Karunya Sateesh, Ocean Protect's Marketing and Communications Coordinator, takes us behind the scenes of her journey from humble beginnings in Bangalore, India, to her current career path in Melbourne, Australia. In this chat, she reflects on how witnessing the decline in Bangalore's green and blue spaces sparked her curiosity about the broader impacts of climate change, and how this exploration led to a career in championing stormwater solutions. She opens up about the impact she hopes to make throughout her career and where she hopes to go next.

Karunya on LinkedIn (here).

For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au

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National Maintenance Manager at Ocean Protect, coordinating Ocean Protect's maintenance of tens of thousands of stormwater treatment asset across Australia. In this chat, we discuss what these assets are stopping, why they often aren't getting maintained, and what's needed to achieve better stormwater management (and ocean and waterway health).

Useful links:

• Fotos on LinkedIn (here)
• WSUD Compliance Framework (here)

For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au

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Dr Scott Bennett is Co-Founder of the Great Southern Reef Foundation and leads their science committee. In this chat, we discuss the devastating algal bloom off South Australia's coast that has already killed (and continues to kill) countless marine species. Fresh from a dive survey of some of the impacted areas, Scott shares his insights on what's it like, what's causing it, and what needs to be done.

Useful links:

• Scott on LinkedIn (here)
• Great Southern Reef Foundation (here)
• Great Southern Reef Foundation June 2025 Algal Bloom Update (here)
• InDaily article "Annual Torrens Lake blue-green algae management program kicks off today" (here, December 2024)

For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au

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Josh Kirkman is CEO for Surfers for Climate - an Australian charity dedicated to turning the tide on climate change. In this chat, Josh gives an insight into the group's various campaigns - and how to better empower tradespeople, politicians and the public to help make a better world.

Useful links:

• Josh on LinkedIn (here)
• Surfers for Climate (here)

For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au

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Dr Steph Brodie is a Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment in Brisbane. In this chat, we discuss a recent study that Steph was involved in which surveyed for debris in and around six Australian urban areas between 2022 and 2024. We discuss the study methodology and the results that showed that, over the past ten years, the amount of waste across Australian coastal cities has reduced by almost 40% and more places were found with no rubbish at all.

Useful links:

• Steph at CSIRO (here)
• The Conversation article “Good news, beach lovers: our research found 39% less plastic waste around Australian coastal cities than a decade ago” (here)
• Journal paper "Drivers of environmental debris in metropolitan areas: A continental scale assessment (here).

For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au

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Alix de Jersey is a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania, investigating the effects of microplastics on tropical shearwaters. In this chat, we discuss the world-first study of seabirds that Alix was involved with - which identified that seabird chicks heavily affected by plastic ingestion demonstrated a range of negative health consequences, including liver and brain damage. We discuss the study methodology and results - and the associated implications to both wildlife and humans.

Useful links:

• Alix on LinkedIn (here)
• Alix at AdriftLab (here)
• Article "World-first analysis of seabirds who’ve eaten plastic reveals slow, insidious health impacts" (here)
• Journal paper "Seabirds in crisis: Plastic ingestion induces proteomic signatures of multiorgan failure and neurodegeneration" (here)

For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au

Photo credit: Dr. Neal R. Haddaway

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Dan Rhodes is a Senior Water Engineer at Henry & Hymas Consulting Engineers and Optimal Stormwater - and has looked down into MANY gross pollutant traps (GPTs). In this chat, we discuss Dan's career progression from muso to engineer, insights from his many GPT audits, the Zero Litter to Bay initiative, and his thoughts around the key challenges and solutions to better stormwater management (and waterway health).

Useful links:

• Dan on LinkedIn (here)
• Optimal Stormwater (here)
• Henry & Hymas Consulting Engineers (here)
• Zero Litter to Bay media statement (here)

For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au

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Dr Cassie Rauert is a Senior Research Fellow in Microplastics exposure at The University of Queensland, and was involved in a recent study of the distribution of tyre additives, tyre wear particles and microplastics within the waterways of the Moreton Bay region in south-east Queensland, Australia. In this chat, we talk about the study methodology and results, and subsequent implications.

Useful links:

• Cassie on LinkedIn (here)
• Cassie at University of Queensland (here)
• 2024 report "Moreton Bay scoping study: Tyre wear particles, tyre additives and microplastics" (here)
• 2022 paper "Tyre additive chemicals, tyre road wear particles and high production polymers in surface water at 5 urban centres in Queensland, Australia" (here)

For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au

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