Meet: Usman Khalil Hydrologist

The people who work at eWater Group are leaders in their fields, bringing years – in many cases decades – of experience from a diverse range of industries, including science and technology, international development, academia, public policy, project management, sales, and more.

We are an organisation dedicated to delivering world-class water management expertise and tools in Australia and internationally through our three divisions – eWater Solutions, the Australian Water Partnership, and Mekong Water Solutions.

Usman Khalil encapsulates many of the diverse skills and experience we have across the eWater Group. As one of our hydrologists, Usman works closely with one of our most significant partners, the Murray Darling Basin Authority, where he contributes to the review of water resource plans and the implementation of the Basin Plan.  

For Usman, our partnership with MDBA is a critical one in which he provides hydrologic and statistical analysis for several major rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin to help inform water allocation and management policy, as well as analysis of water flow and rainfall data insights.

This collaborative partnership with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority is an example of our support for the use of eWater Source, Australia’s National Hydrological Modelling Platform to support water management.

Usman holds a PhD in Water Resource Engineering from the University of Wollongong, where he focused on Queensland Australia’s Coastal flood governance and water management in Queensland. He also has an MSc in Hydraulics and Irrigation Engineering and a BSc in Civil Engineering.

Usman’s passion for hydrology and finding sustainable water management solutions was solidified during the completion of his BSc in Civil Engineering in Pakistan in late 2010. In that year, approximately one-fifth of Pakistan’s total land area was devastated by floods from heavy monsoon rainfalls, causing casualties and destruction of property, infrastructure, and land.

“That was the time I decided to contribute to sustainable water and flood management and decided to focus my career on the field of Water Resource Engineer to play my role in it.”

And it is this passion that led Usman to join eWater Group, where he works closely with our government owners and partners with knowledge and understanding of their bespoke challenges and provides guidance on using our technology and expertise in hydrology to find solutions.

Usman brings 13 years of knowledge and experience to eWater Group. Usman has been involved in a diverse range of projects and activities, including dam design, hydrological modelling, hydraulic modelling, hydrodynamic modelling, transboundary cooperation, academic teaching, sustainable development and planning, and climate-resilient water plans.

“I value my work at eWater and appreciate the diverse opportunities that it offers in several ways, including the diversity of work, the ability to shape the direction of Australia’s hydrological modelling tools, the close partnerships with government owners and many of Australia’s leading water managers, and the collaborative work culture.”

“I enjoy my role as it enables me to share knowledge and expertise in water management to meet national and international needs.”

These national and international needs include the growing need to address water scarcity and sustainability, which continues to be a current and emerging challenge for Australian governments and partners, as well as international governments and institutions.

How we address these challenges relies on the hydrologists, academics, software developers, sales, project managers, public policy, and water industry experts and innovators who make up eWater Group.

For Usman, the key to finding solutions is through eWater Group’s products and software that “help customers make informed decisions in water modelling, scarcity, and sustainability. We are helping to bridge the gap between complex data and actionable information. This enables decision-makers, stakeholders, and policymakers to understand the implications of their choices, identify optimal solutions, and prioritize investments that promote water sustainability.”

“By providing accurate assessments, modelling different scenarios, and promoting sustainable water management practices, we are contributing to informed decision-making, efficient resource allocation, and the long-term sustainability of water resources in the country.”

Who are we?

eWater Group is owned by the Australian Federal, State and Territory governments to further develop Australia’s world-class modelling tools and to provide support and training nationwide and internationally.

Our organisation is comprised of three divisions – eWater Solutions, the Australian Water Partnership and the Mekong Water Solutions to deliver water management solutions for communities in Australia and overseas.

We also partner with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and research groups and institutions to provide expertise and support for sustainable water management solutions in Australia and internationally, now and into the future.