About

I lead the scientific delivery for multiple applied research programs focused on tropical coral and seagrass ecosystems. My 19 years’ of research experience in areas spanning coral, marine plants, photobiology, and spatial analysis and mapping have influenced the management and compliance of large-scale dredging programs. My body of work and expertise also delivers programs to monitor at-risk habitats, including inshore coral reefs.

My passion in recent years has been directed around building meaningful partnerships with Traditional Owners on the Great Barrier Reef and tourism operators to drive localised and scalable outcomes. Projects include the Great Reef Census (a citizen science-based monitoring program), Mars Reef Stars to support rubble stabilisation and repair, and coral larval delivery at local strategic reef locations with partners. These initiatives are rooted in a collaborative framework that spans various sectors, from ports, indigenous rangers, tourism and citizen science. These collaborations complement long-term monitoring efforts and management through more traditional government bodies such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. 

My philosophy is to forge strong partnerships across industries using alliances to springboard impactful and scalable research strategies. Through this approach, I am dedicated to advancing the science and management of reef and coastal assets. 

Current Research Projects (see also Current Funding tab)

  • GBRF Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Healing Country Grant: A collaborative partnership approach to build the skills, knowledge and experiences of GMY Peoples for mapping, monitoring and assessing Sea Country.
  • Lead of the coral monitoring program for the North Queensland Bulk Ports/JCU Partnership Program: Monitor and assess inshore coral condition and trend.
  • Reef Cooperative: Larval Delivery Project: Capture coral spawn and rear larvae in ocean-based pools to test boosting localised coral cover at important cultural and tourism reef sites in the Cairns region.  The first project to be co-led with First Nations partners, industry and a non-profit organisation, working across adjacent sea countries with First Nations consent.
  • Great Reef Census: Drive program scientific principles, integrate research with management agencies, and build capacity with First Nations groups and across industry to garner the greatest number of vessels ever used on the Reef for a science program.
  • Cairns – Port Douglas Reef Hub Coordination: Assist with facilitating local reef practitioners, stakeholders and Traditional Custodians to build capacity, communicate and collaborate on reef intervention techniques and how they can integrate with broader Reef Restoration and Adaptation program goals.
  • CSIRO-RRAP Collaborative Monitoring Project: Facilitate, develop and deliver a collaborative monitoring project with local partners at Moore Reef around trialled intervention techniques.
  • MARS Australia Pty Ltd: Moore Reef pilot study - Experimental design advice, field support & statistical analysis of reef restoration program using MARRS reef stars
  • Seagrass monitoring program for the Townsville Channel Upgrade Project
  • North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation – Manta tagging and Tracking in the Abbot Point region

 

Most recent media coverage/interviews/webinars

Interests
Professional
  • Building capacity to map and monitor Sea Country benthic habitats with Traditional Owners
  • Developing coral restoration techniques with Yirrganydji & Gunggandji Traditional Owners
  • Guest lecturing for JCU Restoration Ecology & Tropical Marine Ecosystems courses (ongoing since 2011)
  • Co-creating & delivering Master's intensive course MB5371 on JCU-NQBP Partnership
Experience
  • 2021 to present - Board Member, Reef Restoration Foundation (Cairns)
  • 2021 to 2022 - Indigenous Working Group Member, Australian Marine Science Association (Cairns)
  • 2019 to 2021 - Steering committee member, Australian Coral Restoration Consortium (Great Barrier Reef)
  • 2019 to 2020 - GBR Cluster Group Member, Tourism Tropical North Queensland (Cairns)
  • 2009 to 2014 - Dredge Technical Advisory and Consultative Committee Member, Gladstone Ports Corporation Ltd (Gladstone)
  • 2008 to 2012 - Fisheries Biologist, Marine Ecology Group, Fisheries Queensland (Cairns, Australia)
  • 2006 to 2007 - Research Technician, Florida Bay Fisheries Habitat Assessment Program, University of North Carolina Wilmington (Wilmington, USA)
  • 2004 to 2005 - Research Technologist, Center for Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, NE USA)
  • 2003 to 2004 - Research Intern & Water Quality Officer, ReefHQ, GBRMPA (Townsville, Australia)
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
Memberships
  • 2023 - Australian Coral Reef Society
  • 2020 - Great Reef Census Science Committee
  • 2019 - Reef Restoration Foundation Board of Directors
  • 2015 - International Coral Reef Society
  • 2013 - Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation
  • 2009 - World Seagrass Association
  • 2009 - Australian Marine Science Association - Council Member & 2023 Conference Steering Committee Member
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
More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 73+ research outputs authored by Dr Katie Chartrand from 2007 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - National Environmental Science Program 2 (NESP 2) - Marine and Coastal Hub (NESP MAC Hub)

NESP 3.18 Robust citizen science for reef habitat assessment in support of management

Indicative Funding
$157,500 over 3 years (administered by Reef and Rainforest Research Centre)
Summary
The Great Reef Census has demonstrated citizen-based infrastructure can undertake reconnaissance of hundreds of reefs by mobilising tourism vessels and thousands of citizens. Scientific questions remain regarding the acquisition, quality, and optimisation of such data for reef management to create a scalable citizen science-based program. Our project will (1) maximise the quality of data on key habitats by combining machine and human learning with rigorous testing, (2), operationalise a field deployment strategy that maximises the value of citizen data for management and (3) provide annual maps of reef state and ecological importance that feeds into decision-making by marine managers.
Investigators
Katie Chartrand (TropWater)
Keywords
Coral reefs; Benthic habitat; Spatial data; Citizens science; Artificial intelligence; Sea Country

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation - Contract Research

NQBP and JCU Research and Monitoring Partnership ? Seagrass and Coral Studies.

Indicative Funding
$2,391,178 over 5 years
Summary
This project conducts the long term annual monitoring of seagrasses and corals in Mackay, Hay Point Abbot Point/Bowen and Weipa. The work forms part of a research and monitoring partnership between JCU and NQBP to monitor and assess marine environmental health within ports as well as support related research and education opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students in seagrass and coral ecology and applied management in the ports industry.
Investigators
Michael Rasheed, Katie Chartrand and Skye McKenna in collaboration with Tony Ayling (TropWater and Sea Research)
Keywords
Seagrass; Coral; Marine Monitoring; Environmental assessment; Risk Assessment

CSIRO - Contract Research

RRAP Moore Reef Collaborative Monitoring Pilot.

Indicative Funding
$89,039 over 2 years
Summary
The JCU TropWATER team are working with the CSIRO RRAP engagement subprogram to develop and deliver a collaborative monitoring project with local partners at Moore Reef. TropWATER will also assist the CSIRO team with reporting and evaluation from the pilot. This work will be carried out as a complementary body of work to the CPD Reef Hub coordinator currently fulfilled by TropWATER.
Investigators
Abigail Scott and Katie Chartrand (TropWater)
Keywords
Coral; Restoration; Network; Capacity building

Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Consultancy

Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub Coordinator

Indicative Funding
$278,191 over 3 years
Summary
The purpose of the consultancy is to manage the design, coordination and on-ground implementation of the Cairns Port Douglas Reef Hub (hub) on a day-to-day basis. The Coordinator will play an important role as a central connection point across a range of partners with interests in Reef restoration and stewardship activities in the Cairns-Port Douglas region (and beyond). They will be responsible for supporting a collaborative network to build on work underway and strengthen communication, information exchange and collaboration to scale and strengthen Reef and community resilience outcomes. The role is a 0.6 FTE role, contracted to June 2024.
Investigators
Katie Chartrand, Abigail Scott and Skye McKenna (TropWater)
Keywords
Coral; Restoration; Network; Capacity building

Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Prescribed Body Corporate - GBRF Healing Country

Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Prescribed Body Corporate ? Healing Country Grant.

Indicative Funding
$125,415 over 1 year
Summary
This project will adopt a collaborative partnership approach with TropWATER and the Reef Restoration Foundation to build the skills, knowledge and experiences of Gunggandji and Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples for mapping, monitoring and assessing Sea Country. This collaborative approach will incorporate an Indigenous Knowledge perspective with Western science to help ensure that Traditional Owners are empowered to lead Reef restoration work, and to make and contribute to informed decisions about managing their Sea Country. Through co-designed workshops and training?both on and off Country?rangers will learn species and habitat identification and survey methods, will undertake baseline.
Investigators
Skye McKenna, Katie Chartrand, Robert Coles, Paul Leeson, Lloyd Shepherd and Luke Hoffmann (TropWater)
Keywords
Seagrass; Network; Ranger; Traditional Owner; Capacity building

Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef - Contract Research

Reef Cooperative ? Larval Delivery Project

Indicative Funding
$149,769 over 1 year
Summary
This is a collaborative project led by TropWATER with colleagues at Reef Recruits through the Reef Cooperative. It aims to build the skills, knowledge and experiences of Yirrganydji and Gunggandji Peoples as well as tourism staff to capture coral spawn and rear larvae for settlement at localised high value reef sites to test larval delivery and survivorship to boost natural reef recovery. This collaboration incorporates an Indigenous perspective with Western science to help ensure that Traditional Owners are empowered to participate in Reef restoration work, and to make and contribute to informed decisions about managing their Sea Country.
Investigators
Katie Chartrand in collaboration with Lloyd Shepherd, Juliette Wilkinson, Luke Hoffmann and Abigail Scott (TropWater)
Keywords
Coral; Traditional Owner; Network; Capacity building; Coral Larvae; Spawning

Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef - Contract Research

Pilot survey of deep-water seagrasses using the Great Reef Census framework.

Indicative Funding
$16,560
Summary
A pilot study to test the effectiveness of using the Great Reef Census to collect broadscale survey data on deep-water marine macrophytes (seagrass and algae) and associated inter-reef habitats of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA).
Investigators
Katie Chartrand (TropWater)
Keywords
Coral; Traditional Owners; Network; Capacity building; Coral Larvae; Spawning

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation - Contract Research

Manta Tagging and Tracking at Holbourne Island

Indicative Funding
$2,051
Summary
This project aims to use acoustic and satellite tags to track manta rays off Holbourne Island where a documented manta cleaning station exists. Animals will be photographed and tagged where possible to help establish the first significant manta research site on the GBR north of the Capricorn Bunker, and investigate connectivity with other parts of the GBR, in particular, with southern populations. The project will support communication efforts through the JCU-NQBP Partnership to share on-ground research and monitoring with the broader community through various media platforms.
Investigators
Katie Chartrand (TropWater)
Keywords
Manta ray (Mobula alfredi); Acoustic tracking

Department of the Environment and Energy - National Environmental Science Program (NESP) - Tropical Water Quality Hub (TWQ Hub)

NESP Tropical Water Quality Research Plan 7

Indicative Funding
$189,600
Summary
The National Environmental Science Program Tropical Water Quality Hub, funded by the federal government, has funded a wide variety of research projects during its operations from 2015-2021. As this programme draws to a close, there is a need to repatriate the knowledge and learnings from these research projects to relevant stakeholders and end-users. This project will undertake a series of meetings and workshops with end-users to enable the outcomes of research to be adopted. This engagement process will include analysis and synthesis of data collected to date.
Investigators
Damien Burrows, Aaron Davis, Katie Chartrand and Nathan Waltham (TropWater)
Keywords
Water Quality; Great Barrier Reef; Cane Farming; Citizen Science; Wetlands

Reef Restoration Foundation Limited - Reef Restoration Foundation Limited - Contract Research

Scientific oversight and planning advice for Reef Restoration Foundation activities

Indicative Funding
$52,099 over 2 years
Summary
Advice regarding future design and scope for coral restoration techniques and program growth, including setting out strategic planning for key program objectives through joint RRF/JCU meetings through April 2020. Advice on consolidation of existing data and statistical design to answer key research questions.
Investigators
Katie Chartrand, Alexandra Carter and Michael Rasheed in collaboration with Hannah Kish (TropWater)
Keywords
Acropora spp.; Restoration; Research; Coral; Coral nurseries; Tourism

Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef - Contract Research

Great Reef Census Phase I: Science Delivery and Capacity Building

Indicative Funding
$26,892
Summary
The Great Reef Census is a world-first citizen science effort to survey the entire Great Barrier Reef, filling critical knowledge gaps to support conservation strategies and spatial decision making, such as where the greatest management and restoration efforts should be targeted to support reef recovery. Katie Chartrand will drive the scientific principles of the program as set out by the Great Reef Census scientific committee. She will provide advice regarding future design and scope of the Census in the Phase I program as it rolls into Phase II and build the key linkages across industry sectors to garner the greatest number of vessels ever used on the reef for a sole science outcome with the delivery of the Great Reef Census in 2020. She will also support the delivery of science communication to engage both local community uptake and a global audience.
Investigators
Katie Chartrand (TropWater)
Keywords
Great Barrier Reef; Marine monitoring; Science-tourism partnerships; Reef health; Citizen science

Queensland Government - Advance Queensland Small Business Innovation Research

Boosting coral abundance on the Great Barrier Reef - Scaling up coral restoration using innovative Symbiodinium co-culture and mass larval supply on reefs

Indicative Funding
$107,250 over 1 year (administered by Southern Cross University)
Summary
Supply millions of high quality coral larvae of foundation corals and provide the world's first mass production of larvae containing microalgal symbionts, which will increase larval energy and settlement success and survival of newly settled corals.
Investigators
Katie Chartrand in collaboration with Robert Coles, Alexandra Carter, Michael Rasheed and Skye McKenna (TropWater)
Keywords
Coral Larvae; Coral Spawning; Restoration; Great Barrier Reef; Coral Reef
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)

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Email
Phone
Location
  • E1.016G, Health & Sciences (Cairns campus)
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