I am the Assistant Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Program Leader of the Centre's Research Program 2: Ecosystem Dynamics: Past, Present and Future. Prior to my current position, I worked as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University (JCU), Townsville. I am an Associate Editor of Diversity and Distributions and Associate Dean Research Education at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies' JCU node.

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 conservation of Australia's coastal environment. 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 remote coastal and marine areas of northern Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, and Gulf of Carpentaria. 

The transfer of research to management action and policy is my highest priority, and I actively generate partnerships to deliver my research outputs directly to government and non-government agencies and Indigenous communities. I communicate my knowledge via research papers, reports and presentations, workshops with stakeholders, and briefings to agencies, such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, NSW Parks and Wildlife Service, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Fisheries, Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, and the Torres Strait Regional Authority.

My research has received funding from the Australian Research Council, Ian Potter Foundation, James Cook University, Macquarie University, NSW Adaptation Research Hub - Biodiversity Node, Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, National Environmental Research Program Tropical Ecosystems Hub, Australian Marine Mammal Centre, Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility, and others.

Interests

Research

• Spatial predictions of coastal and marine features
• Cumulative impact and risk assessments
• Conservation planning and Indigenous Australia
• Biophysical modelling of marine plant dispersal and connectivity
• Spatial planning and coastal management

Experience

• 2016 to present - 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 Science and Management (0502)
• Ecological Applications (0501)
• Ecology (0602)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Ecosystem Assessment and Management (9605)
• Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity (9608)

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
• 2017 - Business Higher Education Round Table (BHERT), Award for Outstanding Collaboration for National Benefit (Non-Economic) (2017)

Fellowships

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

Memberships

• 2019 - Australian Marine Sciences Association
• 2016 - Australian Coral Reef Society
• 2016 - International Coral Reef Society
• 2010 - World Seagrass Association
• 2008 - Society of Conservation Biology

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

• 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, Article: 108813, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108813.
• 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, DOI:10.1002/aqc.3374.
• Tulloch V, Grech A, Jonsen I, Pirotta V and Harcourt R (in press) Cost-effective mitigation strategies to reduce bycatch threats to cetaceans identified using return-on-investment analysis. Conservation Biology, , DOI:10.1111/cobi.13418.
• 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 (in press) Long-term trends and a risk analysis of cetacean entanglements and bycatch in fisheries gear in Australian waters. Biodiversity and Conservation, , DOI:10.1007/s10531-019-01881-x.
• 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, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2019.05.056.
• 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, DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.031.
• 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, DOI:10.1080/09640568.2019.1573722.
• Lillywhite H, Sheehy C, Sandfoss M, Crowe-Riddell J and Grech A (2019) Drinking by sea snakes from oceanic freshwater lenses at first rainfall ending seasonal drought. PLoS ONE, 14 (2), Article: e0212099, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0212099.
• Pirotta V, Reynolds W, Ross G, Jonsen I, Grech A, Slip D and Harcourt R (2019) A citizen science approach to long-term monitoring of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off Sydney, Australia. Marine Mammal Science, 36 (2), pp. 472-485, DOI:10.1111/mms.12651.
• Pirrota V, Grech A, Jonsen I, Laurance W and Harcourt R (2019) Consequences of global shipping traffic for marine giants. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 17 (1), pp. 39-47, DOI:10.1002/fee.1987.

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
• Pratchett M, Bridge T, Brodie J, Cameron D, Day J, Emslie M, Grech A, Hamann M, Heron S, Hoey A, Hoogenboom M, Lough J, Morrison T, Osborne K, Read M, Schauble C, Smithers S, Sweatman H and Waterhouse J (2019) Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In: World Seas: an environmental evaluation. Elsevier, London, UK, pp. 333-362

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 68+ research outputs authored by Dr 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

• 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)

Completed

• Understanding the risk to flatback turtles (Natator depressus) from expanding industrial development in Western Australia (2017, PhD , Associate Advisor)
• Opportunities for REDD+ to minimise forest carbon emissions and mitigate climate change in Southeast Asia (2017, Masters , Associate Advisor)
• 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 the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

• 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.