20 February 2008
A high-profile community leader who spearheaded initiatives to reduce the water and energy consumption habits of millions of people as well as big business has joined Monash University.
Former Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Water and Climate Change, John Thwaites, is the new Chairman of the Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI). A law and science graduate of the University, he will be a Professorial Fellow.
Monash Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Larkins, announced the appointment today.
"The recruitment of John Thwaites is a great coup for us. His passion and knowledge for the environment, water and climate change will be a driving force for positive change," Professor Larkins said.
"Monash staff have enormous expertise in water, energy, transport, biodiversity and climate change. This appointment means the University is ideally placed to provide more practical solutions that have a positive impact on communities in Victoria, Australia and across the world."
MSI is the University's key facilitating body fostering collaborative, cross-disciplinary research in sustainability. It will cut across a range of fields and disciplines: climate change, energy, water, biodiversity and transport. It will look at industry, urban and rural issues, and consider social, political and institutional issues as well as science and technology.
While Minister for Water, Professor Thwaites led the most successful water conservation program in Australia, reducing water use throughout Melbourne by 22 per cent. He also led the Victorian Government's climate change program including five-star energy and water efficiency for all new homes, renewable energy and energy efficiency targets, and state based work on a national emissions trading scheme.
"This is an exciting move for me after fifteen years in politics and it is great to be back at Monash where I studied, and had a pretty enjoyable time, in the late 1970s," John Thwaites said.
"Top class researchers have the ability to provide new knowledge and new solutions to our most difficult problems.
"MSI will help answer some key questions, such as how can Victoria's massive brown coal resource be used for clean energy, what role can biofuels play in both electricity and transport, and how can we harness the potential of stormwater to overcome water shortages?
"In many cases government and industry across Australia and the world have not made sufficient use of research capability. There are many reasons. Often research is too specialised in one field or not available when government needs it. The Institute's aim is to bring together researchers across all fields in sustainability so they can provide really useful research when it is needed.
"My role will be to provide strategic guidance and direction, using my experience in government to help define problems and the types of research and collaboration that will be most helpful in solving them," John Thwaites said.
"Our aim is for MSI to be dynamic, entrepreneurial and inspiring. I hope it can help develop new solutions to some of Australia's and the world's most pressing problems in energy and the environment. It will bring together the best research at Monash and link it with other universities, industry, CSIRO and government.
John Thwaites joins recently appointed MSI Director, Professor David Griggs, who was the former Director of the Met Office Hadley Centre, the UK's official centre for climate change research. Professor Griggs also previously led the secretariat for the Science Group of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
"I have definitely arrived at Monash University at the right time," Professor Griggs said.
"The change of government federally and the increased awareness of the need for sustainable solutions make this a very exciting time. There is so much we can do. Our main challenge is finding the time to accomplish everything that we would like to do."
Professor Larkins said Monash University would continue to engage with the world, finding solutions to improve the human condition.
"The appointment of John Thwaites and Professor Griggs are two prime examples that Monash University continues to attract prominent and influential change agents of the highest calibre," Professor Larkins said.
For additional information regarding the Monash Sustainability Institute please contact David Griggs on (03) 9902 0239 or (03) 9905 9323.
For comment from John Thwaites, please contact, Tim Mitchell on 0437 457780 or +61 3 9903 4830.
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