Dr. Akeroyd is the Director of the Goyder Institute for Water Research based in Adelaide. She has held executive level roles in the government and not-for-profit sector managing transboundary natural resource programs, translation of science into policy, implementation of large scale water research programs and working with diverse stakeholder groups. She has a BSc specialising in Environmental Science from the Flinders University of South Australia, a PhD from the University of Melbourne, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Dr Akeroyd is the 2014 winner of the South Australian Women in Innovation, Environment and Primary Industries Award and is the Chair of the Goyder Institute Research Advisory Committee.