Brent is a Research Professor at Curtin University and Director of the John De Laeter Centre, holding these positions since 2009. Prior to this he was employed as a Chief Research Scientist in the Division of Earth Sciences and Resource Engineering of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). Educated in Canada at McMaster University (BSc(Honours), MSc) and the University of Ottawa (PhD) and with postdoctoral training at the California Institute of Technology, he has 30 years of international experience in economic geology, geochemistry and research management. A Fellow and former VP Australasia of the Society of Economic Geologists, his honours include the 2003 CSIRO Chairman’s Gold Medal for Research Excellence, the 2007 CSIRO National Service from Science Award and the 2007 Fulbright Coral Sea Fellowship at NASA.