CSIRO appoints Carol Couch as new leader of water research

CSIRO has announced the appointment of Dr Carol Couch as Director of the Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship - the largest research partnership focusing on water in Australia. She will lead a team of nearly 300 people to undertake research and deliver high-quality, relevant science to inform decision-making by governments, industry and the community.

CSIRO Group Executive Dr Andrew Johnson said the flagship has “a significant research leadership role in supporting the nation in maximising the full value we derive from water,” especially given the demands placed on our water assets by “a drying climate in southern Australia, land-use changes across the continent, population growth and extreme weather events.”

Dr Couch brings to the role 20 years of research and science administration in both Australia and the US. Some of her achievements include:

• Leading the development of the first water plan for the US state of Georgia;
• Leading the Georgia Drought Management Committee emergency response during the 2006-2009 regional drought;
• Lead scientist and adviser for aspects of water-quality investigations conducted by the US Geological Survey across multiple US states;
• Leading a team of scientists in the development of a national synthesis program for ecology for the US.

Dr Couch joined CSIRO in July 2011, leading the organisation’s research on ecosystems and contaminants. In her new role she replaces Dr Bill Young, who is on secondment to a senior leadership role with the World Bank, South Asia Region Water Initiative based in New Delhi, India.

“Australia’s water challenges are many and varied, but the flagship’s integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research, and a commitment to strengthening partnerships with government, industry and communities, places it in the strongest position possible to provide timely, relevant and high-quality science for decision-making,” said Dr Couch.

“It is a challenging role but I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to lead the flagship and direct research that can inform the management of water resources both in Australia and internationally.”