| HIGHLIGHTS |
2019 – Current | Member of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Scientific Advisory Committee on the Assessment of Marine Litter and Microplastics.
2018 | Lead author on a white paper submitted to the UNEA Ad-hoc Open-Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics.
2018 – 2019 | PI on an NSF funded International working group investigating the impacts of intervention strategies for reducing plastic emissions (SESYNC)
2018 – Current |Member of the World Seabird Union Specialist Committee on Seabirds and Plastic pollution.
2018 – Current | Member of the World Seabird Union Communications Committee.
Trustee (Research scientist) | Northern New Zealand Seabirds Trust |2017 – 2021 |
The Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust aims to see multi-disciplinary and /or multi-agency seabird research and conservation projects are adequately funded and resourced. As an independent research-based organisation it also aims to be a catalyst and focal point for initiatives relating to seabirds through promotion, research and conservation. The Trust will support long-term research projects to monitor trends in seabird and ecosystem health. Significant action has already commenced on seabird and island restoration projects in northern New Zealand. However, sound research across the ecological spectrum is required to inform community groups and conservation managers, and to ensure that the success of these and future projects is maximised. Read More
2018 – 2021 |Scientific Advisor for the Aotearoa Plastic Pollution Alliance (APPA), lead scientist on the working group ‘Plastic Pollution Mitigation’
2015 | Developer of The Global Change App | A free education app about the connection between stomata, the carbon and water cycles and global change, available on iTunes and Android
| FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS |
2018-2020 David H. Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the project “Mitigating oceanic plastic pollution: modeling inputs and interventions to identify effective reduction strategies”
2017-2019 National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) Pursuit (NSF Funded)| “Mitigating oceanic plastic pollution: modeling inputs, interventions and future scenarios to direct mitigation strategies for achieving measurable improvements to marine ecosystems” | Annapolis, MD, USA
2014 – 2017 | Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarship | Auckland University of Technology | New Zealand
2016 | Research Grant | Waikato Regional Council
2015 | JS Watson Scholarship | Forest & Bird New Zealand
2015 | David Medway Memorial Scholarship | Ornithological Society of New Zealand
2015 | Travel Award for the second World Seabird Conference | South Africa
2013 | The Todd Foundation Award For Excellence 2013 | New Zealand
2012 | The Jennifer Playfair Memorial Scholarship | Auckland University of Technology | New Zealand
2012 | AUT University | The Fletcher Trust Award | Most outstanding Bachelor of Science Graduate
2012 | AUT University | The Fletcher Trust Award | Best research project
2012 | Institute for Applied Ecology Award | Most outstanding BSc graduate in Environmental Science
| IN THE PAST |
Scientific adviser | Packaging Workgroup (plastic bags) – Auckland Council (2015-2017)
The working group has been established which will work on solutions to the environmental issues related to plastic bags in Auckland, New Zealand. The group is comprised of representatives from the manufacturers from packaging industry, retailers, community members, scientists and council representatives.
Marine mammal surveyor | University of Auckland (2015-2016)
Seabird observer for monthly aerial marine mammal surveys in the Hauraki Gulf, Aotearoa.