Dr Chris Gillies has worked across the science and conservation sectors in both aquatic and terrestrial environments but his true passion is the ocean. He was formerly the Director of Science at Earthwatch Australia, where he managed the scientific program across their expedition and citizen science portfolio. He has served as an invertebrate ecologist for both state and federal government environmental agencies and several consultancies.
Chris is currently managing The Nature Conservancy’s Australian marine branch, leading the Great Southern Seascapes program helping to protect and restore healthy marine ecosystems from Western Australia to New South Wales.
His research at JCU and TropWATER focuses on understanding shellfish reef ecology and restoration, ecosystem service benefits of aquaculture and nature-based approaches to coastal resilience.