Ocean Protect Podcast

Mark Gibson is Principal Engineer in the Water Management Unit of Brisbane City Council, and President of Stormwater Queensland. In this chat, we talk about Mark's passion for volunteering and stormwater - and how they've come together at Stormwater Queensland, and what's it been like (so far) as President. We also took about some of the challenges facing the stormwater industry and what we can do...

Katie Walters (Moreton Bay Foundation) and Paul Maxwell (EcoFutures Consulting) join the podcast to talk about a Blueprint for a sustainable Moreton Bay . This report (recently published by the Moreton Bay Foundation) identifies priority actions for the protect and renewal of Moreton Bay over the coming decade. Useful links: Katie on LinkedIn ( here ) Katie's email ( here ) Paul on LinkedIn ( here...

Brian Mcintosh is Associate Professor of Integrated Water Management at Griffith University and Education Director at the International Water Centre. In this chat, Brian describes his journey from being a straight edge punk in Scotland to being a leader (and developing future leaders) in the water industry in Australia. We also discuss what exactly is Integrated Water Management, and how it can pr...

Katherine Warwick is an aquatic ecologist and PhD candidate at Western Sydney University. Katherine has recently led an Australian-first study which has found perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in platypuses, sparking warnings people in New South Wales may be more exposed than once thought. In this chat, we discuss the study methodology and results – and the subsequent implications across...

Craig Fairbaugh returns for his second appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast, after his first appearance nearly broke the internet. In this chat, we dig a little deeper into Craig’s incredible punk rock career with bands like +44, Transplants, and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards – the subsequent transition to superstar environmental engineer – and get Craig’s insights from the US on a bunch of...

Jessica Coughlan is a campaigner with Neighbours of Fish Farming - a community organisation in southern Tasmania. NOFF's goal is to save Tasmanian's unique natural waterways from the damage being caused by the multinational Atlantic salmon industry. In this chat, we talk about what it's like to be a neighbour of a fish farm, what Atlantic Salmon farming is really like, and what you can do abo...

Kate Parker is a Chief Officer with Sea Shepherd Global and a Co-founder of 'Daughters of the Deep', a charity formed with friends, aiming to tackle gender inequality within marine industries. In this chat, Kate gives an insight to her time (so far) crewing with Sea Shepherd - from selling merch onshore to life offshore working on ocean conservation campaigns in Antarctica and beyond. We also hear...

Matt Watson is Senior Fisheries Program Manager, Asia Pacific for the Marine Stewardship Council - an international non-profit on a mission to end overfishing, setting standards for sustainable fishing. This is a compelling, raw, but respectfully transparent chat - covering a range of topics including how MSC defines "sustainable seafood" and augments better practice in fisheries - along with a di...

Jeff Hansen, Managing Director of Sea Shepherd Australia and a Global Director of Sea Shepherd, returns for his third appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast. This time, Brad and Jeff chat on board Sea Shepherd’s Allankay, as it was sailing up the east coast of Australia from Antarctica. We talk about Sea Shepherd’s Antarctica campaign targeting the krill fishing fleet, and the human spirit p...

Anirban Ghose is Head of Microfactories at SMaRT Centre UNSW Sydney. In this fascinating chat, Anirban explains what microfactories are, what they're already doing, and their potential role in driving change in recycled material innovation to have massive positive economic, environmental, and social impacts. Anirban also gives an insight into some of the SMaRT Centre's analysis of the pollution ca...

Lautaro Parra is a PADI freediving instructor in Sydney, and returns for his second mind-blowing appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast. In this chat, Lautaro shares his insights and experiences from when he was a commercial diver on a salmon farm in Chile – to his vocation sharing the incredible underwater wonders around Sydney.    Useful links: Lautaro on Instagram ( here ) Mother Oce...

Since Daniel Rider’s last appearance on the Ocean Protect podcast in 2022, he has made the swap from Blacktown City Council to Ocean Protect - to become Ocean Protect's Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Specialist. In this new role, he is currently leading the development of the WSUD Maintenance Compliance Framework to help councils across Australia improve stormwater management. In this chat, w...

Associate Professor Mathieu Pernice is Deputy Director of the Climate Change Cluster at the University of Technology Sydney, where he also co-leads two research teams in Algal Biotechnology and Seagrass. He is an expert in climate change and sustainability, and has over 15 years of experience in technology transfer from University to Industry more particularly in Environmental Impact assessment, A...

Murray Powell is "Mr Stormwater" - with over 30 years experience in protecting our oceans and waterways from stormwater pollution. Murray is Managing Director of Optimal Stormwater, Vice President of Stormwater NSW - and brings an enormous amount of passion and experience (and a very yellow jacket) to the stormwater industry and beyond. In this chat, we get Murray's insights on stormwater pollutio...

Carolin Bapp is a scientist and recently completed her Masters Research from the University of Vienna. Carolin co-authored the study published this month in the Chemosphere Journal, which showed that microplastics can persist through cell division and may contribute to cancer spread. In this chat, we talk about the study methodology, results and implications. We also chat about Carolin's recent ex...

Dr Andrew Thomas is Executive Officer at Cooks River Alliance and President of Stormwater New South Wales. The Cooks River is a 23-kilometre long (14 mile) urban waterway located in south-eastern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - and, since at least 1997, councils and community groups along the river and across the catchment have worked together to improve the health of the river. In this...

Hannah Tait is the CEO and founder of Action for Dolpins, a charity that advocates for the protection of dolphins and challenge practices that cause them harm, working to change laws, educate the public, and promote institutional changes that lead to safer, healthier lives for dolphins. In this chat, Hannah talks about how the organisation started and key campaigns. Useful links: Hannah on Linkedi...

Season 6 of the Ocean Protect Podcast kicks off with a fascinating chat with Dr @Matt Landos, Director at Future Fisheries Veterinary Service. In this chat, Matt discusses the chemical cocktail in our waterways and water resources and where it’s coming from - and what we need to do to save our oceans, waterways and ourselves.    Useful links: Matt on Linkedin: https://www....

Ocean Protect's very own Harout Tcherkezian joins Brad for the Season 5 finale. Harout has been with Ocean Protect for over twelve years, and overseas our operations in New South Wales, Australia. We chat about Harout's journey to date with Ocean Protect, the challenges of the job, and his ambition for his kids to think he's a legend. Harout on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harout-tcherkez...

Jeff Hansen is the Managing Director of Sea Shepherd Australia and a Global Director of Sea Shepherd. We talk about the key campaigns of Sea Shepherd - illegal fishing, ocean plastic and climate change - current direct actions, future plans, successes, and the challenges associated with protecting the most spectacular show on earth - nature. Useful links: https://www.seashepherd.org.au/ Jeff on Li...

Sean Quilty is a Chartered Civil Engineer with 18 years’ experience in residential and industrial subdivisions, health precincts, educational precincts, waste management facilities, municipality works, major infrastructure upgrades, roadworks, road remediation, and master planning feasibility. He is Associate Principal at ADG Engineers and Associate Lecturer at Tafe Queensland, and has a passion f...

Peter Hammarstedt is Global Director of Sea Shepherd campaigns and Chairman of the Australian Board. Peter has captained Sea Shepherd's MY Bob Barker for 11 years and is now Captaining their new vessel, the Allan Kay. In this amazing chat, Peter shares some of his insights from over 20 years of navigating the globe, confronting illegal whaling, sealing and destructive fishing. Useful links: Sea Sh...

Mark Pages is a specialist in the field of micro-algae and other plant based ingredients, and founder of Phytality - a company specialising in the manufacture and supply of unique marine micro-algae and vegan omega-3 product solutions. In this chat, we discuss the sea 'food' and aquaculture industry, the importance and potential sources of Omega 3, and the benefits of the microscopic plant-like or...

Jonas Larsen is an Environmental Scientist and Water Sensitive Urban Design Technical Officer at Logan City Council. In this chat, we talk about Jonas's incredible journey from a vision impaired child to a passion for protecting the environment he came to eventually see - working in a various roles in environmental, soil, and contaminated land and water industries, and applying his learnings to th...

Dr Paul Harvey is an environmental chemist and scientist, science communicator, speaker and author of The Plasticology Project book, which is a broad, comprehensive analysis of global plastic pollution – how it spreads, the damage it causes, and the risk it poses to our health and wellbeing. In this chat, we talk about all those things and more, and what we can (and ultimately must ) do to 'turn t...