Experience

Marine ecology

• Approximately 150 Scientific papers, almost all in international journals (Google Scholar)
• Ecological Society of Australia Gold Medal for contribution to ecology
• Trained 50 higher-degree graduates
• Taught marine ecology and environmental science for >30 years

Independent Expert Advice

• Sydney desalination project
• Victorian Channel Deepening Project
• Victorian Desalination Project
• Thomas Foundation/The Nature Conservancy. Scientific audit” team for the Great Southern Seascapes project focusing on shellfish reef restoration
• Independent reviewer for infrastructure projects in Australia and USA, including nuclear power station, pulp mill, sewage outfalls.
• National research funding panels in Australia (ARC College of Experts) and New Zealand (Marsden Fund)
• External reviews of academic groups at universities in Australia and New Zealand
• External reviews of programs within the Victorian government (EPA, Parks Victoria, former DSE)
• Developed protocols for marine environmental monitoring of future pulp mills in Australia for National Pulp Mills Research Program

Project leadership

• Led major projects funded by (US) National Science Foundation, Australian Research Council, and R & D Corporations, with continuous funding from 1984.
• Led the Western Port Science review, which identified knowledge gaps that limited management by Melbourne Water and other Victorian agencies. Proposed a ranked list of priority research projects that formed the basis for Melbourne Water investment. Original report here and 2018 update
• Victorian Reef and Seagrass Program. Program leader for seagrass resilience project, improving understanding of Port Phillip Bay seagrass. Report summary is here.
• Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management (joint initiative of Uni. Melb, Victorian government, Melbourne Water, CSIRO, RMIT Uni.
  • Estuaries Program Leader
  • Research Management Committee (initial phase)
  • Steering Committee
  • Director 2019-20
• Queenscliff Marine Station (consortium to operate research and teaching facility at Queenscliff, involving 5 Victorian Universities, Fisheries Victoria, EPA, CSIRO. Management committee member for 25 years, with 18 y as Director, overseeing staff and day-to-day operations. Oversaw two expansions of QMS.

Advisory

• EPA Victoria. Sat on (10 years) and chaired (6 y) their key scientific advisory panel. I also led a review of that organization’s capacity to deal with emerging issues.
• Victorian Coastal Council (advisory body to Victorian government minister
  • 3 x 3 year terms as member of Council
  • Chaired Science Panel, drawing together scientific expertise to identify knowledge gaps and advise Council on specific issues