OBITUARY

Warwick Watkins died on 16/11/2019.

Warwick Watkins was recognised at the state, national and international levels as an influential figure in surveying and spatial systems. Born in Newcastle in 1950, he studied Agricultural Science and Natural Resources at the University of New England and University of Western Sydney.

Mr Watkins was a successful state-level Rugby Union player and captained NSW Country in their successful 1978 tour of New Zealand. Briefly part of the national team, the one-time Wallaby supported the Australian sports community for the rest of his life.

He went on to lead a high-profile public service career, and served in numerous roles in the NSW Government, including:

• Director General of the Department of Lands

• Director General of the Department of Information Technology and Management

• CEO of the Waterways Authority

• CEO of the Land and Property Management Authority.

An expert in spatial information technologies, he made a major impact in the establishment and development of numerous IT initiatives including NICTA, AC3, Smart Internet CRC and CRC for Spatial Information.

His other positions included Deputy Chancellor of the University of Technology, Sydney, Deputy Chair of Australian and New Zealand Land Information Council, and Deputy Chair of the CSIRO Advisory Council on Water for a Healthy Country. In his later years he worked as a consultant.

Mr Watkins was elected a Fellow of the Academy in 2010. He died on 16 November 2019 and is survived by his wife Elaine; children Jody, Penny and Peter; and six grandchildren.