IRF Ambassador awarded Churchill Fellow

Congratulations to International RiverFoundation Ambassador, Dr Deborah Nias, who was awarded a Churchill Fellowship this month. Dr Nias will travel to the USA to assess the role community-based water trusts could play in the future of the Murray-Darling Basin. “It is a great honour and the opportunity of a lifetime...this will mean establishing greater networks and being able to contribute to the ongoing debate about water management in the Murray-Darling Basin” explained Dr Nias. 

Demonstrating where a career in science can take you, Dr Nias commenced her journey as a ‘mature-aged’ ecology student to become a leader in wetland and environmental water management. Reflecting on her own career path Dr Nias credits several important figures who influenced her journey and considers finding allies and mentors to guide you as an important message to young people starting out. ‘What I have achieved is a reflection of those people, and what I haven’t achieved is all my own doing’ says Dr Nias.

The twenty years Dr Nias has spent in the industry have certainly been filled with achievements including Inaugural Fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust (2010); Director of Wetland Care Australia; Advisor to RiverSmart; winner of the Australian Riverprize (2007, Murray Wetlands Working Group); and CEO of Murray Darling Wetlands Ltd.

You can meet Dr Nias at the 14th International Riversymposium where she will be presenting the workshop ‘Does Science Really Matter in Environmental Water Management?'. You may also find and speak with Dr Nias at the IRF Trade Booth.