John Williams

Dr John Williams grew up near Tumbarumba on a farm in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in agricultural science and a doctorate in soil science and hydrology. John is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and advocated for a rational debate on Australia’s water resources. He was Chief of the Division of Land and Water, CSIRO (Australia’s premier government research organisation), in Canberra, when he retired in 2004. He served earlier at the CSIRO laboratories at Townsville in Queensland where, among other things, he studied the Great Artesian Basin and the transport of water from the Great Dividing Range into outback Queensland and New South Wales. He also served as Adjunct Professor in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management at Charles Sturt University, and Chief Scientist and Chair of the NSW Department of Natural Resources’ Science and Information Board. John was also Commissioner of the New South Wales Natural Resources Commission between 2005 and 2011. John is an Emeritus Professor and research associate at the Australian National University;and a commentator on environmental matters. During his career, Dr Williams has been honoured with the 2005 Farrer Memorial Medal for achievement and excellence in agricultural science and appointed in November 2011 as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE).

Involved in:

• Webinar: Water Reform in Australia (September 2017)