Ben Longstaff - Curriculum Vitae

Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program coordinator (0.7 FTE)

(The Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP) is a multi-stakeholder, multi-partner monitoring program aimed at assessing the effectiveness of regionally coordinated management actions)

Key duties/responsibilities:

• Liase, consult and negotiate with all program partners (Universities, Federal and State Government agencies, Coastal Cooperative Research Centre) to ensure efficient delivery of services (i.e. sample analysis, statistical analysis, spatial interpolation, GIS, reporting)
• Liase and negotiate with program stakeholders (local government, state government and industry) to assess program requirements, program expansion and to communicate program findings
• Coordination, development and production of effective communication products including: Ecosystem Health Report Card, monthly data reports, newsletters, website, annual reports, presentations and data requests
• Coordinate and conduct data synthesis, analysis and interpretation for communication products
• Coordinate and contribute to the strategic direction and scope of the program
• Coordinate EPA monitoring activities (250 water quality sites/month within 15 estuaries and Moreton Bay; 6 Coral sites and 12 seagrass)
• Facilitate data analysis and interpretation to ensure program results integrate into the adaptive management framework
• Supervise the EHMP database manager and field coordinator
• Negotiate budgets and contract requirements for EPA and other partners

Outcomes:

• World-leading ecosystem health monitoring program that provides the data and data interpretation necessary for directing management actions and assessing the effectiveness of management actions
• Effective communication of program results to stakeholders, partners and the community on a daily, monthly and yearly basis
• Continually improving ecosystem health assessment techniques and data analysis methods

Research / special program coordinator (0.3 FTE)

Key duties/responsibilities:

• Remote sensing: Coordinate a demonstration project aimed at assessing the utility and validity of remote sensing for water quality monitoring
• Seagrass mapping: Conceptualisation and development of a rapid seagrass mapping technique (automated field video interpretation) to be used in combination with remote sensed images; to minimise effort and maximise data accuracy
• Underway monitoring capability: Design and developed the capacity to rapidly acquire water quality (physico-chemical; nutrients, phytoplankton groups, light attenuation and water velocity and direction) data while underway in a vessel (up to 25knts depending on instruments deployed)
• Phytoplankton Nutrient Bioassays: Coordinate research and development required to reintroduce this valuable monitoring tool into the EHMP.

Key duties/responsibilities:

• Assist in coordinating the EHMP including consulting and liaising with program partners and stakeholders
• Coordinate and conduct all EHMP monitoring tasks: Sewage plume mapping and seagrass distribution
• Coordinator and conduct all aspects of environmental consultancy project including writing proposals, field work, data analysis and interpretation and reporting
• Supervise all Research Assistant activities
• Develop program budgets and negotiate contractual arrangements
• Coordinate and run student field courses
• Lecture to and advise undergraduate student

Outcomes:

• EHMP reporting products produced: newsletters & report card
• Rapid and efficient completion of EHMP monitoring tasks
• Research and consultancy proposals funded
• Research and consultancy reports completed on time and within budget
• High quality, experiential education provided to students

Key duties/responsibilities:

• Environmental consultancy project coordinator
• Liase and negotiate with consultant, stakeholders and partners
• Environmental data analysis and interpretation
• Supervise research assistant and volunteers
• Environmental consultancy project assistant
• Coordinate and run student field courses

Outcomes:

• Research and consultancy proposals funded
• Research and consultancy tasks completed on time and within budget
• High quality, experiential education provided to students

Key duties/responsibilities:

• Preparation and analysis of seagrass samples
• Database entry and quality control
• Aquaria laboratory maintenance

Outcomes:

• All tasks completed as requested by supervisor

• Rainforest tour guide
• Summer camp counselor
• Bar person/waiter