Academy Fellow

Professor Rebekah Brown is the Senior Vice-Provost and Vice-Provost (Research) at Monash University. In this role she is responsible for leading the University-wide research agenda, contributing to the development and implementation of the research strategy and enhancing the University’s research performance, ensuring responsible research practice, integrity and compliance in accordance with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

Prior to this, Rebekah was Director of Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, a leading interdisciplinary research and education centre working collaboratively with government, industry and philanthropists and to advance the knowledge, policy and practice of sustainable development.

Since 2017 Rebekah has been a member of the Victorian Environment Protection Authority's Governing Board.

Rebekah has pioneered interdisciplinary research across the social and biophysical sciences in sustainable water management since early 2000. She co-founded the water sensitive cities research platform at Monash University as a sustainable development solution to urban water challenges globally. Rebekah was instrumental in the establishment of the 0M (AUD) Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities comprising 86 partner organisations and over 170 researchers, and was its Chief Research Officer and inaugural Society themed Program Leader.

In 2017 Rebekah was awarded AUD M funding from the UK-based Wellcome Trust, and currently leads a five year project in partnership with the Asian Development Bank to implement a water sensitive revitalisation of informal settlements across the Asia-Pacific. The project brings together expertise across public health, ecology, economics, urban design, engineering and social science disciplines as well as partnerships with organisations including CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, Stanford University, Emory University, The University of Melbourne, University of Cambridge, Fiji National University, Hasanuddin University, The University of the South Pacific, United Nations University, Melbourne Water, South East Water, Oxfam, WaterAid, and Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.

As a social scientist Rebekah has published over 100 papers in leading journals including Nature, Science, Global Environmental Change and Water Research. Rebekah is a consulting Editor to Global Challenges, and on a number of international Editorial Boards including Urban Water Journal and Environmental Innovations and Societal Transitions. She has consulted widely across government and industry and presents regularly on interdisciplinary research approaches at conferences around the world.

Her work is used extensively within the water and land development industry across Australia, and by international organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, UN Habitat and the European Union.

On the prestigious Australian WME Leaders List for 2010, Rebekah was named national leader in the category of Urban and Industrial Water.

Rebekah holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) from Monash University and a PhD in Environmental Studies from the University of New South Wales.

2018 - Current Senior Vice-Provost & Vice-Provost (Research), Monash University

2017 – Current Board Member Environment Protection Authority, Victoria

2014– 2018 Director & Professor, Monash Sustainable Development Institute

2013– 2016 Councilor, Monash University

2011– 2014 Chief Research Officer (CRO), CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

2010 –2014 Associate Director Monash Water for Liveability Centre, Monash University

2010 – 2014 Professor School of Social Sciences, Monash University

2005-2010 Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University

2003-2005 Lecturer Institute of Environmental Studies, The University of New South Wales

1999-2004 Director and Owner ARK Partners

1994-2000 Engineer / Senior Engineer Ove Arup & Partners

Finalist, 2010 Australian Museum Eureka Prize in Water Research and Innovation

Named as a national leader for Urban + Industrial Water on the 2010 WME Environment and Business Leaders List

Recipient, 2010 Monash University, Faculty of Arts, Dean's Award for Excellence in Innovation and External Collaboration

Recipient, 2007 Monash University Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research by an Early Career Researcher

Recipient, 2006 Australian Stormwater Industry Association, Award for Excellence in Stormwater Community Education, 2006

Recipient, 1995 Australian Ove Arup and Partners, Award for Excellence in Engineering Studies

Recipient, 1991-1994, Melbourne Water Corporation's Scholarship for Outstanding Performance in Engineering Studies