Climate-Resilient Water Innovation Training Centre

We’re excited to share that the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) has secured $1.26 million over five years to support six PhD candidates and a postdoctoral researcher as part of the newly funded ARC Training Centre for Climate-Resilient Water.

Launching in 2026, the Centre is a national initiative to future-proof Australia’s water systems against climate disruption, while boosting sector productivity and accelerating the transition to Net Zero.

It will deliver leading-edge research, hands-on industry training, and collaborative design challenges to shape smarter, more resilient water infrastructure.

Led by the University of Queensland, in partnership with Griffith University and UTS-ISF, the Centre brings together 28 partners across utilities, councils, universities, and government — backed by $4 million in industry support, $5 million in Commonwealth funding, and university contributions.

ISF will lead the NSW hub, with our water experts Pierre Mukheibir, Simon Fane, and Andrea Turner mentoring the next generation of water leaders.

These PhD students will explore innovative solutions in adaptive water management, circular precinct design, and resilient infrastructure — working closely with NSW partners like the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and WaterNSW.

“There has been a dearth of water related research funding in recent times, and the ITTC presents a great opportunity for the three universities to collaborate on urban water security issues” says Professor Pierre Mukheibir.

With 25+ PhD scholarships, 6 postdoc, and 25 master’s scholarships on offer, plus industry placements and real-world collaboration, the Centre is more than a research program — it’s a national movement to transform how we manage water in a changing climate.