Dr Paul Hardisty is Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the nation’s tropical marine science agency. 

An honours graduate in engineering from the University of British Columbia, Canada, he has a Masters degree in Hydrology, and a Doctorate in Environmental Engineering, from Imperial College, London. He has been a Visiting Professor in Environmental Engineering at Imperial College, London, since 1999 and is an adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia.

Dr Hardisty has worked extensively in marine and coastal environments, and specialises in decision-making science and economics. He has substantial experience of both the public and private sector. He was the co-founder of Komex Environmental Ltd, an international environmental consultancy, built from start-up to a $50 million pa turnover company with a thousand employees and sold to the engineering services company Worley Parsons in 2006.

From 2006-2013, Dr Hardisty served as Global Director, Corporate Responsibility and Global Director, Sustainability and Economics for Worley Parsons.

In 2013, Dr Hardisty joined CSIRO, initially as Flagship Director, CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship, and then as Business Unit Director, CSIRO Land and Water.

Tertiary Education

1988 – 1991 PhD, Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, UK

1986 – 1987 MSc, Engineering Hydrology, Imperial College London, UK

1981 – 1985 BASc, Geological Engineering,The University of British Columbia, Canada

Employment History

CEO, Australian Institute of Marine Science (July 2017 - Present)

Director, Land and Water Business Unit, CSIRO (July 2014 - March 2017)

Flagship Director, Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO (May 2013 - June 2014)

Global Director, Sustainability and EcoNomics, WorleyParsons (July 2006 - March 2013)

Managing Director International, Komex Environmental (January 1996 - March 2006)

Co-Founder and Principal Engineer, Komex Environmental (1988 - 2006)

Professional positions/ memberships

Visiting Professor, Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, UK (January 1999 - Present)

Fellow of the Australian Institute of Chartered Engineers (Engineers Australia)

Registered Professional Engineer (Alberta, Canada)

Member, Australian Institute of Company Director’s (AICD)

Commonwealth of Australia Security Clearance Negative Vetting Level 1 (Secret)