Dr Walter Cox has made a significant contribution to the application of science, technology and engineering by:

a.) commercialising scientific information to facilitate establishment of a commercial horticultural industry on the Ord. Value $20m per year.

b.) applying modern management theory and technology to the Water Authority of Western Australia. The Authority under his leadership has turned an annual deficit of $20m in 1989/90 to a contributor to Government of $51m in 1993/94. A turn around of $71m.

c.) encouraging the application of sound management, science, technology and engineering into community planning problems and economic development opportunities.

d.) application of science, technology and engineering to a range of Government policy issues eg. $20m One Nation Innovative Wastewater Treatment programme.

e.) fostering an environment that encourages employees to accept risk, innovate and continuously improve processes, products and services.
He displays outstanding leadership and contributes by example to a number of industry and university forums.