Aaron is a Senior Research Fellow in Planetary Health within the School of Science.
Background
- 2017 – Present: Edith Cowan University, School of Sciences, Perth, Western Australia. Research Fellow in Planetary Health
- 2013 – 2017: Edith Cowan University, School of Sciences, Perth, Western Australia. Assistant lecturer, Aquatic ecologist & Doctoral candidate
- 2011 – Present: Integrated Conservation & Development consultant, South Pacific Region. Senior Technical advisor & project manager
- 1999 – 2011: Wetlands International – Oceania, Canberra, Australia & Suva, Fiji. Senior Program Manager
- 2002 – 2011: University of the South Pacific, Suva Fiji. Assistant lecturer, adjunct researcher
- 1998 – 1999: New England Biolabs Foundation, Perth, Australia & Madang, Papua New Guinea. Coral reef & Aquatic ecology consultant
- 1998 – 1999: Western Australian Museum, Perth, Australia. Taxonomist in Department of Aquatic Zoology
- 1996 – 1997: Christensen Research Institute, Madang, Papua New Guinea. Research fellow – Coral reef & Aquatic ecology
- 1997: Village Development Trust, Lae, Papua New Guinea. Aquatic ecology consultant
- 1997: World Wildlife Fund, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Environmental Coordinator for Kikori Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP)
- 1997: University of Papua New Guinea, Madang, Papua New Guinea . Lecturer
Professional Memberships
- International Association of Ecology & Health (Board member, founding member Oceania Chapter)
- Pacific Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Coalition (founding member)
- World Commission on Protected Areas (Oceania advisor)
- Ramsar Convention Scientific & Technical Panel (Oceania advisor)
- Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species Scientific Council (Fiji advisor)
- Species Survival Commission (Oceania co-chair Freshwater specialist group)
- National Association of Underwater Instructors
- National Wetlands Committee of Fiji (founding member)
- Protected Areas Committee of Fiji (founding member)
- Fiji Communicable Disease Committee (Fiji)
Awards and Recognition
- November 2019 – AUD 4,100,000 - Korea International Cooperation Agency – Fiji Government Water Quality Testing Laboratory - Suva, Fiji – Capacity Development Plan
- February 2019 – AUD 150, 654 - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Describing the nested micro-ecology of sediment associated biofilms in high typhoid incidence hydrological networks.
- February 2019 – AUD 150, 654 - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Impact of Salmonella Typhi genome structure upon survival in water.
- February 2019 – AUD 150, 654 - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Deciphering Salmonella Typhi interactions contributing to persistence within the water microbial community.
- November 2018 – AUD 53, 000 – Wellcome Trust - Oceania Planetary Health Forum – Strengthening Partnerships for Nature and Human Health.
- October 2018 – AUD 2,780,000 - Bloomberg Philanthropies -Vibrant Reefs (Fiji): Reducing land-based impacts on coral reefs through catchment management.
- July 2018 – AUD 2,001,000 – Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Stronger Systems for Health Security - Securing health in Fiji through strengthened health systems and integrated water management to tackle the Three Plagues: typhoid, dengue and leptospirosis.
- April 2018 – AUD 35,000 - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Symposium at EcoHealth Cali: Socio-ecological foundations of persistence and fate of enteric pathogens in the environment
- September 2017 – AUD 9124 - University of Sydney - Harvard Mobility Scheme - Developing (U Sydney -Harvard) research and teaching collaboration in Planetary Health
- August 2017 – AUD 20, 000 - Marie Bashir Institute Seed Funding - Pilot investigation of zoonotic TB contribution to tuberculosis among people and cattle in Fiji
- June 2017 – AUD 6270 - Edith Cowan University Collaborative Enhancement Scheme - Enhancing research collaborations at the nexus of ecology and human health.
- October 2015 – AUD 348, 228 – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Studies on typhoid epidemiology and prevention in Fiji.
- February 2015 – AUD 27, 800 – UNICEF – Strengthening evidence for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions: a pilot program of Typhoid Epidemiology and Prevention in Fiji.
- March 2014 – AUD 37, 500 – Edith Cowan University/Health & Ecosystems: Analysis of Linkages (WCS) Foundational aspects of a research collaboration on health, water & landscapes: a database and a learning network.
- December 2012 – AUD 91, 000 – Australian Postgraduate Research Award for doctoral research on“Fijian floods, feces & fishes: exploring common determinants of typhoid resurgence & food fish decline in Pacific island river basins.”
- February 2011 – Wetlands International Award for “Outstanding contributions to science and its application to wetlands conservation.”
- September 2010 – AUD 45, 500 – Wetlands International – Managing biosecurity risks of exotic fish introductions to Pacific Island wetland ecosystems.
- September 2010 – AUD 213, 000 – Netherlands Directorate General of Development Co-operation - Wetlands, Human Health and Food Security in Pacific Islands - interrelationships between ecological integrity and human health in selected major wetland types of the Pacific Islands region.
- January 2008 – AUD 1,700, 000 – The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation & David and Lucile Packard Foundation – for Phase 2 of An Ecosystem-Based Approach for Managing Tropical Coastal Ecosystems in Fiji’s Vatu-i-Ra World Heritage Seascape.
- November 2005 – AUD 1, 700,000 – an anonymous donor for a Holistic Approach to Development on the North Coast of Papua New Guinea: Reproductive/Sexual Health, Environment and Community Mobilization. (through Alternate Visions LLC, Pathfinder International and PNG Ministry of Social Development)
- March 2005 – AUD 1,700, 000 – The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation & David and Lucile Packard Foundation – An Ecosystem-Based Approach for Managing Tropical Coastal Ecosystems in Fiji’s Vatu-i-Ra World Heritage Seascape.
- April 2004 – AUD 280, 000 – The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation – to strengthen local capacity to assess, monitor, and manage coastal and freshwater systems in Melanesia.
- January 2002 – AUD 60, 000– The Natural Heritage Trust – to develop and deliver wetland and water ecology training in Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands for government and NGO wetland managers.
- July 2001 – AUD 240, 000 – The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation – to facilitate the development of a socially and ecologically sustainable network of locally managed protected areas for the Mamose region of the north coast Papua New Guinea.
- April 2000 – AUD 18, 500 – World Wildlife Fund – to assist in the development of integrated conservation programs for Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
- August 1999 – AUD 50, 000 –Commonwealth of Australia –for Ramsar Convention promotion in the Pacific Islands region.
- August 1999 – AUD 50,000– for building capacity for freshwater quality and resource inventory in two Pacific Island countries, Papua New Guinea and Federated States of Micronesia.
- June 1999 – AUD 15, 000 – Natural Heritage Trust: for developing community monitoring protocols for the Corner Inlet Ramsar site, Victoria, Australia.
- November 1998 – AUD 20, 200 – New England Biolabs Foundation - toreinvigorate community conservation initiatives on the North Coast of Papua New Guinea and facilitate reserve establishment.
- June 1997 – AUD 18, 600– World Wildlife Fund: for developing and implementing a community-based management scheme for sustainable fisheries in Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea and facilitating the establishment of the Wasi Falls Wildlife Management Area.
- October 1996– AUD 16, 700 – New England Biolabs Foundation – for training a Papua New Guinean marine and freshwater conservation biologist.
Research Areas and Interests
Crosscutting development themes including:
- Wetland management for health, nutrition and climate change mitigation, WASH and waterborne disease management
- Intersections of climate change, natural disasters, land and water management on health and sustainable fisheries
