Phil was a highly respected and experienced Australian Dams Engineer having worked on the investigation, design, assessment, risk management and the rehabilitation of dams, hydropower projects and water supply works throughout the world in a career spanning more than 50 years.
He was a Chairman of ICOLD’s Committee on the Operation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Dams, a Past Member of the ICOLD Committee on Governance, a Corresponding Member of the ICOLD Committee on Small Dams, a Chairman and Honorary Life Member of the Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia.
During his career, Phil was actively involved in projects across Australia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lesotho, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Zambia.
His positions included Design Engineer Dartmouth Dam Project, Principal Designing Engineer (Dams), Chief Designing Engineer, and Director Major Works responsible for investigations, design, construction, operation and maintenance of all large infrastructure for the Victorian Rural Water Corporation. He was later appointed as Director Technical Services and General Manager for HydroTechnology, Managing Director of SMEC Victoria Pty Ltd, Chief Technical Principal SMEC Australia Pty Ltd, and as Senior Principal (Dams) for Australian Dams & Water Consultants Pty Ltd. Phil was a founding and the longest serving member of the Hume & Dartmouth Dams (MDBA) Technical Review Committee.
He was also appointed by various Australian governments as a Dam Safety Regulatory Adviser in the ACT and Victoria, and as Commissioner to the Queensland 2011 Floods Commission of Inquiry.
Phil published and presented a number of technical papers to various professional bodies including ANCOLD, ICOLD, and the Australian and International Geomechanics Society. He was a Guest Lecturer at the University of Melbourne and RMIT University and a Research Project Advisor at Monash University, the University of New South Wales, and the University of Wollongong.
* Phil passed away in 2019.
ANCOLD is an incorporated voluntary association of organisations and individual professionals with an interest in dams in Australia.