Michael Thomas - AWA Victorian Water Professional of the Year
Barwon Water were thrilled to have Michael Thomas, Research and Development Lead awarded the Australian Water Association‘s Victorian Water Professional of the Year.
This prestigious award recognises Michael’s outstanding leadership, technical excellence, and unwavering commitment to advancing innovation and collaboration across the Australian water sector.
Michael’s achievements speak volumes:
- Leading over 40 research projects that are advancing sustainability and water security
- Driving award-winning initiatives including Biochar 2 Batteries, the Deakin REACH partnership, and the RMIT and SEW on PYROCO Mk2 collaboration, positioning the water sector as an active player in Australia’s clean energy and net-zero transitions
- Demonstrating exceptional leadership during COVID-19, coordinating passive wastewater sampling when our sector needed it most
- Mentoring the next generation of water professionals, with three Barwon Water-sponsored PhD students winning the prestigious WaterRA Nancy Millis Research Award since 2020
Beyond Barwon Water, Michael leads the Intelligent Water Networks (IWN) Circular Economy Program, co-chairs the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Research Managers Network, and serves on the Geelong Tech School board, connecting more than 20 regional high schools with real-world water and environmental STEM experiences.
Congratulations Michael!
Michael was in excellent company with fellow nominees whose achievements span diversity and inclusion, water quality advancements, strategic leadership and sector-wide collaboration.
