This is an opportunity to interact with international and local experts on ecological risk assessment and ecotoxicology, an emerging issue which is of high importance to New Zealanders and one that requires well-resourced and informed actions from our industry.

Meet the speakers:

Chris McCarthy: global technical leader for Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA), Jacobs
Chris McCarthy is a Boston based ecologist who leads Jacobs globalecological risk assessment practice. Chris' experience includes the quantitative risk evaluation of a wide variety of emerging and previously known contaminants including PFAS, hexavalent chromium, mercury, arsenic, radionuclides, PCBs and Dioxins, and PAHs. He has extensive
experience designing and leading field work, including environmental media sampling, wetland delineation, bird surveys, fish sampling, endangered species surveys, and various biological surveys. Chris will discuss the approach to ecological risk assessment in the US, which often involves quantitative modelling of ecosystems before going to the field and gathering biological data, in relation to approaches in New Zealand and Australia. Chris will put the case for undertaking desk based assessments ahead of site works as an effective means of optimising data collection whilst saving time and money.

Louis Tremblay: Ecotoxicologist, Cawthron Institute and Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland
Louis Tremblay’s research focuses on the characterisation of the effects of anthropogenic stressors on the receiving environment. The challenge is to characterise and manage the potential risks of these chemicals and their mixtures on our unique ecosystems, whilst maximising the intended positive outcomes of their use. The research involve assessment of the toxicity of contaminants and complex mixtures like sewage effluent using biological methodologies underpinned by analytical chemistry. Louis will give an overview of the MBIE research programme to manage emerging
organic contaminants in New Zealand. The research involves a transdisciplinary team, along with international collaborators, iwi partners and stakeholders. It aims to integrate critical capability and expertise to characterise the risks that emerging organic contaminants pose to aquatic ecosystem health, tāonga, kai moana and key export industries.