Dr Edward Butler is a chemical oceanographer and environmental biogeochemist. His former career of more than 35 years as a government scientist has involved studies of coastal waters around lutruwita/Tasmania and the mainland, and oceans from the Equator to Antarctica. A recent seven-year stint in Darwin provided experience in tropical coastal ecosystems and working with Indigenous communities. Now, unencumbered as an independent researcher, Ed is looking more at the intersection of his knowledge of the environmental health of coastal and marine ecosystems with the development of environmental policy and ecosystem-based management.

Christine Coughanowr is an independent scientist with over 35 years’ experience in water quality management. She came to Tasmania 27 years ago, fell in love with the Derwent, and set up the award-winning Derwent Estuary Program partnership. She retired from the DEP in 2018 to pursue other interests, which include consulting and providing science advice to conservation and community groups. Christine has also worked internationally as a water resources consultant, and is a Churchill Fellow. She has degrees in geology (BSc Duke University) and estuarine geology (MSc University of Delaware).

Alexandra de Blas is an award-winning science journalist, broadcaster, film maker and communications professional. Her boutique consultancy, de Blas Communications, has a particular focus on the environment, climate change and agriculture. During the eight years she ran Earthbeat, ABC Radio National’s weekly environment show, she received gongs including the 3rd World Water Forum Journalist’s prize, Japan and the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Award. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree and First Class Honours in Environmental Studies.

Peter Boyer’s first career was in newspaper journalism. As a Commonwealth public servant he wrote about Antarctic science for many years before training as a climate change presenter. He writes a weekly column in the Hobart Mercury, mainly on the science, politics and impact of greenhouse warming.

Dr. Tony Koslow is a research oceanographer emeritus at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where he directed Scripps’ California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program, a multi-disciplinary ocean observation program initiated in 1949. Tony previously led the Deepwater Fisheries and Ecology project at CSIRO. His research interests include fisheries, deep ocean ecology and conservation, and human and climate influences on marine life. 

Dr Eric Woehler is a seabird and shorebird ecologist. He has been actively involved in research directed towards conservation and management of birds and their habitats for his entire life. Eric is actively engaged with community-based efforts to protect coastal birds, using analyses of long-term data sets to provide evidence-based, data-driven guidance and advice to land managers. He convenes BirdLife Tasmania and is the Co-convenor of the Australian Coastal Society Tasmania.

Sian Jones is the Science Communication and Digital Design Intern. She is studying a Bachelor of Science and Media and Communications at the University of Tasmania.  

The Tasmanian Independent Science Council welcomes membership expressions of interest from independent scientists, relevant professionals, policy and legal experts, and science communicators. Individuals are invited to send a CV and cover letter expressing their motivations for joining the Tasmanian Independent Science Council to info@tassciencecouncil.org

Dr Jennifer Sanger has a PhD in forest ecology and has studied forests in lutruwita/Tasmania, tropical Australia and overseas. She is the co-founder and coordinator of the The Tree Projects, an environmental outreach organisation that uses photography, video and digital storytelling to help educate people about trees and the environment. She is a passionate advocate for forest conservation and climate change action. 

Jamie Kirkpatrick AM is Distinguished Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Tasmania. He teaches in the undergraduate program and supervises many postgraduate and honours students. His main research loves are alpine and garden ecosystems, nature conservation and the politics of environment. He has several national awards and prizes for his work developing methods for planning reserves and his contribution to forest conservation and world heritage matters.

Dr Graeme Wells is an independent economist, having previously had an academic career in New Zealand, North America and, more recently, an Associate Professor at ANU and UTAS. Since returning to lutruwita/Tasmania he has been a consultant and adviser to a range of environmental organisations and government agencies.

Prior to his retirement from full time work in 2015, John enjoyed 40 years engineering consulting experience, including a significant association with international work in Africa, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and South-East ASia. He spent the bulk of his career building pitt&sherry - a consulting engineering business. John developed a sincere commitment to contributing to the improvement of community, social and environmental outcomes with a strong focus on the need for climate change abatement and adaption.