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Professor Steven Kenway
Professor

Steven Kenway

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54170

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

163 works between 1993 and 2025

141 - 160 of 163 works

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.

Energy Use in urban water in Australia - opportunity to move beyond carbon neutrality

2008

Book Chapter

Urban water use

Kenway, Steven (2008). Urban water use. State of the Environment Queensland 2007. (pp. 320-326) edited by Julie Freeman and Wynne Webber. Brisbane, Austalia: The States of Queensland Environmental Protection Agency.

Urban water use

2008

Book

Triple bottom line reporting of sustainable water utility performance

Kenway, Steven, Howe, Carol and Maheepala, Shiroma (2008). Triple bottom line reporting of sustainable water utility performance. Denver, CO, United States: American Water Works Association Research Foundation.

Triple bottom line reporting of sustainable water utility performance

2008

Book

Energy use in the provision and consumption of urban water in Australia and New Zealand

Kenway, S. J., Priestley, A., Cook, S., Seo, S., Inman, M., Gregory, A. and Hall, M. (2008). Energy use in the provision and consumption of urban water in Australia and New Zealand. Canberra, ACT Australia: CSIRO.

Energy use in the provision and consumption of urban water in Australia and New Zealand

2008

Journal Article

Urban metabolism - improving the sustainability of urban water systems

Pamminger, Francis and Kenway, Steven (2008). Urban metabolism - improving the sustainability of urban water systems. Water, 35 (1), 28-29.

Urban metabolism - improving the sustainability of urban water systems

2008

Conference Publication

Urban metabolism can help find sustainable water solutions: lessons from four Australian cities

Kenway, Steven, Pamminger, F., Gregory, A., Speers and Priestley (2008). Urban metabolism can help find sustainable water solutions: lessons from four Australian cities. IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2008, Vienna, Austria, 7-12 September 2008.

Urban metabolism can help find sustainable water solutions: lessons from four Australian cities

2008

Conference Publication

Water and energy futures for Melbourne

Kenway, S., Turner, G. M., Cook, S. and Baynes, T. (2008). Water and energy futures for Melbourne. Singapore Water Convention, Singapore, 2008.

Water and energy futures for Melbourne

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.

Water-energy futures for Melbourne: the effect of water strategies, water use and urban form

2007

Conference Publication

SEQ Recycled Water Aspects and Soil Impacts

Taylor, B., Garnder, T. and Kenway, S. (2007). SEQ Recycled Water Aspects and Soil Impacts. AWA 2007 Regional Conference, Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia, 9-11 November 2007. Brisbane: Australian Water Association.

SEQ Recycled Water Aspects and Soil Impacts

2007

Conference Publication

Triple bottom line reporting: a communication tool on the journey towards sustainable performance for US water utilities

Kenway, Steven, Howe, Carol and Maheepala, Shiroma (2007). Triple bottom line reporting: a communication tool on the journey towards sustainable performance for US water utilities. AWWA/WEF Joint Management Conference 2007, Portland, OR, United States, 25-28 February, 2007. Denver, CO. USA: American Water Works Association Research Foundation and Water and Environment Foundation.

Triple bottom line reporting: a communication tool on the journey towards sustainable performance for US water utilities

2007

Conference Publication

Water, wastewater, energy and greenhouse gasses in Australia's major urban systems

Kenway, S. J., Priestley, A. and McMahon, J. M. (2007). Water, wastewater, energy and greenhouse gasses in Australia's major urban systems. Reuse 2007: 3rd AWA Water Reuse and Recycling Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 16-18 July, 2007. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Australian Water Association.

Water, wastewater, energy and greenhouse gasses in Australia's major urban systems

2007

Book

Sustainable Subdivisions: review of technologies for integrated water services

Diaper, Clare, Tjandraatmadja, Grace and Kenway, Steven (2007). Sustainable Subdivisions: review of technologies for integrated water services. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation.

Sustainable Subdivisions: review of technologies for integrated water services

2007

Conference Publication

The interaction between water and energy supply and use

Baynes, Tim, Kenway, Steven, Graham, Turner and West, Jim (2007). The interaction between water and energy supply and use. Complex 07: The Eighth Asia Pacific Complex Systems Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 2-5 July, 2007.

The interaction between water and energy supply and use

2006

Conference Publication

Future cities and water: a systems view

Kenway, Steven (2006). Future cities and water: a systems view. Enviro '06 Conference and Exhibition: Building Sustainable Cities, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 9-11 May 2006. Artarmon, NSW, Australia: Australian Water Association.

Future cities and water: a systems view

2005

Conference Publication

Communicating the sustainable water agenda: Brisbane Water's experience in public sustainabilty reporting

Thomas, Greg and Kenway, Steven (2005). Communicating the sustainable water agenda: Brisbane Water's experience in public sustainabilty reporting. AWA Ozwater 2005 Convention and Exhibition, South Bank, QLD, Australia, 8-12 May, 2005. Willoughby, NSW, Australia: Australian Water Association.

Communicating the sustainable water agenda: Brisbane Water's experience in public sustainabilty reporting

2004

Conference Publication

Assessing the risk of sewage effluent releases

Taylor, B., Kenway, S. J. and Myatt, B. (2004). Assessing the risk of sewage effluent releases. 7th International Riversymposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 31 August-3 September, 2004.

Assessing the risk of sewage effluent releases

2003

Conference Publication

Nitrogen load management for environmental and community benefit: least cost concepts

Kenway, S. J., Taylor, J. and Abal, E. (2003). Nitrogen load management for environmental and community benefit: least cost concepts. 6th International Riversymposium 2003, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2–5 September, 2003.

Nitrogen load management for environmental and community benefit: least cost concepts

2003

Conference Publication

Implementing the HLN OSRAS in the Lower Hawkesbury

Irvine, R., Kenway, S. J., Syme, B., Chapman, G. and Barry, M. (2003). Implementing the HLN OSRAS in the Lower Hawkesbury. On-Site '03: Future Directions for On-Site Systems, Armidale, NSW, Australia, 30 September-2 October, 2003. Armidale, NSW, Australia: Lanfax Laboratories.

Implementing the HLN OSRAS in the Lower Hawkesbury

2002

Conference Publication

Soil information for on-site effluent management

Chapman, G. A., Edye, J. A., Kenway, S., Miford, H. B., Murphy, C. L., McGaw, A. J. E. and Simons, N. A. (2002). Soil information for on-site effluent management. 5th Geospatial Information and Agriculture Symposium 2001, Everleigh, NSW, Australia, 17-19 July, 2001. Adelaide, SA, Australia: Causal Productions.

Soil information for on-site effluent management

2001

Conference Publication

On-site sewage risk assessment system

Hillier, Helen and Kenway, Steven (2001). On-site sewage risk assessment system. 2001 Water Odyssey: AWA 19th Federal Conference, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 1-5 April, 2001. Australian Water Association (AWA).

On-site sewage risk assessment system

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Shower Star Trial
    Touchgrid Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Efficient Shower Impact Monitoring (ESIM) Project
    Victoria Government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    Pasay 360 Sustainability Framework
    SM Smart City Infrastructure and Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Net Zero Carbon Water Cycle (Project 1, Phase 2) (Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning grant administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    iHUB:Smart urban research-synthesis-engagement platform for decision making (ARC LIEF project administered by SUT)
    Swinburne University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Water sensitive outcomes for infill developments (IRP4) - Tranche 2 funding
    CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Integrated Research Project 4 - Achieving water sensitive outcomes for in-fill developments
    CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Tools and Products
    CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Opportunities and Barriers for Distributed Energy Resources Development at Water and Wastewater Utilities
    Water Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Enhanced modelling capacity for the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (ARC LIEF project administered by the University of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Mapping the water-energy nexus: new knowledge for resources security
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Water and Electric Utility Integrated Planning
    Simon Fraser University
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    Catchment Scale Landscape Planning for Water Sensitive Cities in an Age of Climate Change
    CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Quantifying water-related energy and carbon fluxes in households, cities and economies - a new paradigm for design and management
    UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Water-energy-carbon linkages in households and cities: a new paradigm
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    The Industrial Ecology Lab - Integrating data and tools for powerful sustainability analysis (a NeCTAR Virtual Laboratory 201 sub-project administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Modelling energy and carbon through the water supply system
    Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority trading as Seqwater
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Steven Kenway is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Net Zero Carbon Water

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Kate O'Brien

  • 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

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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communications@uq.edu.au