As a specialist qualified Corrosion Engineer, holding both a MSc and PhD in Corrosion Engineering, Dr. Peter Farinha has been involved in identification and problem solving of corrosion related issues in steel corrosion and reinforced concrete including inspection, identification, failure analysis, materials selections, coatings, specification and repair methodology for over 20 years.

Dr. Farinha has also been actively involved in the Cathodic Protection of various structures over the years, and early in his professional career in Western Australia, he was State Manager of a company responsible for the cathodic protection (CP) installation of the 1500 km natural gas Dampier to Perth Pipeline and some of its laterals. Additionally, he has previously worked for two engineering consulting groups in senior management, with business and technical responsibilities in a wide range of industries, particularly oil & gas, marine, mining, construction and chemical process industries, both in Australia and overseas.

He is a specialist in Microbiological Corrosion related issues, having gained his PhD in the corrosion of steel piling by sulphate reducing bacteria in ports and harbours in 1982.

Since that time he has identified and remediated microbially related corrosion issues in various industries in Australia. He is currently a member of an international research group investigating microbial corrosion in ports.

Dr. Farinha has also acted as Expert Witness in corrosion related failure investigations including water reservoir concrete failure, fire water mains pipeline, materials failure in a duckpellor propulsion system, and concrete failure in buildings.

1975 - 1978
Bachelor of Science (Analytical Chemistry, Zoology),
University of the West Indies,
Trinidad

1978 - 1979
Master of Science (Corrosion Science & Engineering),
University of Manchester,
Manchester,U.K.

1980 - 1982
Doctor of Philosophy (Corrosion Science & Engineering),
University of Manchester,
Manchester, U.K.

1986 - 1989
Graduate Diploma in Business, Curtin University of Technology,
Perth, Western Australia

1990 - 1993
Master of Business Administration, Edith Cowan University,
Perth, Western Australia.

In 1988 Dr. Farinha was Australasian President of the Australasian Corrosion Association (ACA), the Australasian professional industry group for Corrosion Engineers, and was Chairman of the Operations Committee of the ACA from 2001-2004. Over the years he has held a number of positions in the ACA including International Marketing and Liaison Director, Education Director and Membership Director. He is currently a Committee member on the West Australian Branch of the ACA.

Dr. Farinha was made a Fellow of the Institute of Corrosion, UK in 1992, and was appointed an Adjunct Research Fellow of Curtin University of Technology, Perth in 1993. He is currently a member of PIANC working group. He is also a member of the Concrete Institute of Australia and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, USA.

Dr Farinha is the author or co-author of a number of publicly available papers and technical documents, and has presented at both national and international conferences. He has been Plenary Lecturer on numerous occasions for various professional associations.