Marine geophysicist whose research and international leadership spanned academia, industry, and government
Dave graduated from the University of Sydney, his place of birth, with a BSc in Geology and Geophysics/Applied Mathematics with first-class honours in 1967. During his PhD in Marine Geophysics at the University of New South Wales (1967-1972), he completed nine research voyages. Following his PhD, Dave worked for the Royal Australian Navy, in Sydney, before joining Shell, in Melbourne, as an exploration geophysicist. At Shell, he developed concepts of pre-breakup structuring on continental margins and authored a seminal paper on the breakup unconformity. In 1974, Dave was appointed Senior Lecturer in Geophysics at the University of Sydney, where he continued research on southwest Pacific marginal basin development and petroleum exploration, resulting in two landmark papers on geohistory analysis.
Left, David A Falvey. Image courtesy British Geological Survey.
Leadership and management
In 1982, Dave became Chief of the Division of Marine Geosciences and Petroleum Geology at the Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR; now Geoscience Australia), in Canberra. He established the Continental Margins Program, procured the first major Australian marine geoscientific research capacity (RV
Rig Seismic), and drove Australian membership in the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP). Seven years later, Dave rose to Associate Director of BMR, where he integrated a national programme of research, onshore and offshore basin analysis, and evaluation of petroleum resource potential.
Dave was appointed Director of ODPs at Joint Oceanographic Institutions Inc. (now Consortium for Ocean Leadership Inc.), in Washington D.C. in 1994. He led the development and implementation of the 2nd Long Range Plan for ODP, conducted significant cost containment, and restructured the management, scientific advice, and delivery of ODP.
Forward thinking
In 1998, Dave became Executive Director of the British Geological Survey (BGS) in Nottingham, UK. He shifted the organisation of the BGS from traditional scientific discipline-based divisions to user-oriented directorates, and changed their focus from traditional geological surveys to more modern techniques and approaches, such as 3D modelling, airborne geophysics, environmental monitoring, and hazard assessment. Dave also initiated a major programme in carbon capture and storage.
Dave served as Executive Director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) and was responsible for the physics, chemistry, and geoscience portfolios and oversaw all ARC research centres in Canberra, from 2006 to 2008. He drove Australia’s membership in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program and establishment of a Special Research Center for groundwater.
In 2008, Dave founded Research Connect, a global consultancy focusing on strategy, management, programme development, and energy exploration. He served as its Managing Director until his death. Concurrently, Dave co-founded and was Managing Director of Tamboran Resources (2008 - 2011), and later founded and was Managing Director of Palatine Energy (2011 - 2018).
Inspiration and enthusiasm
Beyond work, Dave’s passions included family, Aboriginal art, travel, wine, and golf. Survivors are his widow, Gillian Tidey, two children, and three grandchildren. Margaret Kaye, his first wife and mother of their children, predeceased him in 1984. We shall miss Dave’s brilliance, inspiration, incisiveness, enthusiasm, hospitality, bonhomie, irreverence, humour, and hearty laugh, and will endeavour to build upon his legacy.
By Mike Coffin
The full version of this obituary appears below. Editor.
David Alan Falvey (1945 – 2022)
Marine geophysicist whose research and international leadership spanned academia, industry, and government
Academia and Industry
A Sydney native of proud convict heritage, Dave finished school as dux of Canterbury Boys’ High School in 1963. He then enrolled at the University of Sydney, graduating with a BSc in Geology and Geophysics/Applied Mathematics with 1st class honours in 1967. An ensuing summer job with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) involved joining a research cruise, initiating his interest in marine geophysics, which he pursued a PhD in at the University of New South Wales. During his PhD, Dave joined nine research voyages; aboard USNS
Eltanin 34 in 1968, he met geoscientist Margaret Kaye. In 1968/1969 they spent nine months at Lamont-Doherty Geological (now Earth) Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University, in New York, during which they wed.
After being awarded his PhD in 1972, Dave worked briefly at the RAN Research Laboratory, in Sydney. Later that year he joined Shell, in Melbourne, as an exploration geophysicist. There, he developed concepts of pre-breakup structuring on continental margins and authored a seminal paper on the breakup unconformity. In 1974, Dave returned to the University of Sydney as a Senior Lecturer in Geophysics. Lacking access to research vessels, he investigated marginal basin development in the southwest Pacific using palaeomagnetics. Research on basin analysis and petroleum exploration resulted in two landmark papers on burial and thermal geohistory analysis. From 1978 to 1979, Dave was a visiting scientist at LDEO.
Government
In 1982, Dave assumed the position of Chief of the Division of Marine Geosciences and Petroleum Geology at the Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR; now Geoscience Australia), in Canberra. He established the Continental Margins Program, and chartered and outfitted RV Rig Seismic, thereby inaugurating the first major Australian research capacity in marine geoscience. He also drove Australian membership, commencing in 1988, in the international Ocean Drilling Program (ODP). Unfortunately, in 1984, his wife Margaret succumbed to cancer. At a BMR symposium later that year, he met marketing director Gillian Tidey, and they married in 1986.
Dave rose to Associate Director of BMR, and Head of Petroleum and Marine Geoscience Group in 1989. He integrated a national research programme, onshore and offshore basin analysis, and evaluation of petroleum resource potential. This programme assisted industry exploration and advised the Commonwealth government on exploration administration and management. In a memorable exchange at a meeting convened by Paul Keating (then Treasurer and future Prime Minister of Australia), Dave informed him that he was wrong about an exploration matter and explained why, stunning most participants. After the meeting, Paul thanked Dave for illuminating him.
Dave’s previous engagement with international scientific ocean drilling and his growing profile in science administration positioned him well to accept an appointment as Director of Ocean Drilling Programs at Joint Oceanographic Institutions Inc. (JOI), in Washington D.C. in 1994. At that time, ODP involved 18 countries, engaging Dave with a much larger international community than previously. Under JOI President, Admiral James D. Watkins, Dave led development and implementation of ODP’s 2nd Long Range Plan. He conducted a significant cost containment exercise and restructured the management, scientific advisory structure, and delivery of ODPs. Dave considered Admiral Watkins, a former US Chief of Naval Operations and Secretary of Energy, as his most significant professional mentor.
In 1998, Dave became Executive Director of the British Geological Survey (BGS). He shifted BGS from traditional scientific discipline-based divisions to user-oriented directorates. He also changed the focus of the BGS from traditional geological surveys to 3D modelling, airborne geophysics, environmental monitoring, hazard assessment, groundwater, soils, the urban environment, and information management and delivery. In the early 2000s, he initiated a major BGS programme in carbon capture and storage. Dave stepped down from the role in 2006 to return to Australia.
Dave served as Executive Director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) responsible for the physics, chemistry, and geoscience portfolio in Canberra from 2006 to 2008. The position also encompassed oversight, management, and review of all ARC research centres. He drove Australia’s re-engagement in ODP’s successor, the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), in 2007, and the establishment of a Special Research Center in groundwater in 2008.
Consultancy, service, and honours
In 2008, Dave and Gill founded Research Connect, a global consultancy focusing on business and research strategy, programme development, management systems, organisational reviews, and energy and hydrocarbon exploration. He served as Managing Director until his death. Concurrently, Dave co-founded Tamboran Resources and served as its Managing Director (2008 - 2011). Subsequently he founded Palatine Energy and was its Managing Director (2011 - 2018). The principal interests of both companies in Australian onshore basins required Dave to undertake challenging negotiations and consultations with Native Title holders (also known as Traditional Owners).
Dave’s service to the global geoscientific community was extensive. Among the highlights were roles as Deputy Chairman of Australian Marine Science and Technology Ltd (1991 - 1994), Federal President of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (1993 - 1994), and numerous panel, committee, and council memberships in ODP and IODP (1984 - 2006).
In recognition of his accomplishments, Dave was awarded a DSc (Honorary) by Nottingham Trent University (2001), was a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, and was a Chartered Geologist (UK). He declined an order of the British Empire honour.
For further details of Dave’s career, his 2016 interview for the History of Australian Geoscience Oral History Project archived at the National Library of Australia is available at:
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-363950778/listen.
Inspiration and enthusiasm
For an extraordinary career spanning academia, government, and industry, Dave considered it to be extremely rewarding and couldn’t have hoped for a more diverse, yet thematically connected professional life experience. Beyond work, his passions included family, Aboriginal art, travel, history, golf, wine, brandy, cigars, and his beloved vintage Morgan.
The global geoscience community has lost a luminary. Our deep condolences to his widow Gill; his children Kate and Pat; his grandchildren Natasha, Liam, and Jocelyn; and other family and friends. We shall miss his brilliance, inspiration, incisiveness, enthusiasm, hospitality, bonhomie, irreverence, humour, and hearty laugh, and will endeavour to build upon his legacy.
By Mike Coffin