Who we are
About Us
Conference Organising Committee 2024
Elise Buller, Co-Chair (She/her)
PhD Candidate
awabakal country
Elise Buller is a first year PhD student at the University of Newcastle supervised by Dr Hannah Power and Dr Michael Kinsela. Her PhD project is investigating headland bypassing on the NSW coastline. She completed her Honours year in June 2023 where she researched the geomorphology, sedimentology and tsunamigenic hazard of her study site offshore Yamba, NSW, Australia. Elise is interested in coastal processes, sediment transport and hazards to our coastlines. She loves being at the beach and in the salt water in any way she can. Elise is the Co-Chair of the AusYCSEC2024 National Organising Committee.
Dylan McLaughlin, Co-Chair (He/him)
PHD candidate
Dharawal Country
Dylan McLaughlin is a PhD Candidate at the University of Wollongong, focusing on coastal geomorphology and sediment dynamics using innovative remote sensing technologies. After a successful career in experiential marketing, Dylan’s passion for coastal environments prompted a literal sea-change to study an Environmental Science Honours degree with a focus on coastal dynamics. He is also a (very) mediocre guitar player. Dylan is thrilled to help as part of the AusYCSEC Organising Committee and to serve as a co-chair for the 2024 conference.
Stephen Rigney
PhD Candidate
dharawal Country
Stephen is a PhD candidate at the University of Wollongong under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Kelleway and Assoc. Prof. Nicholas Deutscher. Coastal intertidal wetlands have an incredible capacity to store carbon for thousands of years due to their water-logged sediment. But these conditions also favour the production of greenhouse gases. His research explores the magnitude and drivers of greenhouse gas fluxes in the coastal intertidal wetlands of SE Australia and models the implications under sea-level rise. He loves the beach, reading, playing music, and is a terrible but persistent board gamer.
Ruby Hammond, (She/her)
Environmental Science and Management (Honours)
AWABAKAL COUNTRY
Ruby Hammond is currently in her final year studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management at the University of Newcastle (Honours). Her primary studies are in the coastal and sedimentology area. She currently works as a research assistant for Dr Micheal Kinsela on an ongoing research project. Ruby also assists PhD students conducting fieldwork and data collection in the coastal science area. She has additional interests in marine biology, climate drivers, rehabilitation, GIS and coastal adaptations. Ruby is the Co-chair for the AusYCSEC 2023 National Organising Committee.
Oxana Repina (She/her)
PhD Candidate
Ngunnawal Country
Oxana is a PhD candidate at the University of Wollongong, researching how accurately shoreline change on sandy beaches can be modelled over decadal timescales. Oxana is also working as a research assistant on a project to map Australia’s reef island shorelines and a project to model how coastal wetlands respond to sea-level rise. Her research interests include both coastal science and hydrology, and especially how the datasets and models underpinning these fields can be improved using high-performance computing, remote sensing and GIS. Oxana loves the outdoors and spends her spare time canyoning, hiking and kayaking.
Courtney Smith (She/her)
Coastal Scientist
Garigal COUNTRY
Courtney is a coastal scientist at Water Technology who is lucky enough to work across the NSW coastline, with occasional adventures to crocodile country. She enjoys all the coast has to offer, for both the environmental values and the community it shapes; you’ll find her on, in or under the water!
She mainly works on coastal management programs, and helps local councils develop and implement localised solutions to coastal management.
Ally Suzzi
Assistant Project Officer, Coastal
Ally is an assistant project officer at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, where she provides technical advice on coastal management projects across the Hunter Central Coast region. Ally completed her PhD at the University of Newcastle in 2023, which focussed on the use of molecular tools for monitoring estuarine systems. Her professional interests include the monitoring and management of human impacts on coastal and marine environments, using innovative tools and methodologies. Ally is assisting with secretary roles for AusYCSEC2024 National Organising Committee, alongside Mikayla and Oxana.
Molly Walker
Environmental Engineer and Scientist
Molly is an Environmental Engineer and Scientist at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment who focuses on Coastal and Environmental Water management for the Hunter Central Coast region, with experience that spans construction, ecology and drinking water management. Molly enjoys achieving positive environmental outcomes that solve complex issues and put stakeholder collaboration at the forefront. Her career interests include GIS mapping, data science, hydrological modelling and project management. Molly is sponsorship coordinator for the AusYCSEC 2023 National Organising Committee
James Thompson
PhD candidate
Yugambeh language region
James is a coastal scientist at Bluecoast Consulting Engineers and a PhD student at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. His PhD project focuses on renewable wave energy and its interactions with the coastline. He enjoys problem solving, data science and numerical modelling related to nearshore wave power, tropical cyclones and shoreline change. Away from the desk, you can find James in the surf, watching too many NBA games or hiking long trails.
Stephanie Doumtsis
SENIOR SCIENTIST (COASTAL AND MARINE)
Wurundjeri Country
Stephanie Doumtsis is a coastal scientist at Alluvium Consulting, with a technical background in coastal geomorphology and physical geography. She completed her masters at the University of Melbourne, where she examined the role of rock structures, estuarine and coastal processes on seasonal-decadal scale beach change in Inverloch, Victoria. Stephanie is currently delivering a range of coastal management, adaptation planning and coastal processes projects for local and state government agencies across Australia. She is a passionate science communicator and has interests in GIS analysis, UAVs, remote sensing, beach morphodynamics and geomorphic change. Stephanie enjoys engaging with coastal communities and integrating their values to create informed decisions around coastal management and adaptation planning.
Danial Khojasteh
Senior Scientist (Coastal & Marine)
Danial Khojasteh is a Senior Scientist (Coastal and Marine) at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). He completed his PhD and Post-doctoral programs at UNSW and Sydney Institute of Marine Science. His multidisciplinary research spans estuarine hydrodynamics, geomorphology, climate change, human pressures, and inundation risk assessment, providing evidence-based management strategies for coastal estuaries. His work is internationally recognised, with over 35 peer-reviewed publications, guest lecturing, guest editing, and collaborations with global institutions, including scientists from the IPCC. Danial is currently leading research related to global ICOLLs, Sydney Harbour, and modelling estuarine compound inundation within NSW.
Rai Ibaceta
Senior Scientist (Coastal and Marine)
Rai is a Senior Scientist (Coastal and Marine) at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). Rai completed his PhD and postdoc at the UNSW Water Research Laboratory. He specialises in providing evidence-based science to inform coastal risk and management studies. Rai enjoys integrating data from in-situ and remote sensing technologies with GIS and other computational methods (machine learning, data assimilation) to understand – and predict – the present and future behaviour of sandy coastlines. Rai is currently leading projects related to open-coast inundation risk, socio-demographics impacts of sea level rise, coastal erosion hazards and operational early warning systems to assist the Worimi people and NSW national parks. Rai (and Danial) will be hosting the Eora (Sydney) local hub.
Yanyan Zhang
Coastal Engineer
Yanyan is a coastal engineer at Royal HaskoningDHV in Australia, with experience in a wide range of local and international coastal and estuary engineering projects. Yanyan is also the Deputy Young Professional Representative of PIANC NSW, and committee member of COPEP.
Billy Howitt
Coastal Scientist
Turrbal and Jagera Country
Billy Howitt is a coastal scientist at Alluvium Consulting with a technical background in environmental geography and coastal management. He completed his masters at the University of Portsmouth, UK, where he examined the stakeholder engagement and consultation process of the Southsea Coastal Scheme (UK’s largest local government-led project coastal defence project worth more than £160 million). Billy is currently delivering a number of coastal management, adaptation planning and First Nations engagement projects for local and state government agencies in Queensland. Billy has a strong interest in coastal management, GIS and First Nations engagement. He is passionate about engaging with relevant groups and understands the importance of engaging throughout the project life, particularly in the early stages, to ensure ownership is achieved.
Dominique Djaidiguna (She/Her)
Junior Consultant
Dominique is a Junior Consultant at BMT based in Sydney, where she currently delivers a wide range of coastal management and adaptation projects across Australia. She completed her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), focusing her honours thesis on examining the influence of wave spectral shape on the rate and extent of dune erosion. Dominique’s professional interests include coastal processes, sediment transport, and coastal hazards. Outside of work, she enjoys scuba diving, horse riding, and crocheting.
Beth Millsteed (She/her)
Assistant Project Officer (Marine, Coastal, Estuaries and Flood)
Beth is an Assistant Project Officer at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, where she assists councils with implementing Coastal Management Programs across the NSW coastal zone. Beth completed her undergraduate and honours degree at the University of Newcastle, focusing on saltmarsh species health across the Georges River catchment in Sydney NSW. Beth has worked across the University environmental sector, as well as various natural resource management roles within NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services and Victoria’s Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.
Mikayla Crossley (She/Her)
Data Controller
Mikayla is currently in her final year studying a Bachelor of Coastal and Marine Science at the University of Newcastle. She initially studied marine science but has since broadened her study focus to specialise in the physical processes of coastal science. Mikayla works within the School of Environmental and Life Science at the University of Newcastle as a research assistant primarily conducting coastal fieldwork and data collection. She also has an interest in GIS, coastal processes, reefs and cetaceans.
Michael Rosenthal
Coastal Consultant
Michael works in the consulting sector with a focus on coast and estuary management and adaptation. His passion lies in managing coastal environments and their catchments, including marine, open coast, and estuarine areas. His work sits at the intersection of technical, policy, and community perspectives and understanding the importance of incorporating multiple stakeholders’ knowledge and input to achieve successful outcomes. He loves surfing, snorkelling, ocean swims and camping by the beach. You can catch him at your favourite beach with his family, including their dog Milo. He has been supporting the AusYCSEC 2023 conference as a member of the organising committee.
Tom Doyle (He/him)
Senior Scientist (Coastal and Marine)
Gadigal and Bidjigal country
Tom Doyle is a senior scientist (coastal and marine) within the Science, Economics and Insights Division of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), with experience that also spans university, private and local government sectors. His research interests are focused on the geomorphology and eco-morphodynamics of the coastal zone and his research covers a range of topics from foredune morphology and ecology, dune evolution through time, coastal processes, human impacts of coastal systems, to the monitoring of various coastal environments using GIS and remote sensing techniques. Tom currently co-leads the state-wide science program for DPE, which aims to collect high resolution data (inc. waves, and seabed mapping) to underpin NSW coastal management (inc. CMPs).
Dr. Tom Murray (He/him)
Research Fellow Griffith University
Yugambeh language region
Dr Tom Murray is a research fellow at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. Tom lives, works and plays in southeast Queensland and northern NSW, covering the sea country of the Quandamooka (Minjerribah / Stradbroke Island / Morton Bay), Yugambeh (Gold Coast) and Bundjalung (northern NSW) nations. Tom’s research primarily informs coastal processes management for local and state government in the region and he’s passionate about coastal geomorphology, surf zone hazards and the science of surfing.
Hannah Power (She/her)
Associate professor & coastal scientist
AWABAKAL COUNTRY
Hannah Power is an Associate Professor in Coastal and Marine Science in the School of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle. Her research interests are focussed on the geomorphology and hydrodynamics in the coastal zone and her research covers a wide range of topics from breaking wave hydrodynamics on sandy beaches, to geomorphic change on coral reefs through time, to tsunami inundation modelling. Hannah is a Science Technology Australia 2021 Superstar of STEM and was awarded the NSW Young Tall Poppy Award in 2021. Hannah is also the founder of the Australasian Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference series.