Who we are
About Us
Hub Coordinators 2026
Australian Hubs
Adelaide, SA
Freya Barr
Flinders University
Freya is a Coastal Scientist at Magryn & Associates, an Adelaide-based engineering consultancy, where they manage and assist projects in the coastal and maritime space. Their work includes coastal hazard and adaptation assessments, beach profile response modelling, and scientific communication through community engagement programs. Freya completed their undergraduate and Honours degree at Flinders University, where their research focused on the impact of a limestone reef at Robe, SA, on wave and current dynamics. Outside of their work, Freya enjoys reading, playing board games with friends, and stargazing.
Harry Nash
Flinders University
Harrison is an honours student in the Beaches and Dune Systems (BEADS) lab, at Flinders University. They are studying the climate drivers influencing the geomorphological evolution of a parabolic dune on the Younghusband Peninsula. Monthly drone surveys of the site have been used to create digital elevation models, allowing for small changes in the feature to be detectable. Harrison has grown up with the coast and appreciates its natural power and beauty. They hope to develop a better understanding of coastal processes to improve integration of urban systems within coastal environments.
Brisbane, QLD
Tabatha Bott, Hirishni Sivanasen & UQ Gems
University of Queensland
Tabatha is an undergraduate fourth-year student studying a dual degree of Engineering (Honours) and Science at the University of Queensland, majoring in Earth Science and Civil-Environmental Engineering. Through her studies and work experience with CSIRO and Alluvium Consulting, she has continued her passion for sustainability and learning more about complex geological, oceanic and coastal processes. A key highlight of her studies was a field trip to Heron Island Research Station, tracking coral-reef-community zonation changes through time.
Harishni has graduated with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science in 2025, and is currently pursuing her Honours in Coastal and Ocean Science. Through her internship experiences with WWF-Malaysia and Reef Check Malaysia she has developed a strong sense of passion for environmental education, as well as marine and terrestrial conservation. In her free time, she enjoys graphic design and learning about international food systems.
Tabatha and Harishni will be supported through their amazing team of UQ GEMS executives (University of Queensland’s Geographical and Environmental Management Society): a not-for-profit, student-run organisation dedicated to connecting students with their peers, educators, and future employers.
Melbourne, VIC
Yangxue Chen
Melbourne University
Yangxue is a PhD student at the University of Melbourne, where she researches beach morphodynamics in Port Phillip Bay. Her work focuses on how storms influence beach morphology and sediment transport in fetch-limited environments, combining field observations and UAV monitoring.
She previously completed a Master’s research project on artificial sand behaviour and beach renourishment in Port Phillip Bay, focusing on sediment characteristics and coastal processes.
Her research interests include beach morphodynamics, sediment transport, and storm-driven coastal change. Outside of research, she enjoys swimming, snorkelling, travelling, and spending time in nature.
Perth, WA
Sarah Mcchulloch
University of Western Australia
Sarah is a PhD candidate at The University of Western Australia. She has over seven years of experience in coastal and environmental engineering working across research, consulting, and local government sectors. She specialises in coastal processes, estuarine management, and climate resilience. Sarah’s research focuses on the processes that influence the closure of Intermittently Open/Closed Estuaries (IOCE) and the implications of climate change on these dynamics.
Sydney Crisanti
University of Western Australia
Sydney Crisanti holds a degree in Environmental Engineering from North Carolina State University, is certified as an Engineer Intern (EI), and is currently pursuing a PhD in Coastal Engineering at the University of Western Australia. Her interest in coastal systems began as an undergraduate research assistant. Before starting her PhD, she worked as a Research Environmental Engineer at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, contributing to Engineering With Nature projects. She also supported the Interagency Science and Applications Team, collaborating with NASA, NOAA, and DOS on international water resource initiatives. Sydney is dedicated to translating research into practical, interdisciplinary solutions.
New Zealand Hubs
Auckland, NZ
Sage Vernall
University of Auckland
Sage is a Senior Coastal Adaptation Specialist at Auckland Council, where she is actively working on the delivery and implementation of the Shoreline Adaptation Plan (SAP) programme across Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). Her work supports the development and implementation of long‑term, climate‑responsive coastal management pathways, with a strong focus on sustainable, science‑based outcomes, nature based solutions, and coastal adaptation more broadly. Sage completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in marine science and environmental management at the University of Auckland, with a focus on the co‑governance of marine resources in the South Pacific. She has since worked across local government and mana whenua spaces in a range of roles specialising in natural resource management, marine science, and coastal management. Her work places particular emphasis on embedding Mātauranga Māori in environmental and coastal planning, policy, and practice. Sage, Aidan and Megan will be hosting the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland hub.
Megan Tuck
Auckland Council
Megan is a Senior Coastal Scientist at Auckland Council, where she leads the coastal monitoring programme. Her work integrates beach profile surveys, coastal cameras, drones, and wave buoy data to quantify and understand coastal change across the Auckland region. Megan is a coastal geomorphologist with a PhD from the University of Auckland. Her doctoral research investigated the impacts of sea-level rise and changing wave climates on the morphology of Pacific reef islands. Her research interests include shoreline dynamics, coastal resilience, and the application of monitoring data to inform coastal management.
Pacific Hubs
Suva, FIJI
Jasma Devi
University of the South Pacific
Jasma Devi is a PhD candidate under Project Halo, a collaborative cotutelle program between the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Her doctoral research specializes in resource economics to evaluate the societal impacts of mangrove restoration. Through this lens, she focuses on capturing community benefits and ensuring local perceptions guide major environmental projects. Working closely with vulnerable coastal populations and sugarcane farmers, Jasma investigates how mangrove restoration can act as a natural buffer to combat and minimize the severe saltwater intrusion threatening local agricultural livelihoods.
Ceceilia Carol Louis
University of the South Pacific
Ceceilia Carol Louis is a Ni-Vanuatu environmental scientist and Master of Science candidate in Climate Change at the University of the South Pacific (USP). She is an Ocean Country
Partnership Programme (OCPP) scholar, funded by the United Kingdom Government through
the Blue Planet Fund, which supports Pacific scholars undertaking research to strengthen marine conservation and sustainable ocean management. Her Master’s research focuses on assessing the ecological condition of seagrass ecosystems and community knowledge of seagrass beds on Efate Island, Vanuatu. Beyond her research, Ceceilia has experience in climate change adaptation, marine conservation, stakeholder engagement, and community capacity building. She has collaborated with government agencies, regional organizations, development partners, and local communities on initiatives related to blue carbon ecosystems, coastal resource management, and climate resilience. She is passionate about translating scientific research into practical policies and community-driven actions that contribute to the sustainable management of Vanuatu’s marine resources and the resilience of Pacific Island communities.
