Benefits of establishing ecological and socio-economic baselines during the exploration phase: case study in the Great Australian Bight

Associate professor Tim Ward has written over 160 scientific publications and won competitive research grants valued at over $10 million. He is presently the research director for the Great Australian Bight Research Program. Before this, Tim led the South Australia’s Fisheries Science Program for over a decade. Under his leadership this team became one of Australia’s largest and scientifically productive fisheries research teams. He is recognised internationally for his research on small pelagic fishes. Tim has been the scientific advisor for the South Australian Sardine Fishery since 1998, the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery since 2002 and the Northern Territory Small Pelagic and Squid Fishery since 2013. He has led several large, successful multi-disciplinary research projects in the Great Australian Bight and has published papers on the importance of the region’s upwelling system in enhancing pelagic productivity and the effectiveness of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park in protecting regional biodiversity. Tim is affiliated with the University of Adelaide and has full academic status at Flinders University. He has supervised nine doctoral and five honors students.

Dr Lukatelich’s career has spanned academia, environmental consulting and industrial environmental management. In various roles over 23 years at BP Refinery Kwinana, he led a small team of environmental engineers and was responsible for environmental management systems, monitoring and reporting emissions, wastewater treatment, environmental impact assessment for major projects, solid waste management, groundwater production, soil and groundwater remediation, dangerous goods management and Major Hazardous Facility Safety Report. He supported BP’s global refining businesses as a senior environmental technologist (1995–97) and as a water technology advisor (2004–06) in the areas of contaminated site assessment and remediation, and water/wastewater treatment and minimisation. He also supported BP’s Upstream businesses in oil-based drill mud remediation, wastewater treatment and environmental management.

Dr Lukatelich’s academic research included studies on the impacts of eutrophication on algae and seagrasses in lakes and estuaries, relationships between hydrodynamics and water quality, and development of ecological models. He has published 52 refereed papers and book chapters in environmental science.

Recently retired from BP he is presently a part-time environmental consultant, board member of the West Australian Environmental Protection Authority, Chair of the oil industry LNAPL Forum, member of CSIRO Energy Strategic Advisory Committee, Director of CRC CARE Pty Ltd and Chair of the Great Australian Bight Research Program Management Committee.

David Smith leads the Sustainable Ecosystems and Living Resources Theme of the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship. The theme focuses on research that supports the balanced use of marine resources, including sustainable marine industries (fisheries, offshore oil and gas) and biodiversity conservation. The offshore oil and gas activities of the Flagship sit within Dr Smith’s Theme, which includes the $20 million collaborative research science program designed to improve the understanding of the environmental, economic and social value of the Great Australian Bight. The interplay of science and policy is of particular interest to Dr Smith, who is well placed to improve the provision of science advice for resource management. Dr Smith has more than 25 years’ experience in marine resources science, assessment and management. Before joining CSIRO in 2005, Dr Smith was the director of the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute and research director of marine and freshwater systems for Primary Industries Research Victoria. Dr Smith has published more than 150 research papers, reports and book chapters and invited conference papers on subjects including fisheries assessment, harvest strategies, ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) tools, alternative management strategies and spatial management.

Professor Gavin Begg is the research chief of SARDI Aquatic Sciences. Before his move to South Australia in 2012, he was the assistant secretary for Fisheries and Quantitative Sciences at the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. He also was a senior manager at the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, program leader at the CRC Reef Research Centre James Cook University, and research scientist and postdoctoral fellow at the Marine Research Institute Iceland and the National Marine Fisheries Centre, Woods Hole, US. He has experience in the assessment and management of marine fisheries and ecosystems, led Australian delegations to international fisheries meetings, provided integrated scientific and economic advice, data and assessments to support government policies, and is involved in a range of advisory committees where he contributes to the shaping of fisheries and environmental research, policy and management outcomes.

Rochelle Smith is the environment manager at BP Developments Australia. In Australia, BP Developments Australia operates four exploration permits in the Great Australian Bight and is a joint venturer in a number of operations including the North West Shelf, Browse LNG Development and Greater Gorgon. Rochelle has nearly 20 years of experience in oil and gas. Before joining BP, Rochelle was the lead environmental specialist at BHP Billiton Petroleum, and was also an environmental advisor at the Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum and Department of Environmental Protection. She has a BSc in environmental science, a honours in biology, and a masters in environmental science.