Biography

Catriona Macleod is a senior scientist in the executive team at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania. She has more than 20 years’ experience in research to support marine and coastal management; with a focus on better understanding potential impacts and interactions, and providing the system understanding and recommendations to support sustainable development. Research outputs from her team have informed both regulatory policy and strategic planning for aquaculture activities locally and internationally, and have resulted in advisories to protect public health. Her advice is frequently sought on marine and coastal environmental issues, both within Australia and overseas and she has served on several international review committees and boards. She was a finalist in the Australian Rural Woman of the Year Awards 2010 and was nominated for the Tasmanian Scientist of the Year in 2012. She has a keen interest in natural resource management; particularly in understanding how best to resolve system-wide interactions and multiple use management issues, and how to communicate science most effectively to better inform and improve decision making.  This has led to recent collaborations with government and industry focused on improving spatial planning processes and identifying ways to better demonstrate the connections between science and both environmental management practices and broader community values.