Damien Burrows

Professor Burrows has been Director of TropWATER for 13 years. He specialises in freshwater, estuarine and coastal aquatic ecosystems and catchment management and has >30 years research experience in the tropics. His work has encompassed the ecology of wetlands, water quality, biological control of weeds, the ecology of fish and invertebrates, grazing management in riparian ecosystems, wetland management in cropping catchments, planning for water resource developments, fisheries management, and catchment planning and management. His work has had a particular emphasis on applied aspects of environmental management. This has involved extensive work with industry, community and government from grassroots to policy level.

He has for the last 13 years focused on developing the coastal and marine ecosystems side of TropWATER, especially mangrove, seagrass and estuarine habitats. In addition to being TropWATER Director, since 2015, he has also been the Hub leader for the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Tropical Water Quality Hub, which focused on research to improve water quality of the Great Barrier Reef. He has recently been appointed co-Hub Leader for the new NESP Marine and Coastal Hub (2021-2027) which encompasses applied research for all marine and coastal issues for Australia. He is a member of the Independent Expert Panel which advises state and federal Environment Ministers on science matters relating to the Great Barrier Reef.