Water Strategy Officer NSW DCCEEW Australia
Dr. Charith Fonseka, based in Parramatta, NSW, is a distinguished environmental engineer with a Ph.D. from the University of Technology Sydney. With extensive experience in environmental policy, water management, and community engagement, Dr. Fonseka has made significant contributions to advancing scientific research and its practical applications.
Profile
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Education 🎓
Dr. Fonseka holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Technology Sydney (2023), where he was awarded the International Research Scholarship, the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology Scholarship, and the CSIRO postgraduate top-up scholarship. Additionally, he earned an Erasmus Scholarship from the European Commission in 2022. He also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering and Management (2018) and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (2015) from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, where he was on the Dean’s List and received the President’s Award for scientific publication.
Experience 💼
Dr. Fonseka currently serves as a Water Strategy Officer at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, where he provides critical analysis and advice on water markets and urban water strategies. His previous roles include Ph.D. Researcher at the University of Technology Sydney, Research Scholar at the Norwegian University of Life Science, Process Engineer at ABC Aqua Science Pvt Ltd, Environmental Engineering Consultant for the World Wildlife Fund-USA, and Lecturer at the University of Moratuwa.
Research Interests 🔬
Dr. Fonseka’s research interests focus on water and wastewater engineering, environmental impact assessments, and the development of sustainable water treatment technologies. His work includes the synthesis of novel materials for water purification and the study of innovative coagulants for organic matter removal.
Awards 🏆
Dr. Fonseka has received several prestigious awards, including the International Research Scholarship and the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology Scholarship from the University of Technology Sydney, the CSIRO postgraduate top-up scholarship, and the Erasmus Scholarship from the European Commission. He was also recognized on the Dean’s List at the University of Moratuwa and received the President’s Award for scientific publication.
Publications 📚
Dr. Fonseka has published several influential papers, including:
- Fonseka, C. D., et al. (2023). “Selective recovery of Europium using chromium-based metal-organic frameworks.” Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. Cited by 60 articles.
- Fonseka, C. D., et al. (2022). “Novel coagulants for organic matter removal from Nepean river catchment.” Water Research. Cited by 45 articles.
- Fonseka, C. D., et al. (2021). “Lab scale Nano Filter and Membrane Distillation systems for acid mine drainage filtration.” Separation and Purification Technology. Cited by 30 articles.
- Fonseka, C. D., et al. (2020). “Mesoporous silica-based adsorbent for cost-effective recovery of Europium.” Chemical Engineering Journal. Cited by 25 articles.