Brief biographies of each are below, listed in alphabetical order.
Prof. Orrin Pilkey (International Keynote) : Ms Heidi Alleway : Prof. Anthony Cheshire : Ms Claire Howlett : Dr Richard Kenchington : Dr Neil Lazarow : Prof. Jan McDonald : Ms Lorraine Rosenberg : Mr Karl Sullivan : Prof. Bruce Thom : Mr Jason Tyndall : Assoc.Prof. Geoff Wescott
Prof. Orrin Pilkey
James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences, Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University
Listen to Orrin discussing his paper (Video 2.54 mins
Orrin Pilkey is a James B. Duke professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, USA. He is the author co-author or co-editor of 40 books and 250 technical papers. Among these are the 24 volume Living with the Shore Series (Duke) concerned with site-specific Coastal Hazards in individual US states. His latest co-authored books include How to read a beach (University of North Carolina), a laypersons guide to understanding the beach, Useless Arithmetic (Columbia) a critical view of mathematical models and The Rising Sea(Island), concerned with the science, geography and politics of the current sea level rise. Pilkey is a widely recognized figure in the societal debate about the long term future of developed shorelines, the efficacy of shoreline engineering, and the usefulness of predictive mathematical models of beach behavior.
Ms Heidi Alleway
Manager, Marine Biosecurity Response, Biosecurity SA. 
Heidi is the Manager, Marine Biosecurity Response with Biosecurity SA, a Division of the Department of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia. Within Biosecurity SA she works on a wide range of projects, including the response to reports and confirmed cases of aquatic pests as well as the development of policy and management to prevent the introduction of aquatic pests into South Australia.
Heidi completed her Honours degree at the Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories of the University of Adelaide in 2006, and has previously worked with The Wilderness Society, the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Board, and as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development with the Vanuatu Department of Fisheries.
Growing up on Kangaroo Island, Heidi developed an early passion for the natural world, particularly the ocean. In 2005, she won the SA Great Young South Australian of the Year for her unique and inspired approach to marine biology and the environment, as well as being named one of South Australia’s 50 Most Inspiring Young People and a South Australian Young Achiever. She enjoys volunteering her time to environmental, community and youth programs. Motivating people of all ages to enjoy and understand the ocean is one of her significant interests, and skills. Heidi relishes learning and the challenge of working towards the aspirational goal of achieving a perfect balance between the use and long term conservation of the marine environment and its natural processes.
Prof. Anthony Cheshire
Principal, Science to Manage Uncertainty
Prof. Anthony Cheshire has worked for the last 25 years as a marine ecologist and environmental scientist including roles in private industry, government, and the higher education sector.
Anthony is the principal of Science to Manage Uncertainty, a business established to provide commercial science management and advisory services to research providers, government and industry in Australia and across the SE Asian region. Over the last twelve years he has held a number of executive management roles including as Head of the Department of Botany at the University of Adelaide, as Chief Scientist (Aquatic Sciences) with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and as Director of Research and Development (SARDI).
Anthony holds a number of key positions including as a Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Environmental Biotechnology and Executive Chair of Balance Carbon Pty Ltd. More recently he has accepted roles as a member of a number of Ministerial Advisory Committees including as a member of the SA Natural Resource Management Council, Deputy Presiding Member of the SA Marine Parks Council, Chair of the SA Fisheries Research Advisory Board and Chair of the Scientific Working Group for Marine Parks and Marine Planning. Anthony is a member of a range of science based professional associations and is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Continuing on from a successful career as a marine scientist Anthony continues to work with key partners in the higher education sector and holds an affiliate position as Professor with the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Adelaide and an adjunct position as Professor with the School of Biological Sciences at Flinders University.
Anthony’s major research interests include the development of field methods and models to better understand environmental impacts in marine coastal systems. He has spent much of the last 15 years working in both Australia and SE Asia in the development of rapid assessment methodologies to support environmental impact assessments of coastal systems and thereby to support the development of more effective systems for environmental management. More recently Prof. Cheshire has been working to develop molecular tools to detect environmental impacts associated with finfish aquaculture.
Ms Claire Howlett
Claire is the Assistant Secretary, Finance and Aquatic Partnerships, in the Australian Government Land and Coasts. Claire has over 10 years experience in the environment portfolio, across a broad range of policy development, program delivery and regulatory activities. She has recently returned to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts from a secondment to the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
Claire previously led the Marine Biodiversity Policy Branch, where she had responsibility for marine and coastal policy, sustainable fisheries and environmental biosecurity. In this role, Claire was actively engaged in a range of natural resource management issues, primarily in the marine and coastal context.
Over the course of her career, Claire has had extensive experience in delivering environmental policies and programs through cooperative Commonwealth-State arrangements.
Dr Richard Kenchington
Visiting Professorial Fellow, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong
Richard Kenchington is a marine ecologist – he studied crown of thorns starfish and later was a foundation member of the staff of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) in 1978. He was Director of planning until 1990 during the declaration and initial planning of the Marine Park. He retired in 1999 as Executive Director of the Authority. Between 1990 and 1992 he was Secretary of the Coastal Zone Inquiry of the Resource Assessment Commission. He has published on management of coral reef and tropical coastal ecosystems, and more generally on ecosystem based management of coastal and marine ecosystems. He works widely as a consultant and advisor to government and international agencies, most recently working for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the implementation of a marine and coastal strategy.
Dr Neil Lazarow
Griffith University, Centre for Coastal Management
Neil Lazarow is a Senior Research Fellow at the Griffith University Centre for Coastal Management. His research and interests focus on the public policy aspects of integrated coastal management including: integration; governance and institutional arrangements; local knowledge; socio-economic values; and the coastal economy. From 2002-2005, Neil worked for the Cooperative Research Centre for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management on a range of projects including the Citizen Science Toolbox, Coastal Water Habitat Mapping Project and was responsible for the development of a range of stakeholder education modules. From 2006-2009, Neil was a member of the Queensland Government’s Coastal Protection Advisory Council. He is on the national board of directors for the Australian Coastal Society and a member of the steering committee for the Australian Coastal Alliance.
Prof. Jan McDonald
Griffith University, School of Environment
Jan McDonald is Director of the Griffith Climate Change Response Program and Professor of Environmental Law and Policy in the Griffith School of Environment.
She joined Griffith University in 2002 as the inaugural John F Kearney Chair in Law, based at the Gold Coast campus and has served at Head of School and Deputy Dean (Research) at Griffith Law School. In 2004-2005, Jan served as Environment Program Manager to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Solomon Islands office, in Honiara. She co-founded the Griffith Climate Change Response Program in 2006, led Griffith University’s successful bid to host the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility and served as NCCARF Interim Director, responsible for establishment of the Facility in 2007-2008.
Jan leads Griffith University’s role the South East Queensland Climate Adaptation Research Intitiative (SEQ-CARI). SEQ-CARI is a partnership between the Queensland and Australian Governments, the CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship, Griffith University, University of the Sunshine Coast and University of Queensland. The Initiative aims to provide research knowledge to enable the SEQ region to adapt and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Her current research spans the legal and policy dimensions of climate change adaptation, including urban planning and coastal management, liability and insurance issues.
Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg
Mayor of the City of Onkaparinga 
Ms Rosenberg will be speaking on coastal changes, the legislative responsibilities of local government levels, the links of Local Government to other key areas of responsibility and initiatives being taken, the challenges and ways forward.
Currently the Mayor of the City of Onkaparinga who brings exceptional experience to the role through her association with small business management and 15 years experience in Local Government. The City of Onkaparinga has the largest population of a local government area in South Australia, representing 9.9% of the state’s population overall and its coastline extends over 31 kilometres.
Lorraine has worked in management, small business, research, has been the State Member of Parliament for Kaurna and is currently the General Manager to the Alinytjara Wilurara (Aboriginal Lands) NRM Board. She has degrees in Agricultural Science Honors Biochemistry, Soil Conservation, Environmental Management and Environmental Auditors registration.
Mr Karl Sullivan
General Manager Risk & Disaster Planning, Insurance Council of Australia
As General Manager for the Policy, Risk and Disaster Planning Directorate, Karl is responsible for the facilitation of industry policy and initiatives regarding emerging risks as well as coordinating the industries response and partnership with Government following a significant disaster event.
Karl brings with him significant experience in the disaster planning & risk management field. Prior to joining the Insurance Council, Karl was responsible for global Disaster Planning, Response & Mitigation for the Qantas Group of Companies. In conjunction with that role Karl was active in international and domestic forums focussed on a wide range of disaster events and emerging risks. Prior to Qantas Karl enjoyed a career in the Royal Australian Air Force, including several operational flying tours and appointments responsible for consequence management and disaster planning.
Prof. Bruce G Thom BA (Hons), PhD, FIAG, FTSE
Formerly Vice-Chancellor University of New England (1994-1996), Professor Thom has held positions such as Foundation Professor of Geography, Royal Military College, Duntroon (University of New South Wales, 1977-1984); Professor of Geography University of Sydney (1985-1993); and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research, University of Sydney (1990-1993). He holds the title of Emeritus Professor from University of Sydney. Professor Thom served as Chair of the Australian State of Environment Committee 1998-2002, and as Chair of the Coastal Council of New South Wales (1999-2004). He was Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Built Environment at the University of NSW. He served as the Visiting Professor for Coastal Management and Planning at the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources in Sydney. He also formerly held the position of Visiting Professor in the NSW Department of Planning.
Professor Thom is a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, President of the Australian Coastal Society and Deputy Chair of the Federal Government’s Coasts and Climate Change Council. In 2010 Professor Bruce Thom was awarded a member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the ecological management of the coastal zone and as a contributor to public debate on natural resource policy.
Mr Jason Tyndall
Coast and Biodiversity Project Officer, City of Holdfast Bay
As Coast and Biodiversity Officer for the City of Holdfast Bay, Jason is responsible for the planning and on-ground management of urban coastal environments. The management of these areas presents various challenges associated with the political, socio-economic and environmental values of the community. With an emphasis on educating coastal users and primary and secondary school student’s on biodiversity conservation, Jason focuses efforts for change at a local level, with a vision for regional application. He has been involved with many friends’ groups and environmental organisations in a voluntary capacity, and is committed to the restoration of threatened flora and terrestrial environments. In addition, Jason is currently undertaking research with the University of South Australia on the effects of climate change on the endangered pink-lipped spider orchid, Caladenia behrii.
In 2010 Jason was named South Australia’s Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year.
Assoc. Prof. Geoffrey Wescott
Deakin University, Environment
Geoff has focused his research over the last 20 years on applying the concept of integrated coastal zone planning and management to actual national, state and local circumstances and has published extensively (over 70 academic papers) in coastal planning and management, environmental policy and protected area management.
He has served on many governmental advisory bodies including being an inaugural member of the Australian National Oceans Advisory Group and the Victorian Coastal Council, as well as being Deputy Chair of the Board of Parks Victoria. He was a founding member and Chair of the Marine and Coastal Community Network and has recently served as Councilor of the Australian Conservation Foundation. He is a current Vice President of the Australian Coastal Society.
He has written several books, including a field guide to Wilsons Promontory National Park, with his most recent (2009) book being “Back to Basics” on large scale environmental improvement projects and recommendations for Australia. The third edition of a field guide to rocky shorelines is to be published shortly.
Geoff is Associate Professor of Environment at Deakin University in Melbourne, a Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and a member of the World Commission for Protected Areas of the IUCN.
Coast to Coast Australia