I am the Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES), UNSW Sydney, established in 2009. I have worked for 40 years as a river scientist in government and university sectors. Much of my work, with my colleagues, has focused on rivers and wetlands of the MurrayDarling Basin and Lake Eyre Basin. My research has been supported by the Australian Research Council, all governments of Australia, including the Australian Government (various environment agencies, Murray-Darling Basin Authority), and non-government organisations (e.g. Birdlife Australia, The Pew Charitable Trusts). All of my research has supported instruments of government, in implementation of policies and management of Australian Rivers. I also have an established track record in the research and management of river ecosystems and their biodiversity, both within and outside protected areas. My publications predominantly focus on the ecology, management and policy of rivers and wetlands. I have authored or co-authored more than 334 publications, including edited or co-edited books (5), peer reviewed papers (139) scholarly book chapters (26), government scientific reports (95) and opinion pieces in major newspapers or online (20) peer reviewed papers. My h-index is 57 and i10 index 180 (Google Scholar). I have a long history of completing research and technical projects for governments in relation to river and wetland management, particularly focused in the Murray-Darling Basin. I advise State and Australian Governments on matters related to the policy and management of rivers. I have assisted state and Commonwealth governments through the following advisory bodies in the Lake Eyre Basin: Cooper Creek Catchment Committee, Community Advisory Committee, Scientific Advisory Panel for the Lake Eyre Basin and the Queensland Government Advisory Panel on the management of Wild Rivers. 

This submission focuses on the overall structure of the Draft Lake Eyre Basin Draft Strategic Plan.


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