For 25 years, Cynthia has been passionate about learning, and about improving the sustainability of our urban infrastructures. Doing this requires a systemic, transdisciplinary approach, which Cynthia has brought to about a hundred collaborative research projects with industry and government in Australia and internationally, including in the Global South. 

In 2007, Cynthia was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sweden’s Chalmers University for her interdisciplinary work for the environment. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Engineers Australia, and the Institute of Community Directors of Australia, and was named in 2015 as one of the Australian Financial Review/Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence. In 2018 the Australian Water Association recognised Cynthia as a Legend of Water.