People
Our team of highly qualified and experienced professionals are here to assist you with your project.
Leadership and Business Support Teams
Chris Bloink
Director and Principal Aquatic Ecologist
BSc (Hons)
Read More
Chris has been the Director of Ecology Australia since 2019, growing the team and capabilities of the business significantly over this time. Chris has worked as a consultant aquatic ecologist since 2001 and has extensive experience undertaking general and targeted aquatic fauna surveys and monitoring throughout south-eastern Australia. He is highly experienced and proficient in the use of a wide range of sampling techniques and is a senior operator for boat electrofishing (with Coxswains grade 2NC), bank-mounted electrofishing, and backpack electrofishing.
Chris’s main areas of expertise include fish ecology and monitoring programs associated with stream health and environmental watering. Chris also has considerable expertise in undertaking surveys and monitoring for other aquatic fauna, including crayfish and platypus, and has developed specialist expertise in conservation management of various threatened species, including fish translocation. He has extensive experience in assessing and monitoring biodiversity values and condition, and in assessing existing and potential impacts to waterways.
Chris has a sound understanding of relevant legislation and policy and, as a highly skilled project manager, has led and made significant contributions to a wide range of projects for clients in both the public and private sectors.
Dr Tiana Preston
General Manager
BSc (Hons), PhD
Read More
Since joining Ecology Australia in 2023, Tiana has managed technical and non-technical aspects of the business to support and develop a large, highly qualified team of consultants. She plays a key role in most facets of the business, including managing key client relationships and projects such as platypus monitoring and environmental water projects. Tiana has strong project management skills and is passionate about collaborating to achieve the best possible outcomes for the environment.
Tiana majored in freshwater and marine ecology at Monash University, where she received first class Honours and completed a PhD investigating the ecology of little penguins. Prior to joining Ecology Australia, Tiana worked at Melbourne Water for 14 years in a wide variety of scientific, resource management (environmental water), and stakeholder engagement roles. Tiana’s main roles were implementation of the environmental water Monitoring Evaluation Reporting and Improvement program, and coordination of Melbourne Water’s platypus citizen science and engagement program. Tiana was also seconded to the roles of Senior Aquatic Scientist and Principal Waterways Planning, where she managed a variety of projects including evaluation of environmental water and Traditional Owner performance objectives for the Healthy Waterways Strategy.
Tiana has excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, having completed the IAP2 Certificate in Engagement and advanced training in Community Based Social Marketing. She was a member of the Melbourne Water Traditional Owner Advisory group and was a committee member of the River Basin Management Society.
See link to Tiana’s publications here.
Joanne Yee
Project Delivery Coordinator
BA, BSc, MSc
Read More
Joanne is an experienced environmental scientist who has developed well-honed project management skills throughout a career that spans consulting, government, academia and non-governmental organisations. During her time at GHD, Joanne was the team leader of the River Health Team, where she effectively coordinated the delivery of multiple projects across a busy team of staff and established well-regarded approaches for encouraging internal collaboration which benefited clients by providing robust multidisciplinary solutions to meet their specific project needs.
Joanne has a background in freshwater and marine ecology and geomorphology, and gained her Masters degree from Auckland University where she investigated the relationship between fluvial geomorphological patterns and stream ecology. Joanne has managed large, complex projects as well as smaller projects at site specific and catchment scales across Victoria and New Zealand.
Joanne understands the requirements of our clients for timely delivery of outputs and clear communication, and she is well positioned to coordinate resources at Ecology Australia to ensure smooth delivery of projects.
Thea Kinsela
Business Support Officer
BA (Hons), GradDipEd, GradDipArchae, Cert IV TAA
Read More
Thea joined Ecology Australia as General Manager in 2020 where she managed many facets of the business, including the non-technical aspects such as the development of policies and procedures.
Thea has worked in education, publishing and cultural heritage since 2004. She has taught in secondary schools, lectured at universities, and has worked as an archaeologist for various consultancies in Victoria, interstate and internationally. She is a published author and regularly runs archaeology workshops in schools and presents at conferences across Australia.
In early 2023, Thea stepped out of the General Manager position and into the Business Support Officer role to focus on developing training materials to support Traditional Owners in undertaking ecological monitoring programs, overseeing implementation of the Reconciliation Action Plan, undertaking cultural heritage desktop assessments as a Heritage Advisor, and providing ongoing support to the business, including editorial reviews of content.
Thea is a member of the Australian Archaeology Association, the Australian Society of Authors, Writers Victoria, and the Copyright Agency.
Rebecca Miller
Senior Administrator
Cert III in Business (Office Administration)
Read More
Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in administration and accounts, gained from working in accounting firms prior to joining Ecology Australia in 2019.
Rebecca coordinates many facets of the business, including auditing of the Integrated Management System. Staff and clients are aided by Rebecca’s intimate knowledge of Ecology Australia’s procedures and systems, and her rapid response to all enquiries.
Botany Team
Dr Gary Palmer
Senior Scientist (Vegetation Ecology)
BSc (Hons), PhD
Read More
Gary has extensive experience in ecological monitoring and evaluation, study design, data collection and analysis, and a range of flora survey techniques. During his PhD, he investigated rainforest fragmentation effects on patterns of interaction between vertebrate fauna and a range of native tree species.
Prior to joining Ecology Australia, he was employed as a Research Fellow in the Griffith University where he led, or contributed to, numerous large projects focusing on the conservation management of a range of threatened species and ecological communities. This included the development of a long-term ecological monitoring framework for the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment. In addition, Gary led Griffith University’s contribution to the vegetation ecology component of the Murray–Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge Research project, a large collaborative research project to inform the adaptive management of Commonwealth environmental water.
Since joining Ecology Australia in 2020, Gary has led multiple large-scale vegetation condition monitoring projects, including for The Living Murray program and Melbourne Water. Additionally, Gary has led several projects devising and reviewing monitoring methods, including working in collaboration with research institutions such as ARI and SARDI. He has authored numerous technical reports informing conservation management decisions for a range of public and private organisations.
Gary has worked extensively throughout wetlands and floodplains of the Murray–Darling Basin and has an intimate knowledge of vegetation dynamics throughout these ecosystems, particularly in relation to water availability.
Freja Butler
Senior Botanist
BSc (Hons)
Read More
Freja has been working in biodiversity conservation and management since 2017 and has experience performing flora and fauna surveys in a wide range of environments across Victoria and western New South Wales.
Since joining Ecology Australia in 2020, she has been involved in a variety of projects, including large-scale ecological monitoring programs, targeted threatened species and weed surveys, and environmental impact assessments. Freja is accredited by DEECA to undertake both Vegetation Quality Assessments (VQAs) and Index of Wetland Condition assessments. Freja is experienced in the identification and mapping of threatened and exotic species, ecological vegetation classes (EVCs) and various threats to ecological values. She also has a strong knowledge of native grassland ecology, which was the focus on her honours research.
Freja has led and contributed significantly to numerous large technical reports used to inform conservation management decisions, particularly in relation to environmental water delivery to wetlands and floodplains in the mid-lower reaches of the Murray–Darling Basin. Freja is highly skilled in plant identification throughout south-eastern Australia and has strong skills in ecological data analysis and interpretation. She is experienced in the successful management and delivery of large-scale, complex projects involving large teams working in remote locations.
Jennifer Murrell
Botanist
BSc
Read More
Jennifer graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Science, having double-majored in Botany and Ecology and Conservation Biology. Since joining Ecology Australia, Jennifer has been involved with a diverse array of projects involving a range of vegetation survey types, including long-term vegetation monitoring, weed mapping, targeted threatened species surveys, Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) mapping, wetland condition assessments, and environmental impact assessments.
Jennifer is highly experienced and accredited in conducting both Vegetation Quality (Habitat Hectare) Assessments as well as Index of Wetland Condition (IWC) Assessments. Jennifer is highly skilled in plant identification across Victoria and has strong data analysis and report writing skills. Jennifer has experience in managing small and large-scale projects, for a variety of clients.
Cassandra Neate
Botanist
BSc, BA
Read More
Cassandra graduated from Monash University in 2018 with a double degree in Ecology and Conservation Biology and Australian Indigenous Studies. Throughout her studies, she undertook a research project in Borneo and completed an internship with The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance. After graduating, Cassandra worked for Acacia Environmental Management between 2019 and 2022, where she developed her plant identification skills and gained extensive experience in natural resource management and ecological restoration.
Cassandra joined Ecology Australia in 2022, gaining experience in long-term vegetation monitoring through various projects including The Living Murray Condition Monitoring. By working on a variety of small- and large-scale projects, Cassandra has quickly developed her plant identification, data management and analysis, report writing and project management skills. Cassandra is accredited by DEECA to undertake Vegetation Quality Assessments (VQAs).
Matthew Lee
Botanist
BBiolSc
Read More
Matthew has been working in the environmental industry since graduating from his degree in 2019. With previous roles as field crew, Matthew has an excellent understanding of weed management and revegetation techniques. As a consultant botanist, Matthew has gained experience undertaking vegetation assessments including weed monitoring, threatened species targeted surveys, vegetation condition monitoring, vegetation quality assessments (VQA) and Index of Wetland Condition assessments (IWC).
Working for a variety of government and private clients, Matthew has well developed project management skills. Matthew possesses strong plant identification skills, with a very sound understanding of the flora of south-eastern Australia.
Nina Kerr
Botanist
BBiolSci
Read More
Nina joined Ecology Australia in 2020 and has since gained experience in undertaking and leading vegetation assessments including weed monitoring, threatened species targeted surveys, old growth forest assessments, vegetation condition monitoring, threatened species impact assessments, vegetation quality assessments (VQA), and Index of Wetland Condition assessments (IWC).
Nina has managed a variety of projects including Victorian Alpine Peatland long-term monitoring, DEECA’s fuel break ecological assessments, and Falls Creek Village Biodiversity Management Plan. Nina has a strong working knowledge of the Victorian flora.
Zoology Team
Dr Brett Goodman
Senior Scientist (Zoology)
BSc (Hons), PhD
Read More
Brett has worked as an ecologist since 2007. Brett comes from a research based background where he worked on a range of ecological and evolutionary questions. He typically used reptiles and frogs as model systems but has also worked on various other taxa. Brett has developed a detailed knowledge of terrestrial and aquatic vertebrate fauna across Australia. He has a well-developed range of field survey techniques, and an extensive understanding of the ecology and management of a wide range of taxa, both in Australia and overseas.
As a zoologist, Brett has led numerous projects, from desktop and field surveys to the development of animal and environmental management plans, impact assessments, stakeholder engagement, and auditing activities for a range of industries and government agencies. He has a well-developed understanding of state and federal environmental legislation.
Brett has a strong interest in ecology with realistic, applied outcomes. Through his research and now consulting career, Brett has focused on developing solutions to complex ecological and environmental management issues.
See link to Brett’s publications here.
Dr Timon van Asten
Senior Zoologist
BSc, MSc, PhD
Read More
Timon joined Ecology Australia in 2021 and has several years’ prior experience as an ecologist, both in Australia and in Europe. Timon has extensive experience with a variety of terrestrial fauna survey techniques, including observational and trapping methodologies.
Timon’s main expertise is bird studies, but he also has a strong interest in other terrestrial fauna, as well as Victorian native flora. He has gained strong project design skills, together with detailed data collection and analyses by managing a variety of projects including survey programs for arboreal mammals and birds, and by conducting surveys for species throughout Victoria, including golden sun moth, southern toadlet, and reptiles. He is also accredited by DEECA to undertake Vegetation Quality Assessments (VQAs). Timon is an experienced project manager and has strong report writing skills.
See link to Timon’s publications here.
Gemma Snowball
Zoologist
BSc, MES
Read More
Gemma graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Science, having majored in Zoology. She completed a Masters of Environment and Sustainability specialising in Environmental Security.
Since joining Ecology Australia, Gemma has been involved in and managed a variety of projects throughout southeast Australia. She is skilled in fauna identification throughout Victoria and has experience conducting a broad suite of zoological survey techniques, including arboreal mammal surveys, deployment and collection of terrestrial cameras, live trapping, golden sun moth, striped legless lizard, Altona skipper butterfly, southern toadlet, and frog call playback surveys. Gemma also has extensive experience in platypus surveying.
Gemma has experience in science communication as well as strong experience with field work, data analysis, project management, and report writing. She is deeply interested in zoology and is particularly passionate about environmental management strategies and ultimately the conservation of native biodiversity.
See link to Gemma’s publication here.
Dylan McLean
Zoologist
BSc
Read More
Dylan graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology). During his work as a field ecologist, Dylan developed his south-eastern flora and fauna identification skills and survey methodologies in the field across multiple projects.
Since joining Ecology Australia, Dylan has experience undertaking an extensive array of fauna survey practices, including wetland and woodland bird surveys, arboreal mammal and owl surveys, striped legless lizard, grassland earless dragon, southern toadlet, and platypus surveys throughout Victoria. Dylan is also skilled in desktop research, report writing, project management and remote fauna and flora surveying.
Aquatic Ecology Team
Bryce Halliday
Senior Aquatic Ecologist
BEnvSc (Hons), MSc
Read More
Bryce joined Ecology Australia in 2018 after completing Honours and Masters degrees at Deakin University in aquatic ecology and the environment. Bryce’s areas of expertise are fish and crayfish ecology, threatened aquatic species, rapid biodiversity assessments, plus fishway and fish barrier assessments. As a Senior Aquatic Ecologist, he has experience with a suite of aquatic sampling techniques, including fyke netting (for fish, turtles and platypus), bait trapping, electrofishing, environmental DNA collection, macroinvertebrate sampling, water quality, habitat surveying and tagging. He is a senior backpack and boat electrofishing operator (with Coxswains grade 3 NC).
Bryce is interested in the origin, structure, functions, and behaviour of all forms of life in freshwater, and their interactions with the environment, including the study of lakes, rivers and ponds, and microbial, plant and animal life.
Gemma Walker
Aquatic Ecologist
BSc MBioSci
Read More
Gemma graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Masters in Biosciences, including a research project in freshwater ecology. During her studies and over four years’ experience working as a research assistant, Gemma developed strong skills in a broad range of research techniques including experimental design, data collection in both laboratory and field settings, data analysis and handling, and report development.
Since joining Ecology Australia’s aquatic ecology team in 2023, Gemma has gained experience conducting and leading fish surveys on various projects via both netting and backpack electrofishing techniques. She is experienced in targeted aquatic surveys for threatened fish and crayfish species, including dwarf galaxias, Yarra pygmy perch, and various burrowing crayfish species. Gemma has also conducted platypus surveys, fishway monitoring, macroinvertebrate surveys, and eDNA sampling.
Ben Hutchins
Technical Assistant – Aquatic Ecology
BEnvSc
Read More
Ben graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Management and Sustainability). During his studies, Ben gained valuable fieldwork experience conducting targeted fauna surveys, vegetation assessments, macroinvertebrate sampling, water quality testing as well as spotlighting and camera trapping.
Prior to joining Ecology Australia, Ben worked as a Horticulturalist/Team Leader within a council-based role, developing his project management, stakeholder engagement and leadership skills in a predominantly field based position. Since joining Ecology Australia in 2024, Ben has gained extensive experience conducting fish surveys across Victoria.
Ben is trained in fish survey techniques including boat, bank and backpack electrofishing, as well as fyke and larval netting. He has experience undertaking fishway monitoring to assess movement success of migratory fish species within waterways and has conducted sampling targeting a range of aquatic fauna, including environmental DNA, platypus, crayfish, turtle and macroinvertebrate surveys. Ben regularly assists our botany and zoology teams, employing his broad suite of fieldwork skills and enjoying the diversity of work this offers.
GIS Team
Josie Bailey
Principal GIS Analyst
BA, MSc
Read More
Josie has more than 25 years’ experience in GIS and spatial analysis. She graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Coastal Geography and Biogeography. She completed a Master of Science at the University of Western Australia focusing on GIS and Climate Change modelling.
Josie established and managed the GIS capabilities for the Department of Environmental Protection in Western Australia and more recently worked at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). She has also worked at ESRI Australia which further increased her knowledge of Survey123, ArcGIS Field Maps, ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro.
Josie has worked on a variety of environmental management projects such as salinity risk, remnant vegetation policy and catchment management. She now specialises in creating Survey123 and Field Maps applications for field data collection that is widely used across Ecology Australia projects.
Lotta Atzenbeck
GIS Analyst
BEng
Read More
Lotta graduated from the University of Applied Sciences Berlin with a Bachelor of Engineering in Cartography and Geomedia. Having been in the last class presented with a focus on cartography, Lotta has, among other elements, learned manual hill-shading and map production. Lotta places a huge emphasis on the production of clear, informative maps. During her studies, Lotta worked in navigation and development of landmark-based way-routing systems.
Lotta’s experience in the environment sector has included the mapping for varied projects, including those related to contaminated land surveys, mining and energy industries, and remediation works. This has enabled Lotta to develop a wide variety and depth of skills in spatial analysis, map production, modelling, reporting and data manipulation. Since joining Ecology Australia in 2022, Lotta has provided clients with clear and detailed mapping for a variety of environmental values and threats. Lotta is currently undertaking a Masters degree in Geographical Information Science at Lund University, Sweden.