Consultancy

Due to my seabird research and expertise on Wedge-tailed shearwaters of Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef, I was engaged to work with Sir David Attenborough as his Scientific Consultant and Seabird expert during filming on Heron Island and through final production  of his 3-part documentary BBC "David Attenborough's Great Barrier Reef" (http://attenboroughsreef.com/). I worked with research teams in the 6 month lead-up, and, when on location, was responsible for locating, securing and advising on filming sites, providing background information for 'pieces-to-camera' for David, and through final production, working with the marketing and media team until documentary release. 

 

 

My research results regarding wedge-tailed shearwater migration movements and pathways were discussed by Sir Attenborough on the series and published for the documentary (on the documentary interactive website - page 8): 

http://attenboroughsreef.com/animal_odysseys.php?title=Animal%20Odysseys&back=understanding_the_reef

I also interviewed regarding this species (documentary interactive website page 9): "Watch a wedge-tailed shearwater chicks clumsy flying lesson"

Advocacy & raising awareness campaigns

I believe in the importance of raising the awareness of the general public with robust science and information about conservation and sustainability. As such, I have actively participated in many campaigns including:

  1. I organized protest rallies and campaigns for the 'Save Ningaloo Reef' in Western Australia advocating against construction of a large marina that would impact salt marsh ecosystems, beaches, ocean, endangered turtles, manta rays humpback and other migrating whales, whale sharks etc.
  2. In Galapagos, I organized protest parades against shark and holothurian poaching and overfishing
  3. Forest management and sustainable tourism in Costa Rica
  4. Project AWARE Coral Reef Conservation in Honduras
  5. Beach and turtle nest protection in Guatemala & Malaysia
  6. I conducted environmental surveys for the Forest & Bird Society of New Zealand
  7. Advocated for reef shark and lobster protections in Bermuda

I frequently present scientific information in the form of talks to numerous groups including stakeholders, special interest groups, school and university students, governmental agencies, NGOs and the public.

Education

I taught Conservation Biology, Ecology, Population and Community Ecology, Biology and Zoology to undergrad University students between 2010 and 2013 including classes, tutorials and field studies.

Between 1999 and 2007 I taught hundreds of snorkelers and Scuba divers Marine Conservation courses and I conducted many underwater and boat-based marine fauna surveys.