Brief CVLeon Soste[1]

Qualifications

MEngSc (Hydrology),BE (Hons) (Monash), DipCE (Gipps Inst)

Skills / strengths

Engage the perspectives, knowledge & experience of heterogeneous actor groups*to collaboratively address complex issues. (* government, business, discipline experts & on-ground stakeholders).

Facilitate Articulation of aspirations, vision, history, strengths, weaknesses.

Crafting of operating environments / scenariosbeyond prior experience.

Consideration ofkey actor responsesto those operating environments.

Identification ofpreviously unforeseenrisk,vulnerability/or opportunity.

Development ofrobust, strategic adaptation plans frominsights gained.

These processes have been applied in sectors such asregional agri-business, NRM, local government planning community flood preparedness.

Employment history

Consultanta transdisciplinary approach (Feb 2014 - )

Scenario training for industry professionals (VMIA)

Clarifying vision, strategic directions (Teen Challenge, Victoria)

Senior Researcher Future Farming Systems Research Division, DPI (2003 – Nov 2012)

PositionTeam leader: Climate Change Adaptation in Victorian Agriculture (2010-12)

RoleLead manage multi-disciplinaryteam; synthesise literature on climate variability,projections extremes,complex systems & uncertainty; report modelling of climate impacts (biophysical economic); identifyrisks to agriculture, knowledge gaps.

Identify strategic issues forDPI research policy.

PositionTeamleader: Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Project (2007-10)

RoleLead manage a multi-disciplinary team to:

  • Engageselected primary produceragency stakeholders in SW Victoria
  • Formulate scenarios of climate non climate change for agriculture to 2050
  • Explore systemic impacts, assess vulnerability, develop strategic responses

Provide recommendations to policy on assisting primary producer adaptation.

PositionOperational Manager: Irrigation Futures of the Goulburn Broken(2003-07)

RoleManage a multi-disciplinary team which engagedkey regional stakeholders to identify future scenarios for irrigated agriculture, explore likely systemic impacts, identify implications for government, business & communitiesdeveloprobust, strategic directions. Manage stakeholder relations, reporting, communication & evaluation.

Company DirectorLand and Water Pty Ltd (1990 – 2002)

Clients Bureau of Meteorology, VICSES, DSE, Local Government

RoleEngageflood prone communitiesin eastern Victoria to assess effectiveness of current warning services;identify improved inter-agency operating systems; develop & implement education programs for community flood preparedness& MEMP’s.

Academic/ManagerGippsland Institute & later Monash University (1981-2003)

PositionDeputy Head, School of Engineering, Monash University, Gippsland (2000-2002)

RoleManage 20+ academic, technical, general staff. Oversee delivery of post grad, undergrad diplomaprograms, appoint casual staff. Represent the School.

PositionLecturer / Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering (1981–2003)

RolePlan & deliver undergrad units inwater supply & wastewater treatment, urban & rural hydrology,ecology for engineers, sustainability etc

Carry out hydrologic research fieldwork in Gippsland catchments- monitoring the spatial variability of rainfall; exploring soil moisture variation as a surrogate for likely runoff generating zones; remotely-sensed,under-canopy soil moisture monitoring

Collaborate with industry research groups, egLake Wellington Rivers Authority. CRC-Catchment Hydrology

Design EngineerLatrobe Valley Water & Sewerage Board (1980–1981)

RoleLeada small multi-disciplinary team exploringin-sewer odour generation control

Manage small engineering supply & install contracts

Design EngineerCity of Sandringham (1977 – 1980)

RoleAssessadequacy of urban drainage systems,redesign, cost, report

Community service

Volunteer/mentorTeen Challenge, Kyabram (2010 – present)

Board member Shepparton AOG (2006 – 2009)

VolunteerBreakfast Club, Ardmona Primary School (2004 – 05)

Committee member Water for Growth, West Gippsland CMA

Committee member IEAust Gippsland Group (2003)

Expert reviewer

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Working Group II, Assessment Report 5, First & Second Order Drafts (2012 & 2013) – various chapters

Flood Warning: An Australian Guide, (1999), Emergency Management Australia

Selected publications

Soste L, Wang QJ, Robertson D, Chaffe R, Handley S and Wei Y, (submitted), Engendering stakeholder ownership inscenario planning, Technological Forecasting and Social Change.

Soste L, Wang QJ, Robertson D and Chaffe R (2008), Scenario planning as a tool for regional water management, Water Down Under 08, Adelaide.

Soste L, O’Keefe S, Wang QJ, Robertson D and Poulton D (2007), Flexible technologies for irrigation delivery infrastructure, Proceedings of the ANCID 2007 Conference, Bundaberg.

Wang QJ, Soste L, Robertson DE, Handley S, Chaffe R (2006) Scenario planning for future irrigation in the Goulburn Broken Region, Proceedings of the ABARE Outlook Conference 2006, Canberra.

Soste, L. I. (1998), Remote sensing of soil moisture in forest regions, 9th Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference, UNSW, pp

Soste, L. I., Cawood, M., McPherson, N. and Hauser, R., (1997), Local Government issues in developing a Total Flood Warning System, 9th National Local Government Engineering Conference, IME, 59-64.

Soste, L. I. and Glass, J. (1996), Facilitating an appropriate response to flood warnings: A community based flood awareness program, Natural Disaster Reduction Conference NDR 96, IEAust, 235-240.

Soste, L. I., Elliott, J. and Cawood, M. (1994), Effective flood warning systems: The issue of user response, Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, IEAust, Vol 3, 253-258.

Page 1 of 2CV Soste, oct13april13

[1]Contact details:044 781 9946 227 Waranga Drive, Kialla 3631