Dr. Praktan Wadnerkar

About Dr. Praktan Wadnerkar

Dr. Praktan Wadnerkar is a globally recognized environmental scientist, hydrogeologist, and engineer with over 15 years of multidisciplinary experience across Australia, France, and India. A recipient of the Australian Government’s Global Talent Program, he holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering and Management from Australia and an International Master’s in Hydraulic and Civil Engineering from France.

Currently working as a Hydrologist at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Dr. Wadnerkar leads water allocation modelling, climate-resilient planning, and controlled groundwater allocation processes. He brings advanced expertise in hydrological and catchment modelling, water data analytics, stakeholder engagement, and environmental planning.

Previously, he held key environmental roles with Blacktown City Council, Maitland City Council, and Burnett Mary Regional Group, managing carbon reporting, sustainability initiatives, and GIS-based natural resource programs. His research career spans globally reputed institutions such as National Marine Science Centre (Australia) and CNRS-CEREGE (France), where he investigated groundwater-surface water interactions, nutrient transport, and biogeochemical dynamics of coastal systems. His pioneering work on denitrifying bioreactors and estuarine nitrogen attenuation earned the NSW Environmental Excellence Award in 2020.

Dr. Wadnerkar has published over 16 peer-reviewed journal articles and delivered presentations at global platforms including Goldschmidt (Spain) and the International Bioreactor Conference (Australia). His research has directly supported policy and management decisions for multiple Australian government agencies including Local Land Services NSW, Coffs Harbour City Council, and NSW DPI.

His technical toolkit includes hydraulic and GIS software such as HEC-RAS, WaterGEMS, EPANET, ArcGIS Pro, Pix4D, and modelling platforms like R, Python, and SPSS. He also holds certifications in Remote Pilot Licensing, Aeronautical Radio Operation, and Accounting for Nature.

Praktan thrives in multidisciplinary teams and multicultural settings, with a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainable water resource management, and innovative science communication. From managing slum water supply improvements in Mumbai to cutting-edge biogeochemical research in Australia, his work reflects both engineering precision and ecological sensitivity.

Address  : 12 Phillip Street, Parramatta , NSW 2150

Email      : w.praktan@gmail.com

Mobile    : +33 7 58 74 84 25

                : +61 422 633 283    

Skype      : w.praktan@gmail.com