On joining eWater in October 2019, Russell Rollason brought 14 years’ experience in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade designing and managing international development programs in water resource management in the Indo-Pacific region. He was instrumental in establishing the DFAT funded Australian Water Partnership.
A science honours graduate from the University of Queensland (Geology and Mineralogy), Russell also holds a Master in General Studies from the UNSW. In 1998, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, for services to international development and humanitarian aid through the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) and promotion of social justice in Australia.
In 2010-13, Russell served as First Secretary in the Australian High Commission to India where he expanded Australia’s technical cooperation program with India in water resource management. He managed Australia’s partnership with the World Bank regional South Asia Water Initiative. After joining AusAID/DFAT in 2005, Russell drafted Australia’s first Mekong Water Resources Strategy and strengthened relations with the Mekong River Commission.
Russell has more than 20 years’ experience in civil society organisations, having served 12 years as Executive Director for ACFOA (now the Australian Council for International Development) and four years as the elected Chair of the Geneva based International Council for Voluntary Agencies. He has also worked as a consultant and team leader for two Asian Development Bank technical assistance projects in Asia.