People

Elisa Zavadil

Elisa graduated from Melbourne University with a combined degree in environmental engineering (honours) and science. She now specialises in fluvial geomorphology through undertaking a PhD at Melbourne University that was funding by the Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, and later affiliated with the eWater CRC. This research has focused on advancing the geomorphic criteria underpinning spatial scale hierarchies used in riverine ecosystem research and management. Elisa has presented this work at several geomorphic and river management conferences (both in Australia and internationally), with associated publications. From both research and consulting perspectives, Elisa has experience in assessing geomorphic form and process, stream condition assessments, river health monitoring, desktop based modeling and design, and working with geographical information systems (GIS). She has experience in a range of waterway project across Victoria, with a strong focus on geomorphic assessments and the development of waterway management plans and stream rehabilitation works.

Chris Arnott

Chris is Managing Director and one of the founders of Alluvium Consulting. Combining an honours degree in science (geology and geomorphology) from The University of Melbourne with over 15 years consulting experience, Chris specialises in strategic advice to government agencies. Chris has a comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects of environmental water management and has used this as a basis for advising clients on environmental/consumptive water trade-offs. Chris brings extensive leadership experience to the delivery of complex, and often time constrained projects. He is adept at moving from the detailed science to the necessary ‘judgement calls’ that clients routinely seek. Chris is a graduate of the Williamson Community Leadership Program (2008), a member of the Victorian Catchment Management Council and Chair of the not-for-profit Engineers without Borders.

Ross Hardie

Ross is a Director of Alluvium Consulting Pty Ltd and has more than 19 years direct experience in the waterway management industry including the role of Technical Director of a major engineering consultancy. Ross has been responsible for the design and supervision of the major waterway management programs and projects throughout Victoria, and in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and South East Asia. Ross specialises in the hydraulic and geomorphic assessment of stream systems, analysis of stream erosion and sediment deposition processes, streambed scour assessments, sediment transport and environmental flow investigations. Ross has designed and supervised onground waterway management and rehabilitation programs including management of waterway avulsions, stream bed and bank erosion, sediment management, willow management and streamside revegetation. Ross is the author of the soon to be published “Technical Guidelines for Waterway Management” a technical manual on the design and implementation of stream management works for the state government of Victoria, and has conducted training courses in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland on the application and implementation of the principles of geomorphic channel design.

Dom Blackham

Dom is a fluvial geomorphologist with particular expertise in geomorphic investigation and analysis, stream rehabilitation, stormwater management in urban waterways and post-bushfire catchment response. Dom has worked as a consultant and researcher in Australia and UK for the last 15 years. Dom was a member of the Co-operative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology (now eWater CRC) and carried out research into the role of riparian vegetation in controlling stream channel erosion funded by Land and Water Australia. The key finding from his research was that exotic grasses such as Phalaris spp. provide significant resistance to erosion and their removal through weed control and native revegetation programs may have the unintended consequence of increasing erosion rates. Dom’s consulting activities have focussed on combining hydrology, hydraulics and fluvial geomorphology to develop sustainable catchment and river management solutions. He has been closely involved in the development of geomorphic flow objectives to control the impact on channel form of stormwater runoff from urban development and the assessment of various risks to river health and engineering infrastructure following bushfires. Dom maintains close links with research and academia through his Honorary Fellowship at Melbourne University and informal links with various researchers at eWater CRC.

Keryn Hawker

Keryn graduated from UWA with a first class honours degree in environmental engineering and a bachelor of chemistry, and has completed postgraduate masters’ level courses in water engineering at UNSW. Keryn has 8 years of experience in consulting engineering in Australia, UK and Indonesia, and has worked on a diverse range of projects in many regions of the world. Keryn has developed a strong skill set in hydrodynamic numerical modeling, wetland restoration, catchment studies, environmental assessment and community liaison. She recently returned from a placement with Engineers Without Borders as the Water Supply Coordinator for the Tenganan Water Supply Project in Bali, where she worked alongside the community assisting them to build, manage and maintain their water supply system, and maintains an active interest in engineering and capacity building in developing countries.

Stuart Cleven

Stuart is an Environmental Engineer with over 7 years experience specialising in project management, concept design, detailed design, flow determination and flood modelling for stream rehabilitation works. Stuart has significant experience in designing rehabilitation works for asset protection where erosion control and bed and bank stability is a key priority. He has a strong understanding of waterway management processes as well as an applied understanding of best management practice solutions used to address waterway rehabilitation. Stuart is also experienced in the disciplines of hydrology and hydraulics having undertaken modelling of urban and rural drainage systems, open channels, culverts and bridges using RORB, RIVER 2D, 12d and HEC-RAS modelling packages.

Margot Turner

Margot is an environmental scientist specialising in ecohydraulics and hydrology. Margot has extensive knowledge of environmental flow assessment and allocation practices in a holistic waterway management context. Margot has recently applied this knowledge on projects including environmental flow assessments and review of the Victorian FLOWS methodology. Margot has completed a PhD at Monash University. This research investigated natural hydraulic habitat variability across Victoria, how it has been impacted by water resource development and the implications for regional environmental flow planning. During this study, Margot gained experience in natural streamflow modelling, physical habitat assessment and improved knowledge of large‐scale variability of local‐scale physical habitat features.

Misko Ivezich

Misko has an honours degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. After graduation he spent time, in conjunction with eWater CRC, researching new modelling and optimization techniques that could be applied to the sustainable management of catchments and waterways. Misko has significant experience in designing waterway rehabilitation works where erosion control and bed and bank stability is a key priority. He has a strong understanding of waterway processes which complement his skills in hydrologic and hydraulic modelling. Through completing a Graduate Certificate in River Health Management at Melbourne University in 2009, Misko has a strong understanding of the policy and current institutional arrangement for the management of Victorian waterways.

Simon Tilleard

Simon graduated from Melbourne University with a combined degree of environmental engineering (hons) and environmental science. Since starting at Alluvium early in 2008 Simon has taken part in a broad range of projects across Australia including monitoring and evaluation programs, strategic advice to government agencies, geomorphological studies, stream stabilisation works and river rehabilitation works. Simon has undertaken additional training in an extensive range of programs and areas including 12D, CAD, GIS, hydrologic modeling, hydraulic modeling using HECRAS, program logic and monitoring program design. Simon also undertook the Wise Waterways course in whole of catchment planning which included a planning of river restoration works module at Wondonga TAFE.

Vicki Galagher

Vicki has over 30 years in administrative, accounting and PA experience in a wide variety of industries. Her key skills are: organisation of office and staff, office administration, MYOB and finances.

Mark Stacey

Mark graduated from the University of Melbourne with a first class honours degree in physical geography and environmental science. His honours research into hydraulic thresholds of channel incision established his early pathway into fluvial geomorphology orientated waterway rehabilitation. Mark's specialisation in geomorphic investigations has seen him work on a range of waterways throughout of Victoria and South East Asia. Supplementing his geomorphic expertise, Mark's other core skills are in geographic information systems (GIS) and water resource management. He has an avid interest in the application of GIS to water resource and waterway management and leads the business in this area. He is also completing a Masters of Geospatial Information at RMIT. This year Mark is on full-time secondment at the Victorian Office of Water. This role in water resource management is focused on characterising system operating water requirements and enhancing the efficiency of environmental water use in Northern Victoria.

Michael Bain

Michael is a civil engineer and project manager with 28 years experience across a wide range of engineering and environmental projects both in Australia and overseas. In the last ten years he has had a strong focus on waterways and catchment management, and is responsible for the successful implementation of a number of major projects, including the EIS for the Darling Anabranch project and the design and construction of the carp screens for Rocklands Reservoir outlet. Michael was the project manager for, and had principal inputs on, the concept designs for the Mulcra Island regulating structures. His construction engineering and environmental background are a powerful combination in a wide range of environmental related projects. Michael is noted for his love of warmer climates, which may be a significant factor in his on-going participation in a number of environmental projects in Malaysia.

Kelly Stanhope

Kelly is a cartographer, draftsperson and graphic designer with over six years experience in mapping, graphic development, drafting, report design, data management and data validation. Since joining Alluvium she has worked on a range of technical and graphical projects, including the drafting of conceptual and detail design drawings for waterway stability works and construction drawings for stormwater and water quality works. Kelly has also performed GIS analysis and mapping for VEFMAP and general presentational maps. Previously she has worked predominantly in the mining and natural resources industries, producing detailed environmental and geological maps and high quality presentational diagrams. Her graphical presentations have been used by senior geologists at both national and international conferences and publications.

Amanda Wealands

Amanda graduated from RMIT with an honours degree in environmental engineering. She specialises in environmental water management, strategic evaluation and waterway rehabilitation design, and has experience in a diverse range of waterway projects in south eastern Australia. Amanda has a strong understanding of the policy and strategic planning of the Australian natural resource management industry through completion of a Graduate Certificate in River Health at Melbourne University and work in the government sector. Amanda is leading the business in the development of monitoring and evaluation consulting by bring together her strong technical base with best practice program logic and other group facilitation methods. Amanda is an active member of the catchment management industry in her role as president of the River Basin Management Society. She also completed the Fellowship program with the Centre for Sustainability Leadership in 2009.

Kane Travis

Kane is a co-founder and Director of Alluvium Consulting in Melbourne and has over 18 years of experience in the delivery of environmental programs and projects. With an undergraduate degree in Applied Science and postgraduate MBA focused on corporate sustainability, Kane has developed a broad level of experience in policy, strategic planning and implementation projects in both urban and rural Australia. Kane has a strong background in NRM planning and environmental works projects through eight years of employment with the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and its predecessors organizations. A further 4 years with Melbourne Water Corporation focused experience on operational management of waterways, and negotiation of environmental and water quality outcomes with the land development industry. Kane’s 6 years in consulting has focused on supporting clients with NRM strategy development the evaluation of planning and implementation policy and programs. In addition to his technical focus Kane leads the client relationship parts of the business which has culminated in Alluvium winning the 2007 “Most Innovative” professional services firm, and in 2008 being the only small to medium engineering firm being short listed as a finalist in the prestigious BRW Client Choice Awards.

Jason Carter

Jason is based in Townsville and is the Natural Resources and Business Manager of Alluvium’s Queensland Office with 20 years experience in natural resource management and planning gained in roles for both government (6 years) and in the consulting industry (14 years). During his professional career Jason has specialised in river, wetland and catchment management projects in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. Jason is experienced in the management and delivery of large multi-disciplinary natural resource management projects with a particular emphasis on rivers and wetlands. Other areas of expertise include impact assessment, stakeholder consultation and Australian native fish. Combining his love of fish and desire to make a difference, Jason’s enthusiasm for his work is evident to his clients and has resulted in much repeat business and ongoing projects.

Rohan Lucas

Rohan has over ten years experience in environmental and natural resource management with a focus on waterways. This experience has been gained in a consulting role servicing government and industry clients in Australia and Asia. Rohan has had extensive involvement in the planning and implementation of catchment and watercourse management programs for Catchment Management Authorities or equivalents in Victoria and South Australia and for River Murray Water and DNRM on the Murray River, NSW. Rohan also has extensive experience with private industry clients including large mining companies and infrastructure developers in particular in central and north Queensland.

Tyson Smalley

Graduating from Adelaide University with an honours degree in Environmental Science Tyson has spent the last 10 years working as an environmental consultant in varying capacities and is now a co-founder of Alluvium Consulting Townsville. His career has seen him develop exceptional knowledge and communication skills working as a project manager, coordinator and field officer for numerous catchment, riverine and water management projects within Queensland, Victoria and Singapore for clients such as Department of Defence, mining companies, NRM bodies, local government and civil engineering firms. Tyson has developed a sound understanding of natural resource management objectives required to balance the environmental, economic and social needs of the community and is able to provide recommendations for river restoration and management planning, catchment management and water quality control to a wide selection of community, government and non government organisations. His experience is diverse and is considered to a be a jack of all trades enabling him to multi-task and deliver requirements for his clients, as evidenced by his numerous seconded roles as a Regional River Health Strategy officer for NECMA or supervising as an Environmental Officer at BMA coal mines.

Joanne Crerar

Joanne is a Senior Environmental Engineer with Alluvium Consulting, specialising in hydraulic modelling and natural channel design. Joanne’s work with Alluvium has been primarily focused on mining; in particular the design of river rehabilitation and diversion works. Joanne has also undertaken considerable work on the assessment of impacts of longwall mining related subsidence on surface water. This has included a cumulative impacts study of mine developments on a 100km section of the Isaac River in Central Queensland. This study was the first of its kind in Queensland and was funded jointly by BMA and Anglo Coal, with Qld’s Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) also a major stakeholder. Prior to joining Alluvium, Joanne worked in impact assessment and obtaining EIS approvals for large infrastructure projects in both Australia and overseas, including oil and LNG gas facilities, power stations and wastewater treatment works.

Luke Sunner

Graduating from Central Queensland University with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with First Class Honors Luke is a local engineer to Central and North Queensland with 5 years professional experience in engineering design, assessment and waterway rehabilitation gained in positions within both government and the consulting industry. Luke has experience working on projects for both government and industry clients in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales involving mining, land holder and government representatives. Luke has been an integral member of Alluvium Consulting (Queensland) since it was founded in 2006. Luke’s skills include: hydrologic and hydraulic assessments; development of waterway management strategies including design of works, rehabilitation and monitoring of waterways, watercourse diversions and subsidence affected waterways; and construction supervision.

Greg Ellett

Greg has twelve years experience in environmental engineering having specialised in waterway management. Working in a variety of positions he has been involved in natural disaster damage assessment following regional flooding and undertaken stream restoration design in urban and regional environments. Stints with Melbourne Water and Glenelg Hopkins CMA have provided Greg with an insight into government policy and procedure, developing his knowledge in statutory roles such as floodplain management and assessing permit applications for works on waterways. Since 2003 Greg has been involved in assessment, design and monitoring of stream diversions in the Bowen Basin of Central Queensland. Greg currently works part time while undertaking further study at James Cook University.

Rachel England

Rachel joined the Alluvium team in June 2007. Rachel is an environmental scientist with over five years experience in natural resource management gained in roles for both government and in the private sector. During her professional career Rachel has specialised in environmental management system (EMS) implementation and auditing, biological weed control, quarantine import risk assessments and land management. Rachel has particular interest and skills in environmental capacity building in developing countries, having spent 12 months in Samoa for AusAID in 2004. Since then Rachel has worked with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) focusing on impact assessments, EMS implementation and auditing, activity-based environmental risk management and direct land management of the Defence estate in North Queensland.

Carolyn Lynn

Carolyn has 30 years administrative and accounting experience in Australia and overseas with various construction, industrial and commercial companies. Her key skill areas are: office administration, accounts management and data input.

David Reid

With a background in Government, David undertook a number of diverse roles including community engagement, soil conservation, remnant native vegetation promotion and Landcare. David has a strong focus on field assessment techniques for water quality and wetland / riparian plant monitoring and survey, and more recently broader programme management with the regional Natural Resource Management body (Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM).

James Allen

Graduating from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Environmental) – Bachelor of Science (Physics) joint degree, James joined Alluvium Consulting (Queensland) as a graduate environmental engineer at the beginning of this year. Since then James has been involved in a wide variety of engineering and environmental projects throughout Central and Northern Queensland. These projects include hydraulic modelling and design of watercourse diversions, design of diversion maintenance works, river bank stabilisation design, ground water quality monitoring, and sediment and erosion assessment. The balance between desktop modelling and design and the field work that James has been involved in is helping him to grow as an Environmental Engineer working in the consulting industry.

Marie Kanikarla

Marie, a graduate from Griffith University in Environmental Engineering with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from India. Marie has been working with Alluvium Consulting (Townsville) since September 2008. With a whole of 1.25 years experience she is still trying to get a grip on things and trying to find the field she is most likely to consider for specialising. Marie is currently working on a number of projects mostly in Central Queensland, involving stream diversions and hydraulic modelling for different mining companies including Anglo Coal, Rio Tinto and BMA. Marie is also working on her skills in CAD, Catchment modelling, and other hydrology related tools.

Alan Davidson

Alan graduated from Abertay University Dundee, Scotland, in 2007 with a BSc in Natural Resources Management. Following this, Alan worked in Flood Risk, Drainage and Contaminated Land for a medium sized consultancy in Scotland. During this period, he gained considerable experience in hydraulic modeling, particularly in urban settings. Alan has recently migrated to Australia with his wife, who originates from Townsville. Since commencing employment with Alluvium Consulting, Alan has been working on watercourse diversions in the Bowen Basin, Queensland, wetland design and fish pass hydraulic modeling, where he is gaining a broad experience of Australian engineering practices.

Adam Neilly

Adam completed his joint degree in a Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental) with Class I Honours/ Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) at James Cook University in 2008. He is currently nearing completion of a Master of Engineering Science by research through James Cook University whilst working full time at Alluvium Consulting. His Masters thesis involves experimentation and modelling in order to improve the relatively new technology of forward osmosis, which has the potential to replace reverse osmosis as a primary technology for seawater desalination. After completing his degree in 2008, Adam gained experience as a Research Officer at James Cook University where he conducted various research projects resulting in the publication of numerous papers in international scientific journals. Adam also attended and made presentations based on his research at several international conferences in the field of Environmental Engineering.

Matt Francey

Matt joined Alluvium in October 2009 after spending eight years in the Waterways group at Melbourne Water. During that time Matt started and led the Stormwater Quality team which ran programs such as the construction of wetlands to reduce nitrogen loads into Port Phillip Bay, the Lower Yarra and Living Rivers programs focussing on WSUD and implementation of stormwater controls for development. Key projects during that period included the development and implementation of the nitrogen offsets program for Port Phillip Bay and the preparation of WSUD Engineering Procedures: Stormwater which become the standard technical document for WSUD design. In late 2009 Matt submitted his PhD on the prediction of stormwater pollution loads. From 2007 Matt was the Manager of the River Health program at Melbourne Water which involved leading a team of 50 staff who managed over 8500km of rivers and creeks, two RAMSAR listed wetlands and other sites of biodiversity significance. During his time there the River Health program grew from a $20M to over $50M per year program with a significant emphasis on the evaluation of outcomes and the scientific basis of waterway works. Matt has published papers and presented at conferences both across Australia and internationally, and in 2005 was recognised for his leadership by representing Melbourne Water on a study tour of integrated water management to North America.

Clare Ferguson

Clare graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2009 with a double degree in Environmental Engineering (Hons) and Arts (Political Science). Clare’s engineering studies focused on catchment hydrology and hydrological processes. Clare conducted research in groundwater—surface water interactions in the Broken River, Victoria, for her honour’s thesis. Her research included both temporal and spatial analysis. During vacation work placements, she has gained experience in sustainable construction, climate change mitigation measures and water recycling. Clare is an active member of Engineers Without Borders, participating in a Development Education Experience in India, leading the Climate Change Group within the Melbourne University Chapter, and is now contributing to the development of a study tour which will focus on Indigenous land and water management practices.

Darcy Moar

Darcy graduated from The University of Queensland in 2009 with a degree in Environmental Engineering (Hons). During his studies Darcy focused on catchment hydrology, open channel flow and groundwater hydraulics, completing his honour’s thesis on the topic of tsunami wave generation. Darcy undertook vacation work experience at an open cut coal mine located in the Bowen Basin in 2007 and was exposed to the multitude of water management issues and environmental challenges faced by the mining industry. After graduation he has worked in engineering consulting mainly in the area of water management and hydraulic engineering for various mine sites in Queensland and around Australia. Since joining Alluvium Darcy has been involved in various hydraulic analyses of rivers and streams for the assessment of geomorphic stability.

Gaye Willcocks

Gaye joined Alluvium in January 2010 and has more than 35 years experience in support roles in various industries including construction, transport and legal.