 50 year Water Resources Strategy for the greater Melbourne area. Ross has a Diploma of Horticultural Science, a Bachelor of Applied Science, an MBA and a Graduate Diploma in Natural Resources Law from the University of Melbourne.

This is a free event with all welcome.

Register your interest to Felicity by Thursday 20 October to [email protected] or 9227 0956, or visit www.watercorporation.com.au for more details.

About the Our Drying Climate lecture series

The Our Drying Climate lecture series has been initiated by Dr Jim Gill, Water Corporation CEO, and Professor Alan Robson, Vice Chancellor of The University of Western Australia, with the two organisations working together cooperatively to present a series addressing issues across the board relating to our drying climate and climate change. In this public forum opportunity, the Water Corporation together with The University of Western Australia is hosting a series of five lectures and open debates lead by international and local speakers.

The series addresses issues including Agriculture, Health, Sea/Water Levels, Urban Forms of Human Habitation, Bio-Diversity and Coastal/Marine.