About Our Committee

Fiona has over 20 years’ experience as an environmental professional and is currently working as a Principal Environmental Planner for the Port Authority of NSW. Fiona has a wide range of experience and skills, specialising in environmental impact assessment and environmental approvals. Fiona is a Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (REAP) and Certified Environmental Practitioner – Impact Assessment Specialist (CEnvP-IA). She has worked for both the public and private sector on both large and small linear and other infrastructure projects, through all stages of development including feasibility and options, environmental impact assessment and construction and/or operation, with an aim of delivering projects with good, practical environmental outcomes. She has worked on a range of projects including renewables, road and rail infrastructure, water and port infrastructure and lubricant blending plants. Fiona joined the HEI committee in 2018 and has been the Chairperson since 2023, with a focus on providing opportunities for further education and networking for environmental professionals and the community in the Hunter.

Simon is a Technical Director - Environment located in GHD’s Newcastle office. He has over 25 years’ experience in the provision of environmental consulting services to a wide client base, including road, rail, Defence, ports, water, sewer, power lines, mining and industrial operations. Simon’s key strengths include options assessments for major linear infrastructure, development of environmental planning strategies and environmental impact assessment at both State and Commonwealth levels. Simon has also had considerable experience in the post approval phases of projects including consistency reviews, modifications, approvals compliance and management plans for the construction phases of large projects.

Simon is a construction environmental manager with 20 years experience across a range of disciplines, including environmental planning and assessments, contaminated land consulting, compliance auditing and analytical chemistry. He is currently the environment manager with Seymour Whyte on the Heatherbrae Bypass section of the M1 to Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace and is responsible for the management of a range of disciplines including air quality, biodiversity, heritage, noise, vibration, water quality, soils and wastes to ensure compliance with regulatory approvals and sustainable goals are met. Simon has a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Newcastle and is passionate about supporting aspiring local environmental and sustainability professionals obtain experience so they can work and contribute to a positive legacy within the Hunter Region.

David is an Associate Director and Technical Lead – Construction Environmental Management at EMM Consulting based in Newcastle. He has over 30 years experience as a site environmental manager and lead environmental auditor (CENVP #137) . David delivers site based environmental management, regulatory advice, environmental monitoring, and construction environmental advice to clients across a range of sectors. He is an expert in environmental compliance auditing, and has completed over 400 environmental compliance and due diligence audits of mining, commercial, industrial and manufacturing sites in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan and Korea. He is also an experienced Independent Environmental Representative (ER) approved by NSW Planning on over 20 projects across all infrastructure sectors over the last 25 years.

Lucy is a Graduate Environmental Specialist at Engeny, working within the Environmental Management and Approvals team, and has previous career experience in the town planning sector. Since graduating in 2023, Lucy has garnered diverse industry experience with skills in GIS Spatial Analysis software, alongwith preparing a range of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), environmental investigations, and determining planning approval pathways, focusing on water-related projects across the private, local, and government sectors. Her professional journey in the Environmental space is fuelled by a commitment to honouring her environmental stewardship by finding innovative and sustainable outcomes. She is constantly expanding her knowledge and working towards a nature positive society to ensure future generations inherit a pristine and vibrant natural environment.

Aaron is an advisor on environmental impact assessment, strategic land use planning, infrastructure project development, and approvals management. Aaron is known for his strategic thinking and his ability to drive for best-for-project outcomes. Aaron has extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. He is a consultant and resident of the Hunter Valley and keen to ‘give back’ to the local environmental community and grow his professional network.

Shifaan is an Environmental Scientist with an Honours in his Marine Science major from the University of Newcastle with a deep admiration for research in environmental and marine sciences. Shifaan previously worked for the NSW Department of Primary Industries under Biosecurity & Food Safety, employed by the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) in Menangle. Shifaan possesses animal husbandry experience with marine animals in a previous role with Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters as an Aquarist and has furthered himself deeper into scientific research of marine fauna since then. As a result, Shifaan has accumulated an abundance of technical research and laboratory skills during his career. Shifaan's primary role under Biosecurity saw him help further scientific research on Qx Disease affecting the NSW oysters, predominantly at Port Stephens estuary but spanning across NSW's Eastern Coast. Shifaan has additionally assisted in the surveillance, eradication, and management efforts during the Varroa Mite Emergency Response on NSW honeybees in 2023 while also lending his time in support of eDNA research at EMAI. Having previously conducted research on coral reefs at Vanuatu and Norfolk Island with the University of Newcastle, Shifaan has come to develop an obsessive interest towards coral reefs and a passion for animals and marine ecosystems.

Alina has nine years experience in environmental consulting on a variety of projects across a broad range of industries including energy, resources and transport. Alina holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management and a Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability from University of Newcastle. Alina is a Senior Environmental Consultant at EPS skilled in the management and environmental assessment of local, regional and state significant projects throughout Australia. Prior to EPS, Alina worked professionally both in the public sector and for private tier-one international consulting firms. During her seven years at EPS, Alina has developed her project management and technical capabilities by working on complex multi-disciplinary renewable energy, ecotourism and infrastructure projects.

Jess is an Environmental Scientist. She has 8 years industry experience and is currently residing in Newcastle. She has experience in environmental management and assessment with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE), under the Resources Regulator. She worked at Hunter Water for ~3 years working as a bushfire officer and later, a Network Operations Engineer. She has consulting experience, this has included preparation of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE), Minor and Review of Environmental Factors (MW REF/REFs), Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMP), Management Plans (including EMS, EMP, Extraction, etc.) and Independent Environmental Audits (IEA) for mining and extraction, renewable energy, and transport clients. She has experience internationally. She travelled to South America, Cusco, to work as an intern for Cusco University, undertaking water management research and community outreach waste management. She was also involved in researching mammal habitats, behaviour, and other ecological processes, including community education throughout the Amazon for several months. She has a passion for bushfire management and operations and is undertaking post graduate certificate in Bushfire Protection at Western University. Currently, she is working at Kleinfelder in the Environmental Approvals team as an Environmental Advisor, with the overall goal to build the bushfire management space once she obtains BPAD 3 certification.

Troy took up a lecturing position at the University of Newcastle in 2012 (School of Environmental and Life Sciences) after spending 7 years at the National Centre for marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability at the University of Tasmania. Troy is currently a member of the Australian Marine Sciences Association NSW Branch Committee, Hunter Water Customer and Community Advisory Committee, Port Stephens and Great Lakes Marine Park Advisory Committee, Central Coast Council Terrigal Sub-Catchment Water Quality Committee. A/Prof Gaston has over 20 years experience in estuarine ecology and investigating ecosystem functioning. Degraded ecosystems are a global issue and targeting on-ground works for habitat and ecosystem repair will be paramount to ensure recovery of estuarine and coastal systems. As such, much of A/Prof Gaston’s work has been the use novel chemical tracers to determine the relative importance of different nutrient sources and habitats to ecosystem functioning. He has worked with a wide range of entities including local councils, state and commonwealth government, industry and NGO’s across NSW, Tasmania and Queensland.

My name is Fiona Collins, and I am currently in my second year at the University of Newcastle studying my Bachelor of Science. In this degree, I chose to major in Biodiversity and Conservation, as I have always had a profound fascination and appreciation for the natural environment that surrounds us. A little thing about me is that I love to spend time outdoors doing all sorts of things like camping, hiking, and going to the beach. So far throughout my degree I have been lucky enough to go on several field trips, and even a camping trip! Outside of Uni I work as a bartender at a lovely venue on Honeysuckle which is also lots of fun. I am so incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to be HEI’s intern this year, and be able to learn and work alongside so many professionals in the field.