Keynote Speakers
Dr Burton Suedel
US Army Engineer Research and Development Center
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Dr. Suedel is a research biologist at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s degree in biology from the University of North Texas, and his Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of Mississippi. His primary research interest focuses on investigating ways in which environmental, social, and economic benefits can be designed and incorporated into coastal and fluvial infrastructure planning. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts and other publications, including the Engineering With Nature® Atlases published in 2018 and 2021 that demonstrate how EWN principles and practices are being incorporated into infrastructure planning worldwide. He has received international awards and recognition for applying EWN at multiple USACE navigation and ecosystem restoration projects.
Dr Maddy McAllister
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Maddy is a maritime archaeologist with a career spanning over a decade working in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland. Maddy’s is the Senior Curator for Maritime Archaeology in a joint role with JCU and the Queensland Museum, she manages the maritime archaeological collection housed in Townsville at the Museum of Tropical Queensland. Her research focuses on unidentified shipwrecks along the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland coast with a passion for wooden ship construction, Maddy uses clues from the site to piece together history. In addition, Maddy ensures that her research is conveyed to the public, using a range of digital output methods – primarily across podcasts, documentaries and her social media platform, The Shipwreck Mermaid. Maddy is also the Senior Vice President of the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology and a Director on the Board for the Advisory Council of Underwater Archaeology based in the US.
Jamie Simmonds
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Jamie Simmonds, an internationally renowned expert in the field of managed retreat and community relocation, hails from the United States but has made Australia, particularly Brisbane, his home. Jamie’s remarkable journey has captivated audiences worldwide, particularly individuals seeking inspiration and guidance in their own communities.
In 2011, Jamie directed the relocation of Grantham, an Australian town left devastated by catastrophic flash flooding that tragically claimed the lives of 19 people. Displaying exceptional leadership alongside the late Mayor Steve Jones, within just 12 month they saw the transition of over 100 families to new homes in a prosperous estate, situated on higher ground surrounding Grantham. Today, this unprecedented relocation project is hailed as one of the most successful examples of managed retreat globally.
In 2020, Jamie documented the story in his book about the Grantham experience to show communities the positives and challenges associated with community relocation. Since then, communities, media organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies from every corner of the globe have reached out to Jamie for guidance. Seeking to understand how to rebuild communities in a safer and more resilient manner in a changing climate, they have recognized Jamie as an invaluable resource.
Jamie remains dedicated to assisting in the reconstruction endeavours of the Asia-Pacific region. Presently, Jamie is actively engaged in a community relocation program in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, collaborating closely with the Lismore community. This initiative was born out of the region’s devastating flooding in 2022, and Jamie’s involvement highlights their unwavering commitment to creating a brighter future for those affected.
With a rich background encompassing over 20 years in both government and the private sector, Jamie’s story serves as a testament to the incredible accomplishments governments can achieve when guided by visionary leadership, deep community engagement, and an unwavering spirit of hope. By understanding these transformative insights, organisations have the potential to unlock extraordinary possibilities for their own communities.
Women in Coastal Geoscience and Engineering Panellists
Prema Bhautoo (She/Her)
DHI
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Prema is a senior marine engineer with 14 years’ experience and a specialist MBA in Maritime & International Logistics. With a background in numerical modelling of dynamic moored vessel behaviour, Prema has several technical publications in this field. Fuelled by an interest to apply technology to better understand and resolve challenges in the maritime space, Prema has been a leading part of tech collaborations with Federal level organisations such as the Australian Maritime Safety Authority & the Danish State Pilotage agency; to global operators such as APMT and ICTSI; to individual ports & terminals across the world. Day to day Prema’s team works closely with maritime operators to identify weather based risk to safety or schedule; and helps to evaluate risk mitigation options using science based decision support. Prema’s key skillset is the ability to translate technical information into actionable, operational advice, driving stakeholder understanding, acceptance and institutional change.
Chris Leaman (He/Him)
KBR
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Chris Leaman is an experienced professional in the coastal industry, currently serving as the Maritime Team Lead at KBR Brisbane. With a diverse background in academia, consulting, and local government, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Recently completing a PhD at UNSW’s Water Research Laboratory, his research focused on early warning systems and how to forecast coastal hazards at the regional-scale.
Dr. Wakhidatik Nurfaida (Ida)
Universitas Gadjah Mada
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Dr. Wakhidatik Nurfaida (Ida) currently serves as a lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the Department of Civil Engineering, Vocational School, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Indonesia). Ida holds a PhD and Master (Coastal Engineering) from the University of Tokyo (Japan), in addition to a B.Eng (Civil Engineering) from Universitas Gadjah Mada. She previously worked as a Jr. Planning Engineer in a mining company before she continued her Master and PhD study. She also worked on many projects related to urban drainage and spillway design. Her current research interests are focused on coastal sediment transport, shoreline change, wave climate, and coastal flooding.
Associate Professor Hannah Power
University of Newcastle
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Hannah Power is an Associate Professor in Coastal and Marine Science in the School of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle. She holds a PhD (Coastal Engineering) from the University of Queensland and a B Sc (Marine Science) (Honours I) from the University of Sydney. Hannah’s research interests are focussed on the processes that drive on coastlines and how our coasts will be impacted by climate change. Her work covers a wide range of coastal environments from sandy beaches to rocky shores to coral reefs. Hannah also looks at coastal hazards like extreme waves on beaches and tsunami. Hannah is a Science Technology Australia 2021 Superstar of STEM and was awarded the NSW Young Tall Poppy Award in 2021. She is the founder of the Australasian Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference series which aims to connect, foster, and showcase the next generation of coastal scientists and engineers. Hannah is also a member of the NSW Coastal Council, an independent expert panel that provides advice to the Minister on coastal issues and management.