Botanical consulting

Fiona Coates has worked in the field of biodiversity management for the Tasmanian and Victorian governments, non-government organisations and at universities, across public and private land tenures. She holds an Honours degree and PhD in Plant Ecology. Her primary areas of expertise are management of threatened plant species and communities, recovery of vegetation after fire, vegetation survey and monitoring, and preparation of recovery plans. Fiona has also held roles in policy development for threatened species planning, collaborative research between government agencies and universities, and devising strategies to engage and up-skill community groups in threatened species management. She is a member of the Ecological Society of Australia, the International Association of Vegetation Science, the IUCN Species Survival Commission Orchid Specialist Group, and is a former member of the Victorian Government's Scientific Advisory Committee (Expert in Vascular Flora).

Associate consultants

Flora, fauna and net gain assessments

Marc Bellette is Director of Ecology Consultants Pty Ltd, and is a certified practitioner for provision of Vegetation Quality Assessments (e.g. Habitat Hectares assessments) as required by the Victorian Government Native Vegetation Permitted Clearing regulations.  Marc works with Woods to Water to prepare Conservation Management Plans, Offset Management Plans, Pest and Weed Management Plans and bushfire planning advice.

Statistics, risk analysis and modelling 

Joanne Potts is Director at The Analytical Edge Pty Ltd and has worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and the USA in both academic and government settings as a statistical consultant. Her areas of expertise include survey and experimental design, linear and non-linear modelling, abundance estimation, population modelling, survival analysis and spatial modelling. Joanne has applied these skills to a wide variety of applications including ecology, biosecurity, engineering, underwater acoustics and social surveys. 

Biosecurity, pests and diseases

Grant Telford has made a significant contribution to Australia's favorable biosecurity status and has over 20 years of experience working for the Queensland government at a senior level in the areas of biosecurity planning, management, strategy, policy and legislation. Grant's 'on ground' experience coupled with his knowledge of legislation, policy and procedure has delivered sound biosecurity outcomes - including the eradication of citrus canker in 2009, in his role as Program Manager of the National Citrus Canker Eradication Program. Grant is Director at Biosecurity Solutions Australia Pty Ltd.