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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Jack Mullaly is an Environmental Engineer and has spent over a decade championing Water Sensitive Urban Design across Queensland and beyond. Five years ago, Jack, pivoted in to human movement coaching - but has now returned to the WSUD 'biz'. In this chat, we discuss all things WSUD and bioretention - along with the challenges and potential solutions to better achieve WSUD.

Useful links:

• Jack on LinkedIn (here)
• www.jackmullaly.com

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

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Peter Whish-Wilson has been senator for Tasmania since 2012, representing the Australian Greens political party. In this chat, we discuss the fight to protect Australia’s oceans and coastlines from new offshore oil and gas projects, climate change, making plastic producers accountable, a billionaires tax and corruption in politics.  

Useful links:

• Peter Whish-Wilson (here)
• The Green's campaign "No New Offshore Oil & Gas" (here)
• The Green's campaign "Protect Great Southern Reef" (here)
• The Green's campaign "Waste Free Future" (here)
• The Green's campaign to reduce the cost of living (here)

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

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Paul Dubowski is an Environmental Scientist with over 20 years’ experience looking after our catchments and waterways. In this chat, we reflect on the inaugural Queensland Water Summit, held just two days earlier in Brisbane – including insights from the wide range of presenters, along with key recommended actions to help better manage water resources and better protect waterways and oceans across Queensland and beyond.

Useful links:

• Paul on Linkedin (here)
• Stormwater Queensland (here)

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

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Shannon Mead is the Founder of and Chief Butt Officer of "No More Butts" - returning for his fourth appearance on the pod. We discuss vapes, what the latest is with the global Plastics Treaty, and how No More Butts is progressing towards their vision of a world without tobacco waste.

Useful links:

• No More Butts website (here)
• Shannon on LinkedIn (here)
• Ocean Protect Podcast, May 2021: “No more butts with Shannon Mead” (here)
• Ocean Protect Podcast, April 2022: “Smoke in the water with Shannon Mead” (here)
• Ocean Protect Podcast, July 2023: “Shannon Mead on butts, vapes & the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution” (here)

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

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In our Season 6 finale, the microphones are turned - with Daniel Rider (Ocean Protect's WSUD Specialist) interviewing the host, Brad Dalrymple (Ocean Protect Principal Environmental Engineer). We chat about, we get a bit of Brad's back-story, the 'why' and what of some of Ocean Protect's advocacy initiatives, and plans for 2025.

Useful links:

• Brad on LinkedIn (here)
• Daniel on Linkedin (here)
• Ocean Protect events (here)
• Ocean Protect webinars (here)

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

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Dr Tom Remenyi is a climate scientist, and an expert at translating complex climate science into useful, accessible products, tools and/ or advice. In this chat, we talk climate change scenarios past and future, and what are the likely impacts in relation to rainfall, temperatures, droughts, and ultimately ‘us’ – and what key actions we can (and should) all do.  

Useful links:

• Tom on LinkedIn (here)
• Tom’s email: tom@acclimatised.com.au

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

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Kelen Marczak Polli is a Stormwater Engineer at Arup, and is a very deserving recipient of this year's Australian Emerging Stormwater Professional of the Year Award by Stormwater Queensland AND the Queensland Emerging Professional Engineer of the Year Award by Engineers Australia. In this chat, Kelen share's her amazing story - coming from Brazil with an engineering degree but very little English, the struggle to land her first engineering job in Australia, and advice for other students and graduates starting their engineering careers.

Useful links:

• Kelen on LinkedIn (here)
• Kelen on Instagram (here)
• Engineers Australia "Internships Information for International Students" (here)
• Engineers Australia "Global Engineering Talent Program" (here)

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

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Mark Gibson is Principal Engineer in the Water Management Unit of Brisbane City Council, and President of Stormwater Queensland. In this chat, we talk about Mark's passion for volunteering and stormwater - and how they've come together at Stormwater Queensland, and what's it been like (so far) as President. We also took about some of the challenges facing the stormwater industry and what we can do about it.

Useful links:

• Mark on LinkedIn (here)
• Stormwater Queensland (here)

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

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Katie Walters (Moreton Bay Foundation) and Paul Maxwell (EcoFutures Consulting) join the podcast to talk about a Blueprint for a sustainable Moreton Bay. This report (recently published by the Moreton Bay Foundation) identifies priority actions for the protect and renewal of Moreton Bay over the coming decade.

Useful links:

• Katie on LinkedIn (here)
• Katie's email (here)
• Paul on LinkedIn (here)
• Blueprint for a sustainable Moreton Bay 2035 (here)
• ABC News article, Toxic Lyngbya algal blooms 'inevitable' in Moreton Bay if development continues unchecked, experts say (here)
• Paul's previous Ocean Protect Podcast appearance - Paul Maxwell on the Healthy Land & Water Report Card (Season 1, Episode 35, November 2019)

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

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Brian Mcintosh is Associate Professor of Integrated Water Management at Griffith University and Education Director at the International Water Centre. In this chat, Brian describes his journey from being a straight edge punk in Scotland to being a leader (and developing future leaders) in the water industry in Australia. We also discuss what exactly is Integrated Water Management, and how it can protect our waterways and water resources in South-East Queensland and beyond.  

Useful links:

• Brian on LinkedIn (here)
• International Water Centre (here)

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

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Katherine Warwick is an aquatic ecologist and PhD candidate at Western Sydney University. Katherine has recently led an Australian-first study which has found perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in platypuses, sparking warnings people in New South Wales may be more exposed than once thought. In this chat, we discuss the study methodology and results – and the subsequent implications across New South Wales and beyond. 

Useful links:

• Katherine on LinkedIn (here)
• ABC News article “PFAS 'forever chemicals' found in water filtration plants and platypus livers in NSW” (here)
• Warwick, K.G., Wright, I.A., Whinfield, J. et al. First report of accumulation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in New South Wales, Australia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 51037–51042 (2024). (here)
• Ocean Protect Podcast episode “Forever chemicals & their impact on wetland snakes with Dr Damian Lettoof” (August 2023, Season 5, Episode 15) (here)

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

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Craig Fairbaugh returns for his second appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast, after his first appearance nearly broke the internet. In this chat, we dig a little deeper into Craig’s incredible punk rock career with bands like +44, Transplants, and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards – the subsequent transition to superstar environmental engineer – and get Craig’s insights from the US on a bunch of stormwater pollution-related stuff, including ‘zero trash to waterways’ targets, asset maintenance, testing protocols, bioretention and more. This is an AMAZING chat.

Useful links:

• Craig on LinkedIn (here)
• Ocean Protect Podcast episode “Craig Fairbaugh – Stormwater Rock Star” (October 2022, Season 4, Episode 18) (here)

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

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Jessica Coughlan is a campaigner with Neighbours of Fish Farming - a community organisation in southern Tasmania. NOFF's goal is to save Tasmanian's unique natural waterways from the damage being caused by the multinational Atlantic salmon industry. In this chat, we talk about what it's like to be a neighbour of a fish farm, what Atlantic Salmon farming is really like, and what you can do about it.

Useful links:

• Jessica's email: secretary@noff.au
• Off the Table
• Neighbours of Fish Farming
• Vimeo of the The Maugean Skate: https://vimeo.com/864263625
• Vimeo "Toxic Truth": https://vimeo.com/707402254
• Vimeo "Essie Davis, A Toxic Future": https://vimeo.com/742916685
• Vimeo "Paradise Lost by Justin Kurzel and Connor Castles Lynch": https://vimeo.com/742666590

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

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