Our People
Directors
Andrew Morison
Managing Director
Andrew is the Managing Director and one of the co-founders of Eco Logical Australia.
Andrew has worked in and with a range of government agencies, the private sector and numerous consultancies. He has prepared policies, strategies, planning instruments and management plans for both State and Local Government.
Andrew has extensive experience in the preparation or management of a range of strategies and assessments across NSW, QLD and WA. In addition, he has expert facilitation skills, having developed and performed presentations, workshops, consultation processes and negotiations with industry, government authorities, community interest groups, project staff and other specialists.
Michael Chilcott
Director
Michael has more than 25 years experience as an environmental professional, having worked in Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa. His tertiary training is in the fields of science, resource management, economics and business management.
Michael’s project experience includes natural resource management, transport and water/wastewater infrastructure, and land development projects. His expertise includes natural resource planning and management, environmental assessment and policy, governmental and community relations.
Michael is a past NSW President of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ), the professional association for environmental practitioners. He currently sits on the Institute’s Executive and National Council as its Treasurer.
Rod Rose
Director
Rod is a Director of Eco Logical Australia and the former Managing Director of BES (Bushfire and Environmental Services).
He established and ran BES successfully for 14 years and is recognised as a leading bushfire and landscape conservation consultant. His extensive experience includes the development of bushfire management plans for more than 1 million hectares of land, preparation of evacuation and fire response plans, and undertaking fire mapping and modelling.
Rod approaches problems scientifically to develop practical solutions and believes in using the latest research to deliver the best outcomes for clients and projects.
Steven House
Director
Steven is a Director, the Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of Eco Logical Australia.
He has extensive experience in strategic environmental planning with a focus on integrating ecological and bushfire requirements in urban environments. Steven works closely with clients and project teams to develop innovative solutions for often complex sites and works with government regulators to obtain practical and timely approvals.
In addition to site based projects, he has worked on a number of regional environmental planning assessments and developed vegetation maps, spatial flora and fauna habitat models and decision support tools.
Senior Staff
Ailsa Kerswell
Manager, Aquatic Ecology
Ailsa is the leader of the Aquatic Ecology team, which is based in Sutherland and works throughout Australia and the South Pacific. Ailsa has a PhD in marine ecology and has considerable experience working in estuarine, coastal and nearshore marine environments.
Ailsa and the Aquatic Team strive to achieve positive environmental outcomes for our clients. This is often challenging due to the multiple influences and jurisdictions relating to aquatic ecosystems.
Antony Von Chrismar
Manager, Hunter
Antony is a terrestrial ecologist based in Newcastle and has provided specialist ecological services as a consultant for over 6 years. Antony has a strong understanding of threatened fauna ecology and botanical knowledge of central to northeastern coastal NSW. He has specialist skills in biodiversity survey, impact assessment, landscape management and natural resource management. Antony has a research and bush land regeneration background and now as part of his post-grad research at Southern Cross University, is continuing to develop his knowledge of arboreal glider ecology.
Beth Medway
Senior Project Manager
Beth is a senior project manager with post-graduate qualifications in environmental planning, science and engineering. Beth has extensive experience managing multi-disciplinary teams for environmental planning and assessment projects. Beth has been responsible for regional studies, masterplans and management plans for catchments, riparian corridors, estuaries and greenfield areas. She has prepared environmental impact assessments and management plans for infrastructure projects. Beth is experienced in stakeholder consultation and facilitation, including community consultation.
Bruce Mullins
Manager, Ecology and Assessment
Bruce is an ecologist with fifteen years post-graduate experience and is Eco Logical Australia’s Senior Ecologist and Manager of the Ecology and Assessment team.
He has an extensive background in ecological consulting, including seven years as the manager of the environmental consulting activities of Charles Sturt University. He is experienced in the design and execution of ecological surveys, environmental impact assessment, the development of management plans, literature reviews and all aspects of project management.
Darren James
Manager, Sutherland
Darren is the manager of our GIS team who, through his broad range of experience with both the private and public sectors, has gained vast knowledge of GIS systems, data and complex spatial analysis. He offers highly developed skills in project management, client liaison and the delivery of quality products.
Darren is one of the state’s leading Biobanking experts, having worked on the development of the Biobanking methodology and calculator for several years.
David Coombes
Senior Ecologist
David has over 12 years experience in ecological consulting and environmental management, with a background in state government (NSW State Forests and NPWS) and private sector consulting. He has wide ranging skills in biodiversity survey, impact assessment and natural resource management. David has managed various flora and fauna impact assessments and biodiversity studies for large projects and has undertaken a range of threatened species research and survey projects in south eastern Australia.
David Peterson
Principal Bushfire Consultant
Responsible for leading the bushfire team, David is recognised as a specialist in bushfire protection planning and design and is a nationally certified practitioner. He has 12 years experience in managing environmental projects of a variety of backgrounds including 8 years dedicated to bushfire planning within both the public and private sectors.
David is an expert in bringing solutions to challenging projects where environmental, engineering or planning constraints need consideration amongst bushfire planning requirements.
Julian Wall
Manager, Coffs Coast
Julian is the manager of our Coffs Coast office on the mid-north coast of NSW and oversees operations in our Armidale office. He has a strong grounding in landscape ecology and specialises in preparation and delivery of NRM products such as regional vegetation maps, riverine condition maps and vegetation monitoring toolkits.
Julian also provides expertise in carbon sequestration and related Greenhouse solutions, with a focus on integrating biodiversity and carbon offsets into landscape restoration initiatives.
Katherine Lang
Environmental Scientist
Katherine is an environmental scientist with 7 years experience in environmental assessments and planning in both the public and private sector. Katherine brings together a range of expertise in GIS, strategic planning, development assessment and project management. Working extensively with a range of stakeholders including developers, land owners, local councils, state and federal government agencies she is able to deliver integrated solutions and efficient management of environmental assessments and approvals.
Mark Adams
Manager, Planning
Mark has 15 years experience as an environmental planner in both government and private industry and holds a Masters of Environmental Law. He specialises in the integration of land use planning and natural resource management with a focus on strategic landscape planning.
Previously in protected area management and planning, Mark has since managed environmental assessments and approvals under the EPBC and EP&A Acts including major projects within the infrastructure, energy, water, waste, defence, and urban development sectors.
Nathan Kearnes
Manager, Landscape Mapping
Nathan has worked within the natural resources and mapping sectors for over 10 years including both State Government and the private sector. Nathan gained invaluable experience through vegetation mapping projects for much of the greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra areas. Nathan also has well developed skills in, GIS analysis and mapping, habitat modelling, bushfire assessment and planning, as well as flora and fauna surveys and impact assessment.
Paul Frazier
Manager, New England and Hunter Region
Paul has over 20 years experience in remote sensing/GIS and physical geography. His formal education includes a Masters and PhD in the use of remote sensing for environmental assessment.
Key project experience includes: monitoring river health in the Murray-Darling Basin; quantifying the effects of long-wall mine subsidence on surface landscapes; precision agriculture data collection and analysis; and remote sensing of vegetation cover and condition in a range of environments.
Peter Hemphill
Senior Consultant
Peter has a wide range of experience in strategic planning, environmental impact assessment, and policy development. He is a strong communicator and enjoys developing solutions to complex environmental problems.
Peter worked at the Australian Government Environment Department for seven years where his major focus was implementing and developing policy for the Federal EPBC Act.
Robert Humphries
Manager, Biobanking and Offset Programs
Robert is an experienced ecologist, environmental planner and project manager with over 23 years experience, including 10 years as the Manager of the Threatened Species Section of the Department of Conservation and Environment.
Robert has spent the last 3 years focussing on the emerging offset markets, especially the new Biobanking provisions in NSW where he manages a number of public and private sector projects involved in both the supply and demand for biodiversity credits.
Robert Mezzatesta
Manager, Sydney
Robert has over 18 years experience working in the natural resources and biodiversity sector on the application of spatial information. He has broad knowledge and experience in ecological assessment and environmental planning, the derivation of spatial information, high level technical GIS analysis and the innovative implementation of new technologies as they develop.
Robert previously worked at NSW NPWS where he was involved the implementation of corporate strategies, policies and guidelines for information management within NSW Government.
Robyn Johnson
Environmental Scientist
Robyn is an environmental scientist specialising in environmental risk management, particularly in the use of management systems, plans and auditing. Through consulting and private industry roles, she has focused largely on chemicals, waste and the built environment.
With significant auditing experience, she can identify sustainable practices and resource use efficiencies. Robyn also has a keen interest in marine ecology, having completed honours research in community protection of rocky shore environments.
Ryan Smithers
Senior Ecologist – Manager Narooma Office
Ryan has more than ten years experience in environmental management (8 yrs as a consultant, and 3 yrs in state government) and extensive practical experience in biodiversity surveys, impact assessment, bushfire planning and fire fighting, bush-regeneration and vegetation management throughout south-eastern and southern NSW.
Recent projects Ryan has completed include a Biodiversity Planning Project for Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Aboriginal Land Management Biodiversity Project for DECC, and a Queanbeyan Biodiversity Study.
Sophie Powrie
Senior Consultant
Sophie has over ten years experience in large scale ecological assessment, spatial data analysis and strategic planning processes. She has an extensive background in project design, implementation, reporting and facilitating outcomes on multi stakeholder projects.
Sophie maintains a keen interest in innovative technological advances in remote sensing and knowledge transfer. She has experience in providing technical advice to advisory boards, private landholders, local councils and state government strategic planning
Steve Dimitriadis
Manager, Western Australia
Steve is the manager of the Western Australian State Office, and is a founding member of Eco Logical Australia. Steve has project managed the delivery of a number of strategic biodiversity, ecological assessment and natural resource management and planning projects.
Steve’s strengths and experience within the Federal and State context includes strategic landscape planning, reserve management, environmental policy development, ecological and bushfire assessment and applied GIS.
Steven Ward
Senior Environmental Planner
Steven coordinates the Strategic Conservation Planning Team in Sydney, with considerable experience in environmental approvals. He has prepared and managed a wide range of reports including: Biodiversity Certifications, Sustainability Assessments, Due Diligence reports, and SEE / REF’s.
Steven is a leading expert on Biobanking, being a teacher in the official accreditation course. He is also a koala expert, with a PhD and five published scientific papers in this field.
Tom Kaveney
Manager, Federal Approvals and ACT Region
Tom is the manager of our Federal Approvals team and is an expert in the application of both the EPBC and Sea Dumping Acts. He was a Director in the Australian Government Environment Department for seven years and has extensive experience in environmental impact assessment.
Tom has worked with clients around Australia to help them achieve environmental approvals. He works strategically to integrate the approval requirements of the States and the Commonwealth.