2009-2013
Academic qualifications: BA Cambridge (1964), MA (1968); MSc McGill (1969), PhD (1974); ETH, Zürich (1971-72). In 1972 he joined Environment Canada as a research scientist and worked for 9 years on the hydrology of glaciers and high mountain regions. He served as Chief, Liaison Division (1981-87) having particular responsibilities as Secretary, Canadian National Committee on Hydrology, National Representative for the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and Canadian delegate to UNESCO, International Hydrological Programme.
In 1987 Dr Young became Associate Professor in Geography, Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU), Waterloo, Canada. In 1991 he was promoted to Full Professor. He founded the Cold Regions Research Centre at WLU from where he conducted high mountain hydrology research in Canada, the Alps and the Karakoram Mountains of Central Asia. He is the author/editor of ten books and author of more than 50 publications, many in refereed journals.
Dr Young has served in several capacities in co-ordinating international hydrological activities: Vice-President, International Commission on Snow and Ice, (1991-95); Secretary General, IAHS, 1995-2000; Chair, International Water Associations Liaison Committee, (1996-2000); member Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Sub-Commission on Natural Sciences (1994-96), (Chair 1994-1996); Chair, Inter-governmental Council, International Hydrological Programme, UNESCO (1988-90); Co-ordinator, International Conference on Water and the Environment (Dublin Conference), based WMO, Geneva (1991-92); Co-ordinator, United Nations World Water Assessment Programme, based in UNESCO, Paris (2000-06). In 2007 he became Emeritus Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, in 2009 President of IAHS and in 2012 the Executive Director of the Canadian Geophysical Union.