Stuart is a member of the Australian Rivers Institute and, until July 2022, was its founding Director. His major research interests are in the ecology of river and wetland systems with a particular focus on the science to underpin river management.  Stuart has extensive experience working with international and Australian government agencies and industry on water management issues, and he is currently a member of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.  In 2019, he was appointed to the Earth Commission, hosted by Future Earth, and in 2022 was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.