Management Team
Bradley Evans
Industry Partner/ Research Leader
Email:
bradley.evans@tassal.com.au
I am the senior manager of breeding and research for Tassal Group Ltd, Australia’s largest producer of Tasmanian grown Atlantic salmon. I have more than 20 years of experience in aquaculture research and development. I have a PhD in genetics and applied breeding techniques and oversees the primary breeding program for the entire Tasmanian Atlantic salmon industry. I am also an active researcher; with adjunct roles at CSIRO, being involved in a number of collaborative research programs and student projects, and on several industry advisory and reference groups.
Tassal is committed to ensuring their sustainability and has led the way in Australian Seafood in terms of corporate, social and environmental reporting and certification. Tassal’s interest in supporting regional communities and other industry partners has seen them actively engage in the Seaweed Solutions CRC and the research necessary to establish the viability of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). My industry experience will ensure that the Seaweed Solutions IMTA research is aligned with industry needs and appropriately applied.
Phil Lamb
Industry Partner/ Research Leader
I am the managing director of Spring Bay Seafoods Pty Ltd an award winning Tasmanian based seafood company specialising in production of blue mussels for some of the finest restaurant tables in Australia and also international export markets. I am a director of the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council, and a seafood entrepreneur with a clear vision for development of a Tasmania and Australian seaweed industry.
I have more than 20 years of experience in aquaculture production, and seafood business development. He has instigated a dynamic R&D program for Spring Bay Seafoods for both shellfish and more recently seaweed development. My team and I bring a range of practical industry and research skillsets to the project. I am a committed partner in the Seaweed Solutions CRC, with a plan to establish commercially viable seaweed production alongside his shellfish operations - as such I have set some very clear research objectives for the team to achieve.
Catriona MacLeod
Associate Professor
IMAS/UTAS
Email:
catriona.macleod@utas.edu.au
Originally a benthic ecologist and invertebrate taxonomist, I am now the head of the Ecology and Biodiversity Centre and part of the executive management team within IMAS and UTAS. I have a keen interest in marine and coastal resource management. I have more than 20 years’ experience in science to support sustainable aquaculture development, focusing on collaborations with industry and government. My advice is frequently sought on marine environmental issues, both within Australia and overseas.
My research group has focused on improving understanding of the environmental impacts and interactions of finfish aquaculture, providing recommendations to support sustainable development and management of aquaculture operations and marine and coastal resources. Recent research projects focused on improving spatial planning processes and the relationship between environmental management and broader community values. Research outputs have been used to inform regulatory policy and strategic research direction for aquaculture activities locally and internationally.
Dr Craig Sanderson
Principal contact and Leader of WP 2 Tassal
Tassal representative driving the vision for a sustainable seaweed-based industry here in Tasmania (also chief Cat herder).
My main research interests relate to the culture of seaweed and commercial applications.
Over 40 years of involvement in seaweed related activities and research mostly in Tasmania, but includes Australia and Europe.
Catriona Hurd
Professor
IMAS/UTAS
Email:
catriona.hurd@utas.edu.au
Researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, focussing on marine macroalgae (seaweeds).
I am an eco-physiologist whose research focusses on how environmental factors – light, nutrients, CO2, pH, and water motion – affect rates of seaweed growth and production.
Since 1986, I have studied seaweeds in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. I supervised to completion 22 PhD and 30 MSc/Honours students as a primary supervisor, mentored 12 postdoctoral fellows, published 125 peer-reviewed papers on seaweed ecophysiology, and led the 2nd edition of the textbook Seaweed Ecology and Physiology (Hurd CL, Harrrison, PJ, Bischof K and Lobban CS, 2014, Cambridge University Press).
Dr Alecia Bellgrove
Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology and Ecology
Deakin University
I am a Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology and Ecology at Deakin University Warrnambool Campus, with 25 years experience in seaweed research. I lead the DeakinSeaweed Research Group, which focuses on research to inform the development of a sustainable seaweed industry for southeastern Australia and conservation of natural seaweed ecosystems, whilst increasing public awareness and guardianship of the amazing and gorgeous seaweed flora we have in our region. I have a BSc(Hons) and PhD from Monash University. I spent 3 years living and working in Japan as a postdoctoral researcher (University of Tsukuba) where I was lead into the wonderful world of seaweed cuisine. The intersection of my lived personal experiences, passions for great nutritious food and the environment, and expertise in seaweed biology and ecology have converged to direct my research program in sustainable nutrition solutions through the use of Australian seaweeds.
Dr Karen Alexander
Leader of WP 3
IMAS/UTAS
Email:
karen.alexander@utas.edu.au
I combine human geography and environmental sociology to investigate the interactions between society and the marine environment.
I focus on natural resource conflict and marine governance, specialising in human dimension issues relating to marine spatial planning and the transition to a blue economy.
I was Social Impacts WP leader for European FP7 IDREEM project (also focused on IMTA), and have led several projects in Tasmania relating to societal support for/acceptance of aquaculture.