Department: Data Team

My role is that of DASSH Officer on a part time basis, where I conduct digitisation and standardisation activities across a variety of Marine Biodiversity data sets. I am responsible for collating and reporting statistics, liasing with partners and also DASSH team’s social media udates.

I am continuing to study part time and am a second year FdSc Marine Conservation student at Newquay University Centre.  I am part of Newquay Marine Group and have just completed the Marine Mammal Surveyor course with ORCA so hope to volunteer with them later next year.

I joined the MBA at the start of 2023 as the Senior Data officer for the DASSH (The UK Archive for Marine Species and Habitats Data) team. I assist with the digitisation, standardisation, quality assurance and sign off of marine biodiversity data sets, as well as managing placement students, responding to data enquiries and representing DASSH at external meetings.

I hold an MSci (Hons) Biology degree and developed my data and technical skills through my previous role in biomedical data management software support. I am a keen SCUBA diver and enjoy putting my marine ID skills to the test when out on dives.

I am responsible for the management of contracts and staff involved in MarLIN (Marine Life Information Network) since 1999. In particular, project manager on short and long-term contracts for Defra, Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, Crown Estates, and WWF-UK. MBA lead on tenders/contracts 2010-2017.
I developed the MarLIN sensitivity assessment for biotopes (1999-2010). I’m responsible for ongoing development as the Marine Evidence-based Sensitivity Assessment (MarESA) approach. I have written reports and papers on the application of sensitivity assessment and sensitivity mapping in conservation and marine spatial planning, together with reports on environmental impacts, in particular, of wind farms, coasteering, and recreational access to coastal habitats. Working on the use of Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) in sensitivity assessment. Authored, supervised, and/or edited sensitivity reviews of circa 140 marine benthic species and most (circa 400) of UK habitats (biotopes). Responsible for the design and content management of the MarLIN website, CMS, and database. I was the lead author on the EMODNET biological traits hierarchy. I designed a database of ‘environmental solutions’ and port contacts for the ‘ECO-Information in European Ports’ (ECO-INFO) project, and together with the team, the environmental review questionnaire.