Vale Professor Anas Ghadouni

Professor Tony Wong pays tribute to Professor Anas Ghadouni.

It was with profound shock and sadness when I heard of the passing of Professor Anas Ghadouani, a dear colleague and friend. The news of his illness was kept private by Anas from so many of us.

My abiding memory of Anas is one of great humour, an unwavering passion and commitment to our mission, but never allowing us to take ourselves too seriously.

I first met Anas in 2011 as we embarked on our pursuit of establishing a cooperative research centre. He was one of the two representatives from Western Australia to join our strategic team comprising Monash University, the University of Queensland and the University of Western Australia. A generous collaborator, I vividly recall the long hours we spent developing our proposal, the passionate debates on project scope and the road trips we made to canvass support and partnerships.

We were of course successful, and went on to establish the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC), with Anas serving as the Western Australia Hub leader for the entire duration of the CRCWSC. In the subsequent 7 years that we were together as part of the Executive Team of the CRCWSC, we achieved so much. Our annual workshops were always great occasions for reporting our achievements from the year and setting ambitions for the next. Anas ensured these workshops were opportunities for camaraderie around our mission and celebration of our successes.

Ah...the famous Program E led by Anas at these events.

Anas was a dedicated educator who inspired generations of students and early-career researchers. Those of us who followed his TedX talks, podcasts, and YouTube videos can attest to his thought-provoking messages and engaging discussions on sustainability. He was a tireless advocate, working relentlessly to raise awareness and inspire action on environmental issues.

His passion for teaching, coupled with his ability to distil complex concepts into digestible lessons, made him a beloved figure among those who had the privilege of learning from him. Anas had a remarkable talent for making even the most intricate topics accessible and engaging.

Vale Anas, my friend. Your legacy is one of unwavering commitment to creating a more sustainable and resilient world. You have left an indelible mark on the field of environmental engineering, and your impact will continue to inspire generations to come. Your contagious enthusiasm, intellectual rigor, and warm camaraderie will be deeply missed.