Russell RollasonA science honours graduate from the University of Queensland (Geology and Mineralogy), Russell also holds a Masters in General Studies from the UNSW. After working as a geologist for three years, Russell felt called to act on international poverty. Tirty plus years later, his career in international aid and development has included working for a decade with the then Australian Council of Churches (now NCCA), 12 years as Executive Director of the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (now ACFID), 3 years as an international consultant and finally 14 years with AusAID, subsequently absorbed into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). In 1998, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, for services to international development and humanitarian aid through the Australian Council for Overseas Aid and promotion of social justice in Australia. Russell's DFAT experience introduced him to global water issues. He was posted for 3 years as First Secretary in the Australian High Commission to India, responsible for expanding Australia's technical cooperation program with India in water resource management. After retiring from DFAT in 2019, Russell took up a part-time position as International Development Adviser with eWater, the organisation set up by the Federal and State governments to manage Australia's water modelling tools. Russell's interest in climate change was sparked when visiting poor communities in Asia and Africa and seeing how drought and floods destroyed lives and livelihoods. Read More Read Less