Overview
Background
Steven is a water leader with senior experience in research, industry, and government, developed through roles with The University of Queensland, CSIRO, Brisbane Water, Sydney Water, and private consulting. He has worked with urban water, wastewater, stormwater, and related energy and greenhouse gas issues since 1990. His work addresses urban water security, water-energy nexus, and circular economy . He creates collaborations, tools, models and knowledge to address all flows of water – and related energy - into, out of, and within cities. This enables evaluation and management of key concepts such as: (i) net zero carbon water cycle, (ii) hybrid, decentralised and integrated systems performance, and (iii) sustainable urban design and planning.
Steven’s work is enhancing performance benchmarking of cities, shaping development, guiding policy and infrastructure investment locally and internationally. He has secured and delivered over $8m funding for his research since 2005, most since 2013. This includes multiple international and national projects for the Asian Development Bank, Water Research Foundation (USA), and CRC Water Sensitive Cities.
He has authored over 60 Scopus-listed articles in high-quality journals, 20 books or major CRC public reports, 10 book chapters and over 67 conference articles (over 200 total articles). Steven is a long-term and regular funded plenary and invited keynote presenter to peak international forums including: World Water Forum, World Water Congress, World Water Week and Singapore International Water Week. Steven’s strong multi-disciplinary work spans environmental, chemical and civil engineering, natural resources management, and urban planning and design. He has developed urban metabolism theory, including its links to integrated water management and industrial ecology.
Availability
- Professor Steven Kenway is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Steven has developed fresh new concepts in water-energy nexus and urban metabolism management. He has moved this into design outcomes, infrastructure plans, investment and international guidebooks for Renewable Energy Integration to Water and Wastewater Systems and Integrated Water and Energy Planning. He leads a Net Zero Water Cycle Energy use project – a new approach for urban water management which builds on his evaluating household water-energy links to create new options for cost-efficient systems. He has demonstrated how 9% of Australia’s energy use is influenced by urban water.
Steven has improved water and urban design. Since 2016, he leads a major integrating project (Water Sensitive Infill Development) for the CRC Water Sensitive Cities finding solutions to the challenge of urban infill development to overcome current urban development issues of flooding, increased heat and reduced security. Partnering with multiple stakeholders he has created new designs for urban precincts up to 10,000 people, demonstrating how cities can be more liveable, water-sensitive and energy-efficient.
Steven has influenced water security across Asia leading research for the Asian Development Bank. From 2015-2020 he has led the analysis of Urban Water Security (KD3) for the Asian Water Development Outlook - used in the Asia Pacific Water Forum, and by the United Nations. His methods have been adopted by government in a growing list of countries to guide national water investment including Thailand’s National Water Strategy.
Steven catalysed and led the creation of the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (IELab). This game-changing e-research infrastructure (~$4M value) has now been developed, based on the Australian model in the United States, China, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan and Sweden.
Steven has created high quality international training programs on Integrated Urban Water Management (WATR 7105) Management (Urban Water Engineering) for The University of Queensland. He has led “Urban Metabolism” course development for the International Water Centre and Griffith University since 2013 where he is an adjunct Professor. He has led development of the multi-partner Urban Design Challenge (water and energy systems integration) at UQ since 2016, and its uptake by other universities.
Works
Search Professor Steven Kenway’s works on UQ eSpace
2010
Journal Article
Water-energy nexus needs more study
Kenway, S. J. (2010). Water-energy nexus needs more study. Asian Water, 28-30.
2010
Journal Article
Will water management reduce energy use in our cities?
Kenway, Steven (2010). Will water management reduce energy use in our cities?. AQ - Australian Quarterly, 82 (2), 4-7.
2010
Book
Manual for adopting integrated urban water management for planning
Maheepala, Shiroma, Blackmore, Jane, Diaper, Clare, Moglia, Magnus, Sharma, Ashok and Kenway, Steven (2010). Manual for adopting integrated urban water management for planning. 1 ed. Denver, CO, U.S.A.: Water Research Foundation.
2010
Conference Publication
Energy in water: the case for a smaller footprint
Mai, Kenway, Steven, Rose and Novotny (2010). Energy in water: the case for a smaller footprint. Asian Development Bank and Partners Conference 2010, Water Crisis and Choices, Manilla, Philippines, 11-15 October 2010. Asian Development Bank and International Water Association.
2010
Conference Publication
Quantifying the link between water and energy in cities
Kenway, Steven, Priestley and Lant, Paul A. (2010). Quantifying the link between water and energy in cities. Water and Energy 2010, Amsterdam Netherlands, 2010.
2010
Conference Publication
Quantifying water-related energy use in cities
Kenway, Steven, Lant, Paul A. and Priestley (2010). Quantifying water-related energy use in cities. Urban Water Security Research Alliance Science Forum and Stakeholder Engagement: Building Linkages, Collaboration and Science Quality, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2010. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Urban Water Security Research Alliance.
2010
Conference Publication
The water paradigm shift: challenges and tools for young and experienced water professionals
Porro, J., Daw, J., Puigarnau, A., Kenway, S. J., Moddemeyer, S. and Beck, M. B. (2010). The water paradigm shift: challenges and tools for young and experienced water professionals. World Water Congress 2010, Montreal, Canada, 19-24 September 2010. Montreal, Canada: International Water Association.
2010
Conference Publication
Water-related energy and emissions - key emerging messages
Kenway, Steven, Lant, Paul A., Bader, Scheidegger and Larsen (2010). Water-related energy and emissions - key emerging messages. Urban Water Security Research Alliance Science Forum and Stakeholder Engagement: Building Linkages, Collaboration and Science Quality, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2010.
2009
Journal Article
Reducing emissions in the water industry
Kenway, S., Priestley, T., Cook, S., Seo, S., Inmann, M., Gregory, A. and Hall, M. (2009). Reducing emissions in the water industry. Water Engineering Australia, 33-33.
2009
Journal Article
How can the Triple Bottom Line deliver greater value to water utilities
Kenway, Steve, McCafferty, Pat and Pamminger, Francis (2009). How can the Triple Bottom Line deliver greater value to water utilities. Water Utility Management International, 4 (2), 23-24.
2009
Journal Article
Triple Bottom Line reporting and management for improving utility performance
Kenway, Steve, Howe, Carol, Maheepala, Shiroma, Kelley, Tony and Davis, Cheryl (2009). Triple Bottom Line reporting and management for improving utility performance. Water Utility Management International, 4 (2), 21-22.
2009
Conference Publication
Energy Use in urban water in Australia - opportunity to move beyond carbon neutrality
Kenway, Steven, Priestley and Lant, Paul (2009). Energy Use in urban water in Australia - opportunity to move beyond carbon neutrality. Water and Energy 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark, 29-31 October 2009.
2009
Conference Publication
Energy use for water recycling in the context of the urban water cycle
Keller, Jurg and Kenway, Steven (2009). Energy use for water recycling in the context of the urban water cycle. Reuse 09, Brisbane, Australia, 20-25 Sept 2009. Brisbane, Australia: IWA Publishing.
2009
Conference Publication
Learnings from two recent water‐energy nexus modelling analysis in Australia
Kenway, Steven (2009). Learnings from two recent water‐energy nexus modelling analysis in Australia. Industry Workshop and Short Course: Future Models for Water and Energy Management, Brisbane, Australia, 20-22 July 2009.
2009
Edited Outputs
Science Forum and Stakeholder Engagement: Building Linkages, Collaboration and Science Quality
S. J. Kenway and D. K. Begbie eds. (2009). Science Forum and Stakeholder Engagement: Building Linkages, Collaboration and Science Quality. Urban Water Security Research Alliance Science Forum, Brisbane, Australia, 17-18 August 2009. Brisbane, Australia: Urban Water Security Research Alliance.
2009
Book Chapter
Energy use in urban water
Kenway, S. J., Priestley, A., Cook, S., Gregory, A., Lovell, A. and Smith, N. (2009). Energy use in urban water. Climate change and water: international perspectives on mitigation and adaptation. (pp. 111-122) edited by Carol Howe, Joel B Smith and Jim Henderson. London, United Kingdom: International Water Association and American Water Works Association..
2009
Conference Publication
Energy use in urban water provision and use - opportunities to move beyond carbon neutrality
Kenway, S., Priestley, A. J., Cook, S., Inman, M., Hall, M. and Gregory, A. (2009). Energy use in urban water provision and use - opportunities to move beyond carbon neutrality. OzWater 09, Melbourne, Australia, 16-18 March 2009. Artarmon, NSW, Australia: Australian Water Association.
2009
Book Chapter
Technological innovation in the provision of sustainable urban water services
Kenway, Steven and Tjandraatmadja, Grace (2009). Technological innovation in the provision of sustainable urban water services. Technology, design and process innovation in the built environment. (pp. 267-289) edited by Peter Newton, Keith Hampson and Robin Drogemuller. Abion, Oxon, United Kingdom: Taylor & Fancis. doi: 10.4324/9780203928325
2009
Conference Publication
Influence of urban water choices on energy use – who’s responsibility is it?
Kenway, Steven, Lant, Paul and Priestley (2009). Influence of urban water choices on energy use – who’s responsibility is it?. Water and Energy 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark, 29-31 October 2009.
2008
Book
Water-energy futures for Melbourne: the effect of water strategies, water use and urban form
Kenway, S. J., Turner, G. M., Cook, S. and Baynes, T. (2008). Water-energy futures for Melbourne: the effect of water strategies, water use and urban form. Canberra, ACT Australia: CSIRO.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Steven Kenway is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Framework for Integrated urban water management for infill development with limited dependency on urban infrastructure.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Marguerite Renouf
-
Doctor Philosophy
Enabling a Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Water Cycle
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate O'Brien
-
Master Philosophy
Contribution of alternative water sources to urban water security
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Marguerite Renouf
-
Doctor Philosophy
Progress and pathways toward a Net-Zero carbon urban water cycle
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Lant
-
Master Philosophy
Improving Compliance of Industrial Effluent Discharge for Cleaner Environmental Waterways
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ilje Pikaar
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the relationship between urban water management and liveability: conceptualisations and opportunities for assessment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Marguerite Renouf
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Water performance evaluation of infill development
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Marguerite Renouf
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the food-water-energy-greenhouse gas emissions nexus in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Marguerite Renouf
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Defining urban water security and understanding the role of stakeholders in establishing objectives
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brian Head
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Integrating Renewable Energy Technologies in the Water Industry: Opportunities and Challenges
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Lant
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Integrated Modelling of Residential Water-Related Energy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate O'Brien
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Residential water and energy use linkages: Integrating data and policy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Lant, Professor Brian Head
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Energy Implications of Water Management in Cities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Lant
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Restoring the natural water cycle in cities: an urban design framework
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sara Alidoust, Associate Professor Paola Leardini
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Integrated Project Risk Management for Residential Recycled Water Schemes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Maureen Hassall, Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
Media
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