Prof Toffoli has a wealth of experience in ocean and coastal engineering, physical oceanography and air-sea interactions, which includes research, teaching, consultancy, working at the Universities and industry. With a Master degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy) and PhD in Civil Engineering from the KU Leuven (Belgium), he went on working in shipping industry (DNVGL) in Norway and academia (Swinburne University of Technology and University of Plymouth) in Australia and UK, before joining the University of Melbourne.