About Kathleen Bowmer

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Education

Kath Bowmer graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) with majors in agricultural sciences and soil chemistry. She went onto to obtain her Ph D from the same university and was the recipient of the Elisabeth and JD Marsden Prize for outstanding performance and citizenship.

Kath is a Member, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (MRACI), Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and a graduate of the CSIRO Leadership Development Program. In 1995 Kath received the prestigious Pol Eureka Prize for Environmental Science awarded by the Australian Museum.

Employment

Kath is employed part time by Charles Sturt University where she is Professor of Water Policy, a position jointly funded by CSIRO Land and Water. She also runs her own consultancy group, Kathleen Bowmer and Associates. Previous appointments include:

  • Business Director with CSIRO Land and Water between 2001 and January 2004
  • Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Charles Sturt University and Head of Campus at Wagga Wagga (1996-2001)
  • Deputy Chief CSIRO Division of Water Resources (1989-1996)
  • CSIRO Program Leader Rivers and Wetlands (1994-1998)

Board positions

Kath is currently a director of State Water (NSW), the Science and Information Board of the NSW Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources and the National Rivers Consortium (Land & Water Australia). Previous board and committee memberships include:

  • CRC for Freshwater Ecology
  • CRC for Sustainable Rice Production
  • Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre
  • Land & Water Australia National Rivers Consortium
  • Chair, Murrumbidgee River Management Committee (1998-2003)
  • Australian Research Council Earth Sciences Large Grants and Fellowships Committee (1999-2001)
  • Consortium for Integrated Resource Management, Queensland
  • Centre for Groundwater Studies
  • Member of Pratt Water Integration Team: Murrumbidgee Valley Water Feasibility Efficiency Project
  • Technical Adviser, Rice Research Committee, Rural Industries R&D Corporation
  • Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council Programs Committee
  • CSIRO Task Group on Relationship Management with Tertiary Education Institutions
  • Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council (1995, 1996)
  • Trustee Australian Museum

Publications

Kath has published widely in aquatic ecology, water quality, pesticide chemistry and catchment governance. She recently co-authored and edited a sponsored book ‘Water Innovation: A New Era in Australia’ (CL Creations Sydney), highlighting Australia’s achievements and opportunities and targeting the business sector. She also co-authored a major report ‘Scientific Advice on Natural Resource Management’ for the NRM Ministerial Council.

Personal

Kath is married with one daughter and owns five acres of Patterson’s Curse and Capeweed near Wagga Wagga in NSW.