Issue 1 | March 2012

Incoming CSIRO Energy Group Executive

Dr Tom Hatton, incoming CSIRO Energy Group Executive

Tom Hatton will take over the reins of CSIRO’s Energy Group in April and brings a diverse set of skills and experience to the role.

Tom has over 25 years of research experience, nationally and internationally, in a broad range of environmental related disciplines including forest productivity, ecology, bushfire science, eco-hydrology, water allocation, salinity and catchment hydrology and has been part of the Energy Group Executive team in CSIRO for past two years as Director of the Wealth from Oceans Flagship. 

Tom has significant expertise in building and managing multidisciplinary research teams to solve resource management issues.  For example he led CSIRO’s Murray-Darling Sustainable Yields project that provided the world's largest basin-scale investigation of the impacts on water resources in respect to catchment development, changing groundwater extraction, climate variability and climate change.

He also led the CSIRO team that helped resolved issues between off-shore oil production and concerns about on-shore groundwater levels in Bass Strait. His flagship, together with CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship, delivered Australia's most detailed ocean potential renewable energy atlas.

In the two years that he has been Director Tom has re-focused the research and development of the Wealth from Oceans Flagship on the challenges faced by off-shore resource development, with the aim of accelerating approvals, lowering compliance costs, reducing operational risks and increasing effective responsiveness to marine emergencies.

Tom has worked for CSIRO since 1988. Prior to that Tom held a postdoctoral position in mathematics at the University of New South Wales. Tom has been Director of both the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans and Water for a Healthy Country Flagships. In both roles he achieved wide recognition for the delivery of high-impact science aimed at Australia's serious water and ocean challenges.

He chaired the Australian Government's 2011 State of Environment Committee and currently chairs the Western Australia Marine Parks and Reserves Authority.
He has also served:

• on the Conservation Commission of Western Australia (2004-06)
• on the National Water Commission's Groundwater Technical Advisory Committee (2007-09)
• as Deputy Chair, Western Australia Premier's Water Foundation (2003-07)
• on the Steering Committee, Western Australia State of Environment Report (2003-06)
• on the Steering Committee, WA Salinity Engineering Evaluation Program (2002-06)
• on the Operations Committee, National Dryland Salinity Program (1998-2003)
• on the Board of the Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology (1998-2000)
• on Western Australia's Water Forever Panel (2008-09)
• As Chair, National Centre for Groundwater Research & Training Advisory Board (2009-2011).

Tom completed a Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) and Master of Science in Natural Resources at Humboldt State University. In 1986 he completed his doctorate in the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University.

In 1999, Tom was awarded the inaugural WE Wood Award for scientific excellence in the field of salinity research, and the Utah State University Alumni Professional Achievement Award. 

In 2008, Tom received CSIRO Chairman’s Medal and the Australian Public Service Medal for his contributions to the management of Australia’s water resources.