Our People

Bob Speirs, Chair of Eco-Markets Australia’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), brings over 40 years expertise in natural resource management, environmental protection, and policy development to his role. Having held senior executive positions within the Queensland Public Service, Bob has directly contributed to some of the most critical conservation achievements in Australia, including biodiversity and water quality initiatives, the regulation of agricultural runoff to the Great Barrier Reef, World Heritage Area planning and management, and Indigenous ranger programs. Bob was awarded a Public Service Medal in 1995 for his services to nature conservation. His leadership played a key role in delivering the Regional Natural Resource Management Program across Queensland, ensuring long-term sustainability for both marine and terrestrial environments.

His experience extends across both public and private sectors, and he is highly respected for his work in environmental and regional natural resource management. Bob’s impressive background is bolstered by his qualifications in applied science and urban and regional planning, providing a solid foundation for his work in both strategic oversight and hands-on program design and implementation.

Guiding Integrity and Standards at Eco-Markets Australia—As the independent Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee since the inception of the Reef Credit Scheme in 2019, Bob’s leadership ensures the highest level of independent technical advice for Eco-Markets Australia’s environmental market administration. His extensive experience in developing and managing programs that safeguard Australia’s natural assets upholds the integrity of the standards and methodologies under the TAC’s oversight. Under Bob’s guidance, the Reef Credit Scheme and the evaluation of other emerging programs are conducted with technical rigor and practical insight, instilling confidence in stakeholders and participants regarding both environmental and financial outcomes.
Bob’s influence extends beyond Eco-Markets Australia, with ongoing contributions to climate change risk assessment and adaptation planning. His ability to address complex environmental challenges while remaining focused on practical, real-world solutions has solidified his reputation as a respected leader in Australia’s environmental management sector.

Dr. Jane Waterhouse is a Senior Scientist with over 25 years of experience in catchment and marine water quality, working extensively on the Great Barrier Reef. As both a Senior Scientist at C2O Consulting and TropWATER at James Cook University, Jane’s research has been integral in understanding and improving water quality through evidence-based management strategies.

Her deep knowledge of water quality issues and land management in the Great Barrier Reef catchment has made her an indispensable member of the Technical Advisory Committee for the Reef Credit Scheme since its inception in 2019. Jane’s extensive background in translating scientific research into actionable management solutions ensures that key stakeholders are empowered to make informed decisions that contribute to the protection of one of the world’s most precious ecosystems.

Bringing Expertise to Eco-Markets Australia—Jane joined Eco-Markets Australia’s Technical Advisory Committee mid-2022, her expertise has been crucial in assessing and maintaining the scientific integrity behind the water quality methodologies used in the Reef Credit Scheme. Her commitment to connecting scientific knowledge with practical solutions ensures that the standards Eco-Markets Australia upholds are both rigorous and impactful. Jane’s involvement continues to drive the ongoing success of the market in delivering measurable environmental outcomes.

Professor David Pannell is a highly regarded expert in agricultural and resource economics, currently based at the University of Western Australia as Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Co-director of the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy. David’s extensive research covers a wide range of topics including the economics of land and water conservation, environmental policy, farmer adoption of conservation practices, and risk management in agricultural systems.

With over 200 published journal articles and book chapters, David’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Eureka Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in 2009. His contributions have been recognised internationally with awards in Australia, the USA, Canada, and the UK, and his leadership in the field extends to his tenure as President of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.

Bringing Expertise to Eco-Markets Australia—David’s research brings critical insights into the economic dynamics of environmental and agricultural systems, making him an invaluable asset to Eco-Markets Australia’s Technical Advisory Committee since joining mid-2023. His expertise in the economics of conservation and environmental policy ensures that our market-based approaches are both effective and sustainable.

Kym Whiteoak is a trained environmental economist with over 20 years of experience in environmental valuation and financing, with a particular focus on water and biodiversity markets. His expertise spans environmental investments, including access to carbon markets and ecosystem services such as natural water filtration, with a strong emphasis on the financial feasibility of environmental projects.

Currently, Kym runs Canopy Economics and Policy and is assisting Healthy Land and Water on the development of a potential coastal wetland restoration market in South East Queensland, and he has also conducted financial assessments for environmental restoration projects on Queensland’s sugar cane farms, incorporating Reef Credits into his analyses.

Bringing Expertise to Eco-Markets Australia—Kym’s passion lies in creating sustainable, financially viable investments in environmental improvement. He believes that upscaling investment in environmental projects can only happen when participants have a clear financial incentive. With his strong technical background in economic and financial assessment, Kym brings invaluable insights to Eco-Markets Australia Technical Advisory Committee, ensuring that the methodologies that we approve under our programs, as well as market mechanisms provide real, measurable value to stakeholders.

Professor Michele Burford is a distinguished researcher at the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, where she leads a team focused on marine and freshwater systems. Her work spans subtropical and tropical Australia, with a strong emphasis on water quality, including the management of algal blooms and nutrient levels in aquatic ecosystems.

Providing Expertise to Eco-Markets Australia—Michele has a deep interest in the environmental impacts on waterways, focusing on whole catchment management from source to coast. Her extensive research into market-based approaches for water quality improvement has evolved over the years, making her a strong advocate for methodologies that capture and facilitate critical environmental mechanisms. Michele believes that sound scientific foundations are crucial to building confidence in water quality improvement markets, and her expertise contributes to ensuring that the methodologies that Eco-Markets Australia consider for approval in their programs are both scientifically robust and effective.

Lynne Turner brings over 30 years of experience in natural resource management and environmental public policy and research. A systems thinker, Lynne’s has delivered a range of integrated assessments including State of Environment reporting to inform a range of decision-making processes.
Currently, Lynne is the General Manager of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences at the Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. She has previously held significant roles, including Associate Professor in Climate Change Adaptation at the University of Southern Queensland and the Centre Director of the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence, contributing to major advancements in water quality, agriculture, coastal zone and climate research. Lynne is an Adjunct Professor with the University of Queensland and on the Board for the ARC Advance Timber Hub. Lynne played a key role in the bid to establish the recently established Cooperative Research Centre for Zero Net Emissions Agriculture.

Providing Expertise to Eco-Markets Australia—Lynne’s deep experience in water, agriculture and environmental policy is crucial in supporting the integrity of our environmental market standards. Her focus on sustainable water management and climate adaptation strengthens our commitment to ensuring that all programs are backed by rigorous, evidence-based practices.

Dr Ian Prosser is a highly respected consultant in water research and development with over 30 years of expertise in the field. He has led national R&D programs focused on water resource assessment, riparian management, and modelling catchment water quality.

Dr Prosser has held prominent positions such as Science Director for CSIRO’s Water for a Healthy Country Flagship Program and Manager of the Water Information Services Branch at the Bureau of Meteorology. His consultancy work includes advising on erosion restoration in Great Barrier Reef catchments and being a lead author on the 2022 GBR Science Consensus Statement.

He is also the lead author of Water: Science and Solutions for Australia and has contributed over 150 scientific publications to water research. Notably, Dr Prosser received the CSIRO Chairman’s Medal for his work with the Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project, underlining his commitment to sustainable water management.

Providing Expertise to Eco-Markets Australia
Dr Prosser’s extensive knowledge will assist in ensuring that the standards and methodologies we administer are scrutinised by one of the very best leaders in the field, contributing to the integrity of the environmental markets we oversee.