About
Professor of Hydrology: My expertise lies in monitoring and forecasting environmental hazards within fluvial, hillslope and estuarine environments. A major focus of my work is the assessment of the climate resilience of critical infrastructure to these hazards, working with stakeholders to forecast weather-related risk and advise on mitigation. My more fundamental research focuses on the mechanics of flooding, erosion and the transport of contaminated sediment.
I am Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Liverpool, leading the Faculty of Science & Engineering's delivery of Global Engagement and Partnerships. In addition to leading the Faculty’s Global Engagement strategy (research-led partnerships and transnational education), I provide oversight of all international partnerships within the Faculty and ensure appropriate governance, systems and processes are in place for target setting, monitoring and accountability.
I have worked as a consultant and expert witness, advising on hydrology, climate risk, flooding and erosion for major utility companies, such as National Grid, United Utilities, Welsh Water and Yorkshire Water, and engineering, construction and legal firms.
In education, I have acted as consultant for ECCTIS Ltd, on behalf of the UK National Information Centre for Global Qualifications and Skills, and as external examiner for degree programmes at Durham, Leicester and Brighton, and for numerous PhD programmes at national and international universities,
Previously I was Dean for Postgraduate Research at the University of Liverpool, providing academic leadership across three faculties (8 Schools and 4 Institutes) for over 3000 PhD students.
My other roles have included being Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research, providing academic leadership across four Schools within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Chair of the Faculty PGR Committee.
I have strong interests in digital learning and authentic assessment, having received a University Learning and Teaching Fellowship, a University Sir Alastair Pilkington Award for Teaching Excellence, and two Faculty Learning and Teaching Awards. I teach hydrology, hydraulics and soils and slope processes.
I work across the environmental science-civil engineering interface, having a mixed background in Geography (BSc) and Civil Engineering (PhD). I have previously worked as a PDRA at Sheffield, an ARCO Research Fellow in Environmental Fluid Dynamics at Hull and a Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Bradford. I was Chair of the UK Chapter of the International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering & Research.
Prizes or Honours
- Honorary Research Fellowship (National Tsing Hua University, 2020)
- University Learning and Teaching Fellowship (Univesity of Liverpool, 2018)
- Sir Alastair Pilkington Award for Teaching Excellence (University of Liverpool, 2018)
- Commendation for ‘University Lecturer of the Year’ (University of Liverpool, 2018)
- Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Geomorphology journal, 2018)
- Chair of UK Chapter (International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering & Research, 2018)
- Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Journal of Hydrology, 2018)
- Faculty Learning and Teaching Award (University of Liverpool, 2018)
- Honorary Research Fellowship (National Tsing Hua University, 2018)
- Vice-chair of UK Chapter (International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering & Research, 2017)
- Honorary Research Fellowship (National Tsing Hua University, 2017)
- Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Geomorphology journal, 2017)
- Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2017)
- Honorary Research Fellowship (National Tsing Hua University, 2016)
- Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Geomorphology journal, 2015)
- Visting Professor Fellowship (University of Tsukuba, Japan, 2014)
- Faculty Learning and Teaching Award (University of Liverpool, 2013)
- Visiting Professor at University of Padova (University of Padova, Italy, 2011)
Funded Fellowships
- Visting Professor at University of Tsukuba (University of Tsukuba, 2024)
- Visting Professor at University of Tsukuba (University of Tsukuba, 2023)
- Visting Professor at University of Tsukuba (2022)
- Visiting Professor at University of Tsukuba (European Commission, 2016)
- Visiting Professor at University of Tsukuba (2014)
- Visiting Professor at University of Padova (2011)
- ARCO Research Fellowship in Environmental Fluid Dynamics (2005 - 2009)