About

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. I am also a member of the JCU SAGE Athena Swan Gender Equity Action and Research (GEAR) team, a JCU Equity Contact Officer and an elected  member of JCU Council.

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 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 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. In 2022, I received a 3-year Ministerial appointment to the Queensland Species Technical Committee to assess native species that occur in Queensland to determine their conservation status under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

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
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
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
  • 2019 - Australian Marine Sciences Association
  • 2018 - Australian Marine Sciences Association
  • 2010 - World Seagrass Association
  • 2008 - Society of Conservation Biology
Publications

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
Book Chapters
More

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

Current Funding

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

AIMS@JCU - Scholarship

3D mapping and monitoring coral reefs population and community dynamics: EcoRRAP PhD scholarship

Indicative Funding
$134,388 over 4 years
Summary
The aim of this project is to fill key knowledge gaps in natural rates of reef recovery and adaptation to climate change through upscaling spatial analysis and monitoring. The overreaching goal is to improve the spatial extent in monitoring techniques and workflows used to investigate drivers of coral reef recovery and adaptation to climate change, to better guide managers in the planning and design of coral reef protection and conservation programs, including restoration interventions. The project will involve fieldwork and require high level of programming and statistical skills.
Investigators
Alana Grech and Tiny Remmers Barry (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords
Coral Reef; 3D Mapping; Monitoring

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Contract Research

An assessment of the distribution and abundance of dugong and in-water large marine turtles along the Queensland coast from Cape York to Hinchinbrook Island

Indicative Funding
$422,516 over 4 years
Summary
This project will meet the requirements outlined in the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan to provide information to inform the management of dugongs in the Northern Great Barrier Reef region (NGBR) by continuing the time series of standardised aerial surveys conducted since the late 1980s. The project will provide an assessment of the distribution and abundance of dugongs and in-water large marine turtles in the NGBR and contribute to the 30 year time series for temporal comparisons using the latest advances in distribution and abundance analyses.
Investigators
Helene Marsh, Susan Sobtzick and Alana Grech (Academy - TES, TropWATER and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords
Dugong; Aerial Survey; Abundance; Marine Turtles; Distribution; Long-term Monitoring
Supervision

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
  • 3D mapping and Monitoring Coral Reefs Population and Community Dynamics (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)
  • Understanding the influence of propagule transport in the dispersal and connectivity of marine macrophytes (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Completed
Data

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

Collaboration

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.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

Connect with me
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jcu.me/alana.grech

Email
Phone
Location
  • 32.121, Sir George Fisher Research Building (Townsville campus)
Advisory Accreditation
Primary Advanced Advisor
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