Rob Thomas is a prominent senior South Australian environmental scientist. He is currently on contract as Chief Scientific Advisor for the Resources Infrastructure and Investment Task Force of Department of Energy and Mining. Thomas previously held positions of Chief of Aquatic Sciences and Sustainable Systems at the South Australian Research & Development Institute (SARDI), Chief Executive of the Department for Water Resources and Executive Director of the Environment Protection Authority. He became an Associate Professor with the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in the Adelaide city centre includes many Sa ...

in December 2008. Until 2016, Thomas was also a non-executive director of Blue Sky Water Partners. His professional experience has included roles as an environmental consultant, environmental regulator, natural resources manager and research manager.

Resources Infrastructure & Investment Task Force (RIITF)

Thomas was appointed Chief Scientific Advisor for the Olympic Dam Task Force now RIITF in April 2011. This role has seen him advise the

Government of South Australia The Government of South Australia, also referred to as the South Australian Government or the SA Government, is the executive branch of the state government, state of South Australia. It is modelled on the Westminster system, meaning that the h ...

on environmental strategy for complex mining and mineral processing projects including the proposed Olympic Dam mine expansion, the Nyrstar Port Pirie Smelter Transformation, the Whyalla Steelworks, and the Dry Creek Salt Field transformation project.

Biofuels

Rob Thomas has been an active promoter of research and development in

biofuel Biofuel is a fuel that is produced over a short time span from Biomass (energy), biomass, rather than by the very slow natural processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels such as oil. Biofuel can be produced from plants or from agricu ...

s, namely

biodiesel Biodiesel is a renewable biofuel, a form of diesel fuel, derived from biological sources like vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled greases, and consisting of long-chain fatty acid esters. It is typically made from fats. The roots of bi ...

and

bioethanol Ethanol fuel is fuel containing ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol as found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline. Several common ethanol fuel mixtures are in use a ...

Education

Thomas holds a master's degree from

Brunel University Brunel University of London (BUL) is a public research university located in the Uxbridge area of London, England. It is named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a Victorian engineer and pioneer of the Industrial Revolution. It became a university ...

in London and two bachelor's degrees from the University of Adelaide.

Early career

Thomas was the Manager of Marine and Environmental Studies at Kinhill Engineers for ten years prior to his entry into the public service.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Rob Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Australian environmental scientists 21st-century Australian scientists Academic staff of the University of Adelaide Alumni of Brunel University London University of Adelaide alumni Public servants of South Australia