I am an Associate Professor in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the College of Science and Engineering. Prior to my current position, I was the Assistant Director and Associate Dean Research Education of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (2017 – 2022), Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University (2013 – 2016), and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University (2010 – 2012). 

My research uses conservation biogeography theory and spatial technologies, such as geographic information systems (GIS), geostatistics, network analysis, biophysical models and reserve design software, to inform the management of Australia's coasts. Specifically, my research develops new methodologies for cumulative impact assessment (CIA), and explores the implications of CIA in environmental decision-making, policy and practice. Most of my research is conducted in northern Australia, particularly the Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, and Gulf of Carpentaria. I am an Associate Editor of Diversity and Distributions.  

The transfer of research to management action and policy is my highest priority, and I actively generate partnerships to co-develop research with government and non-government agencies and communities, such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Torres Strait Regional Authority and Indigenous natural and cultural resource management agencies. I am a member of the Queensland Species Technical Committee and in 2018 I was awarded the Queensland Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year.

Interests

Research

• Spatial predictions of coastal and marine features
• Cumulative impact and risk assessments
• Biophysical modelling of marine plant dispersal and connectivity
• Spatial planning and coastal management in Indigenous land and sea-scapes

Experience

• 2017 to 2022 - Assistant Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Townsville)
• 2013 to 2016 - Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University (Sydney)
• 2010 to 2013 - Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Townsville)

Research Disciplines

• Environmental management (4104)
• Ecological applications (4102)
• Ecology (3103)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Marine systems and management (1805)

Awards

• 2019 - Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Leadership, James Cook University
• 2018 - Queensland Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year, Australian Institute of Policy and Science

Fellowships

• 2015 - Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Asem Duo Fellowship
• 2012 - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Churchill Fellowship

Memberships

• 2018 - Australian Marine Sciences Association
• 2010 - World Seagrass Association

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Jog K, Sutaria D, Diedrich A, Grech A and Marsh H (2022) Marine Mammal Interactions With Fisheries: Review of Research and Management Trends Across Commercial and Small-Scale Fisheries. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.
• Saint-Amand A, Grech A, Choukroun S and Hanert E (2022) Quantifying the environmental impact of a major coal mine project on the adjacent Great Barrier Reef ecosystems. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 179.
• Schlaefer J, Carter A, Choukroun S, Coles R, Critchell K, Lambrechts J, Rasheed M, Tol S and Grech A (2022) Marine plant dispersal and connectivity measures differ in their sensitivity to biophysical model parameters. Environmental Modelling & Software, 149.
• Graham V, Geldmann J, Adams V, Grech A, Deinet S and Chang H (2021) Management resourcing and government transparency are key drivers of biodiversity outcomes in Southeast Asian protected areas. Biological Conservation, 253.
• Cockerell B, Pressey R, Grech A, Álvarez-Romero J, Ward T and Devillers R (2020) Representation does not necessarily reduce threats to biodiversity: Australia's Commonwealth marine protected area system, 2012–2018. Biological Conservation, 252.
• Devillers R, Pressey R, Ward T, Grech A, Kittinger J, Edgar G and Watson R (2020) Residual marine protected areas five years on: are we still favouring ease of establishment over need for protection? Aquatic Conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems, 30 (9). pp. 1758-1764
• Tulloch V, Grech A, Jonsen I, Pirotta V and Harcourt R (2020) Cost-effective mitigation strategies to reduce bycatch threats to cetaceans identified using return-on-investment analysis. Conservation Biology, 34 (1). pp. 138-179
• Tulloch V, Pirotta V, Grech A, Crocetti S, Double M, How J, Kemper C, Meager J, Palmer C, Peddemors V, Waples K, Watson M and Harcourt R (2020) Long-term trends and a risk analysis of cetacean entanglements and bycatch in fisheries gear in Australian waters. Biodiversity and Conservation, 29. pp. 251-282
• Bellwood D, Pratchett M, Morrison T, Gurney G, Hughes T, Álvarez-Romero J, Day J, Grantham R, Grech A, Hoey A, Jones G, Pandolfi J, Tebbett S, Techera E, Weeks R and Cumming G (2019) Coral reef conservation in the Anthropocene: confronting spatial mismatches and prioritizing functions. Biological Conservation, 236. pp. 604-615
• Critchell K, Hamann M, Wildermann N and Grech A (2019) Predicting the exposure of coastal species to plastic pollution in a complex island archipelago. Environmental Pollution, 252, Part B. pp. 982-991
• Graham V, Baumgartner J, Beaumont L, Esperon-Rodriguez M and Grech A (2019) Prioritizing the protection of climate refugia: designing a climate-ready protected area network. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 62 (14). pp. 2588-2606

Book Chapters

• Brodie J, Grech A, Pressey B, Day J, Dale A, Morrison T and Wenger A (2019) The future of the Great Barrier Reef: The water quality imperative. In: Coasts and estuaries: The future. Elsevier, Kidlington, Oxon, UK, pp. 477-499

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 73+ research outputs authored by A/PROF Alana Grech from 2006 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Characterising coral reefs? community composition and structure using photogrammetry to inform restoration. (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
• Palaeolandscapes and the Archaeological implications of Changing Landscapes and Seascapes in the Torres Strait (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The Impact of Fisheries Interactions on the Foraging Behaviour of Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins (Sousa plumbea) along the Sindhudurg Coast of Maharashtra, India (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• A functional traits-based approach to improve understanding of seagrass resilience and disturbance effects on ecosystem services (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Informing the Recovery and Restoration of Tropical Seagrasses using a Biophysical modelling approach (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Understanding the influence of propagule transport in the dispersal and connectivity of marine macrophytes (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

• Using hydrodynamic models to understand the impacts and risks of plastic pollution (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

• Grech, A. (2017) Network metrics and spatial distribution of seagrass in the central Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University
• Grech, A. (2017) Connectivity of seagrass meadows in the central Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University
• Tol, S. (2016) Biotic tropical seagrass seed dispersal by dugong and green sea turtles in the Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University
• Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugongs, turtles, cetaceans) Moreton Bay, December 2000. James Cook University
• Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugong) Torres Strait, 2001. James Cook University
• Marsh, H. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugong, cetacean, turtle) Torres Strait, November 2005. James Cook University
• Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey Torres Strait, 1987. James Cook University
• Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugong) Torres Strait, November 1996. James Cook University
• Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugong, turtle) Torres Strait, December 1994. James Cook University
• Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerials surveys (dugongs, cetaceans, turtles) Torres Strait, November to December 1991. James Cook University

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.