A team led by Andrew Waters consisting of specialists in flora identification, vegetation classification, GIS, soils and approvals, each with a minimum of 10 years professional experience.
Andrew Waters
Graduate Certificate in GIS Bachelor of Science Advanced Certificate of Horticulture
A Certified Environmental Practitioner with the Environment Institute of Australia New Zealand.
The principal author of Guidelines For Conservation Management Plans Relating To Mineral Exploration On DEC Managed Lands, jointly released by the Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
Responsible for Chevron meeting 4 of 36 conditions for Gorgon Gas Development in Ministerial Statement 748 including developing a Terrestrial Disturbance Footprint (a concept capturing indirect impacts first applied in this MS), and defining significant ecological communities with the use of GIS.
Previously:
- a Senior Project Co-ordinator for the Department of Environment and Conservation reviewing PERs and EMPs, and developing protocols for assessing offsets, EMPs and surveys.
- an Environmental Officer at Kings Park (Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority) overseeing bushland restoration (including plans, seed collection, greenstock and weed control flora surveys and plant identifications) and developing monitoring techniques and performance indicators.
- an Operations Officer for the Department of Conservation and Land Management undertaking flora and fauna surveys, weed control, overseeng access tracks maintenance, bushland restoration and dieback surveys.
Dr Shane Chalwell
PhD Bachelor of Science (Honours)
A specialist in plant community ecology, including the use of multi-variate data analysis such as cluster analysis and ordination techniques.
Received his PhD for research on Plant communities of greenstone hills of the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia as analogues for the rehabilitation of rocky waste dumps.
Dr Chris Hancock
PhD Bachelor of Science (Honours)
An expert in statistics, plant identification, plant community classification and ordination.
Received his PhD for research on Factors affecting the physiognomy and species richness of plant communities of valleys of the Darling Plateau.
Frank Obbens
Bachelor of Science (1st class Honours) (Biology)
A senior field botanist and taxonomist, and research associate of the WA Herbarium where he is a leading expert on Calandrinia plants.
Has published numerous scientific papers in Nuytsia (a peer-reviewed journal on the systematics, taxonomy and nomenclature of plants, algae and fungi)
Sharnya Thomson
Bachelor of Science (Botany/Zoology)
A senior plant taxonomist and field botanist, specializing in the flora and ecology of the arid regions of WA, in particular, the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.
Involved in seal and eagle management prior to specializing in flora.
Dan Marsh
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
An ecologist with extensive experience working with mining companies and governmental departments across the majority of Western Australia.
Rceived his Honours for research on The post-fire regeneration of heath and woodland on Rottnest Island.
Martin Wells
Bachelor of Agricultural Science (1st class Honours)
(Soil Microbiology)
An expert in soil survey, land capability assessment, approvals, and strategic planning.
Has worked nationally (Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria and Tasmania) and internationally (China, Indonesia, Philippines and Vanuatu).
Bill Biggs
Bachelor of Science (Hons)(Agriculture)
Certificate IV, Effective Manager
An expert in resource development approvals, mine closure and strategic mine planning, and was the author of the Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans that were jointly released by the Environmental Protection Authority, and the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
Previously a Senior Manager in Government with the responsibility for regulating environmental management in the mining industry in WA, and 10 years in the Mineral Sands Industry managing mine site rehabilitation and environmental management.
Is currently a Board member of the South West Catchments Council.