Associate Professor Benjamin Taylor

I hold a PhD in Water Resources Management and am a Chartered Professional Engineer in Civil and Management. My research and professional work sit at the intersection of engineering systems, sustainability, human behaviour, and organisational practice, with a particular focus on translating research into practical outcomes for industry and communities.

Over my career, I have led and collaborated on research projects across water resources, sustainable infrastructure, engineering education, climate resilience, workforce development, and socio-technical systems. My research collaborations have explored innovative water use in domestic, commercial, and agricultural settings, including smart water metering, irrigation water efficiency, urban rainwater harvesting, and water-sensitive design approaches. More recently, my work has expanded to include carbon-negative green energy technologies, humanitarian engineering initiatives, and innovative approaches to engineering workforce development.

My experience spans the full research lifecycle, including project design, stakeholder engagement, mixed-methods research, data analysis, policy development, and impact evaluation. I have worked extensively with universities, industry partners, government agencies, professional associations, and regional communities to co-design solutions to complex engineering challenges.

I have also led several significant educational innovations, including the development of CQUniversity's Humanitarian Engineering specialisation, the national-first Trade Practice Specialisation, and industry-integrated engineering cadetship pathways that combine academic study with paid professional employment. These initiatives reflect my broader interest in building engineering capability, strengthening regional workforces, and creating educational models aligned with future industry needs.

Through my combined experience as an engineer, researcher, educator, and academic leader, I seek to advance engineering practice and education in ways that support sustainable communities, regional development, and the long-term success of the engineering profession.

University of Southern Queensland

CQUniversity

University of Southern Queensland

CQUniversity

2026 Recipient of a Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Best Practice in Learning and Teaching in the category of Generative Artificial Intelligence and Technology-Enhanced Education for Advancing Engineering Learning Through AI-enabled Podcast Resources That Foster Creativity, Enhance Student Engagement, and Deepen Understanding of the Creative Design Process.

2026 Regional Industry Network Awards Finalist in the category of Shaping Australia (Expansion into New Markets) for CQUniversity Engineering Cadetships

2024 Recipient of a Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Best Practice in Learning and Teaching in the category of Higher Education for Improving Participation and Enhancing Technical Skills by Integrating digital Twin Experiments with Remote Design Studios to Replace Undergraduate Engineering Student's Residential Schools.

2024 Best Scientific Paper at the 15th International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment (Kandy Conference) in Sri Lanka for A review of Humanitarian Engineering Delivery in Australasia

2017 Best Paper Award at the International Engineering and Technology Education Conference in Vietnam for What Students Value Most to Support Portfolio Assessment in Project-Based Learning Environments

2017 Opal Engagement Award finalist in Engaged Education and Training for Science Rocks!

2016 Opal Engagement Award finalist in Engaged Education and Training for CQUniversity Drone Races

2015 Opal Engagement Award finalist in Engaged Education and Training for First-year Industry-Based Engineering Projects

2012 Recipient of an International Water Association scholarship to solely represent Australian post graduate research concerning water resources management at the IWA inaugural publications writing workshop hosted by the Universiti of Teknologi Malaysia.

2012 Selected alumni representative of the Australia-Korea Next Generation Leaders Program and participating 2012 delegate in the Korean’s reciprocal tour of Australia’s water resources management practice.

2011 Selected delegate in the Australia-Korea Next Generation Leaders Program convened by the International Leaders Program of Sydney University, with the assignment of establishing ongoing exchanges with the Republic of Korea during our two-week tour of Korean water resources management practice.

2010 Recipient of the National Student Environmental Engineering and Sustainability Prize awarded by the Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering – Engineers Australia.

2009 Recipient of Queensland’s undergraduate thesis of the year in the field of sustainable engineering, awarded by the Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering – Engineers Australia.

2009 Recipient of a postgraduate research scholarship at the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility – Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity Network, jointly sponsored by Griffith University and the University of Southern Queensland.

2009 Recipient of first class honours degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern Queensland.

Chartered Professional Engineer
National Engineering Register
Member of Engineers Australia
Member of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education
Member of the Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering

My professional interests include: engineering education, water sensitive urban design, water resources management, urban hydrology, rainwater harvesting, urban stream restoration and behavioural mass-balance simulation. 

UrbanTank – A mass balance behavioural simulator of dual-duty rainwater tanks optimised for providing an alternative water supply while restoring desirable stream hydrology in urban catchments. I am also fluent in many programming languages.