Indigenous Australian Alumni Award
Associate Professor Bradley Moggridge is an environmental hydrogeologist, proud Kamilaroi man and currently an Associate Professor in Indigenous Water Science at the University of Canberra’s Centre for Applied Water Science. He combines the ancient knowledge of Indigenous environmental management with the advances of modern science, to progress a sustainable approach to water and land management.
With 25 years’ experience in water and environmental science, cultural science, regulation, Indigenous engagement, water policy and hydrogeology, Associate Professor Moggridge’s impact has been recognised locally and internationally. Today, his advice and approaches are used to build more sustainable water management systems on his own traditional Country and around the world. He was instrumental in establishing the global first Indigenous Groundwater Declaration with the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH Australia). This declaration, signed by IAH members at the Australasian Groundwater Conference this year, is to acknowledge, champion and support the inclusion and respect of Indigenous knowledge in groundwater activities, decisions and policies.
He has also been invited to speak at the United Nations Water Conference in New York in March 2023 and the Stockholm International Water Institute’s World Water Week in 2022 and 2023 as part of official Australian delegations.
In 2019, he was awarded the CSIRO Indigenous STEM Professional Career Achievement Award, the ACT Tall Poppy Award for Science, the ACT NAIDOC Scholar of the year and received the inaugural Academy of Science Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Travel Award. His work has also led to the establishment of the first National Indigenous STEM Professionals Network (NISTEMPN) in Australia. He is a Fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust and International Water Centre leadership courses, Board member of the NSW EPA, the Biodiversity Council and President of the Australian Freshwater Science Society (AFSS), a Governor of WWF Australia and member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. He holds a Master’s of Science (Hydrogeology and Groundwater Management) from UTS and Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) from ACU.
Associate Professor Moggridge’s vision, advocacy, research and practical application are increasing the visibility and respect of Indigenous knowledge systems, and helping the world better collaboratively manage the Earth’s most important resources, especially water.
Receiving this recognition from UTS is such a significant career moment. Thinking back, the Masters degree has allowed me to know and understand groundwater from a science perspective, providing the opportunity to connect with cultural knowledge from my Kamilaroi Country and now share that with the world.