Our team

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Sustainable Development Reform Hub Team
Ben Milligan
Director

Secretariat Director of GOAP, is a Scientia Fellow at UNSW and a Visiting Senior Fellow at the University of Wollongong. He focuses on sustainable ocean policies and environmental data in planning.

Eliza Northrop
Director

International environmental law, UNFCCC, ocean-climate solutions for zero-carbon transitions, sustainable ocean planning, natural resources governance and policy, indigenous rights

Dr Phil James
Director

Environmental economist with >15 yrs experience in policy and economics in 25 countries. Focus: economic & social science aspects of ocean accounts, biodiversity & the blue economy.

Hannah Sheridan
Manager

Network management, strategy, team builder, integration and systems optimisation, development through the utilisation of local knowledge, higher education sector specialist.

Juliet Grimm
Senior Operations Officer

International and community development, monitoring evaluation and learning, business development and program development support.

Nina Van Ewijk
Manager

Event program and communications, project management and operations support. Background in environment and resource management.

Michael Burnside
Manager

Partnerships for sustainable development, environmental science & economics, recognising nature in decision-making, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, zero-carbon transitions.

Nick Williams
Senior Administrator

Experience in Federal Gov., migration & refugees with education in International Relations focusing on peacekeeping & human security, gender-based violence and food security.

Maria Alarcon
PhD Candidate

Environmental economics and environmental systems analysis. Experienced in ecosystem services, natural capital accounting, environmental valuation, CBA, and GIS.

research student jordan gacutan
Research Fellow

Jordan is a marine scientist focused on ocean governance, plastic pollution, and natural capital. He works on evidence-based policy, tracing marine plastics, and balancing socio-environmental values.

Dr Mitchell Lyons
Spatial Data Scientist

Background in earth observation, ML/AI, stats, EEA, biodiversity monitoring, field/expert/traditional knowledge, capacity building, open source + cloud-based methods

CJ Fernandez Abila
Research Fellow

Background in applied economics, applying multidisciplinary approach to complex development challenges. Interests: ecosystem services valuation, ocean governance & resource management.

Dr Randika Jayasinghe
Plastics & Waste Specialist

Background in Environmental Engineering and circular economy. Experienced in plastics pollution, waste management, and waste-to-value. Focus: data and waste challenges.

Dr Rebecca Shellock
Social Science Specialist

Experience using social evidence to aid delivery of effective and equitable environmental governance. Focus: ocean accounting, gender equity & bridging science-policy gap.

Elizabeth Hollaway
Research Associate

Implementation and development of sustainable ocean economy policy and governance. Background in marine science and multi-sectoral partnerships.

Jessica Bridgland
Applied Economist

Experience creating & using economic analysis to influence policy, particularly marine spatial planning, sustainable financing, marine conservation, natural capital & blue economy.

Arlette Schramm
Blue Finance Specialist

Merging financial strategies with sustainable practices. Private equity, impact investment, focus on Blue Carbon, Sustainable Finance Mechanisms & Natural Capital Accounting.

Bella Charlesworth
Research Associate

Environmental scientist and science communicator. Background: ecology, plastic pollution, science & policy, content design, comms, podcasting. BSc/BArts with Honours (Class I).

Marianne Feoli Martinez
Research Officer

Building synergy & knowledge for Ocean Accounts in Latin America and the Caribbean. Sustainable transformation strategies, community empowerment, biodiversity credits & management.

Ken Findlay
Program lead, GOAP’s Africa Community of Practice

CPUT Research Chair: Ocean Economy, focuses on sustainable ocean governance, blue economies in Africa. He leads the Centre for Sustainable Oceans and key ocean accounting initiatives.

Helena Dickinson
Research Associate

Environmental Economist focusing on global waste management and the blue economy.

Angelique P

International environmental law, legislative design for sustainable ocean economy, climate and ocean governance multilateral negotiations, and sustainable finance and blended finance mechanisms.