I completed a BSc, a Graduate Diploma of Research Methods, and a Master of Science by Research in Marine Biology at James Cook University, where I focused on fish–habitat associations. After graduation, I worked in a range of research support and consultancy roles across academia and industry, primarily investigating the impacts of pollution on marine ecosystems. I was awarded a PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2018 for research on the ecological risks and functions of artificial reefs. Following this, I held a postdoctoral position at the Institute of Marine Research in Norway, where I studied maternal influence and climate-driven variation in recruitment of Norwegian spring-spawning herring—a key commercial fishery species. From 2019 to 2024, I held a teaching-intensive academic role at the University of Tasmania, where I led curriculum innovation. In 2025, I joined the Oceans Institute at the University of Western Australia as a Research Fellow.

My research explores pathways for the positive coexistence of humans and nature. I work at the intersection of marine ecology, engineering, and policy to drive sustainable ocean solutions.

Marine habitat restoration
Improving the evaluation of habitat restoration efforts is the primary focus of my current role as a Research Fellow at the Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia. I am part of a collaborative team developing and testing restoration success metrics—specifically, practical, cost-effective indicators that better reflect habitat functionality and long-term ecological resilience. The goal is to support restoration approaches that not only rebuild physical structure but also promote healthy, self-sustaining marine populations.

Eco-engineering
With over 20 years of experience in fish–habitat association research, I apply ecological insights to inform the eco-engineering of artificial structures—an increasingly vital endeavour in the face of accelerating environmental pressures on marine ecosystems.
I prioritise cross-sector and interdisciplinary collaboration, working with engineers, ecologists, managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to optimise artificial habitat design that supports native biodiversity. My work was the first to demonstrate that artificial marine infrastructure can create ecological traps, and I have led the development of pioneering design solutions to minimise these risks and enhance biodiversity outcomes.

My work also extends to offshore developments, where I investigate how artificial structures can deliver positive ecological results. In 2022, I co-led a Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (BECRC) scoping study on floating artificial reefs for recreational, commercial, and conservation purposes.

Policy impact
Translating research into policy and tangible environmental action is a central pillar of my work. I co-led the development of a risk-assessment-based decision-support tool for artificial infrastructure, helping to bridge scientific evidence with real-world policy application.

Marine pollution
In the field of marine pollution, my research focuses on the ecological impacts of emerging contaminants such as microplastics. This work has contributed to national environmental assessments including the State of the Environment report and the Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science, and has supported international collaborations with the Australian Maritime College, the University of Tasmania, and the University of Mumbai (2022–2023).

Centre for Marine-Socioecology

GoogleScholar

Current projects

PhD

Jack Roberts: The influence of seascape context on animal responses to coastal restoration

Andrew Taylor: Linking Recovery Trajectories to Quality-Centric Metrics in Coral Reef Restoration

Former projects

Naomi Forrest (Master, IMAS, UTAS, 2025) Modelling the spatial distribution of Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) by age and length in two sub – Antarctic regions

Alyaa Shara Shaharuddin (Master, IMAS, UTAS, 2025) Assessment of microplastic contamination in small reef fish from artificial and natural habitats in Tasmania

Eloise Hore (Master, IMAS, UTAS, 2024) Diplomatic Bottlenecks: State Strategies and Influence in Developing a Plastics Treaty

Sam Lemm (Master, IMAS, UTAS, 2023) Artificial structures as invasion hubs: assessing the benthic community differences between artificial structures and natural rocky reef habitats

Matt Teston (Master, IMAS, USA, 2023) Comparing tasmanian fish communities on natural reefs and artificial coastal structures and the predictors of observed community differences

Joel Davis (Master, IMAS, UTAS, 2023) Examining fitness implications for marine species occupying artificial structures compared to natural reefs

Meg Spiteri (Master, IMAS, UTAS, 2023) Using FT-IR to Determine Distribution and Abundance of Microplastic Found in Sediments in the Tamar Estuary

Gabrielle Henderson (Honours, IMAS, UTAS, 2023) Rapid, repeatable recording of particle size and colour in plastics research

Deepika Satchithananthan (Master, IMAS, UTAS, 2022) Identifying artificial reef design characteristics that determine chances of deployment success and fisheries benefit

Ariane Easton (3rd year Research project, IMAS, UTAS, 2022) Developing the first stage of an evidence-based artificial reef risk assessment tool: analysing the impacts associated with noise and light pollution in the marine environment

Brigette Wright (Master, IMAS, UTAS, 2021) Reciprocal learning opportunities between climate-driven species redistribution and invasion ecology

Annabelle Erskin (Master, IMAS, UTAS, 2021) Climate change impacts on a Southern Ocean fish community: a multi-species, size-based modelling approach