Water Award recognises expert’s contribution to NT

A water expert at Charles Darwin University (CDU) was recently awarded the Water Professional of the Year at the 2021 NT Water Awards.

A Civil Engineering Lecturer at CDU and Power and Water Corporation Chair in Sustainable Engineering, Professor Charlie Fairfield is a longstanding contributer to research and policy development around water in the Northern Territory.

Through the dual appointment between CDU and Power and Water at the Northern Territory Government, Professor Fairfield works closely with engineering students, researchers and policy makers on topics such as water asset management, trade waste, water supply, catchment studies and community engagement.

The Water Award recognises his achievements in water research and the education of the NT’s water professionals.

Professor Fairfield also facilitates professional placements opportunities for CDU’s engineering students to gain practical experience and complete their research thesis through working at Power and Water.

More than 20 of his students have launched their careers at Power and Water with the aim of improving water supply and quality in the Territory.

“It’s a good partnership that pairs the talent we have at the University with the need for water professionals at Power and Water,” Professor Fairfield said.

“It’s so satisfying and great fun to see my students succeed and it’s ultimately why I teach.

“I hope to keep the partnership going, where we can take on more students and expand our collaboration with more industry partners.”

Professor Fairfield will go on to present his research findings at Australia’s largest international water conference and exhibition, Ozwater, in Brisbane in 2022.

CDU engineering graduates Themelli Mouselli and Andrea Georgiou won the NT Young Water Professional of the Year Award in 2018 and 2020, respectively.