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Dr Rowan Trebilco

Team Leader

https://people.csiro.au/T/R/rowan-trebilco

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Biography

Rowan leads the Ecosystem Modelling & Assessment team in the Sustainable Marine Futures Program at CSIRO Environment in Hobart. His diverse research interests centre around disentangling what drives ecosystem structure and function and engaging at the interface between science, decision-making and environmental stewardship.

The main focus of his current work is on assessing status, trends, risks and opportunities for marine social-ecological systems and on developing strategies for climate change adaptation.

He has worked in Australia, Europe and America across theoretical ecosystem ecology, statistical and mechanistic modelling, fisheries and natural resource management, and applications of biochemical tracers to quantify trophic linkages, including several years of fieldwork above and below temperate, tropical, and Southern oceans.

Academic Qualifications

  • 2025

    Graduate - Company Directors Course (GAICD)
    Australian Institute of Company Directors

  • 2014

    PhD, Biological Sciences (Marine Ecology)
    Simon Fraser University, Canada

  • 2008

    MSc, Biodiversity Conservation and Management
    University of Oxford

  • 2004

    BSc (Hons), Zoology
    University of Tasmania

Achievements and Awards

  • 2017-2018

    Tasmanian Leaders Program scholarship
    University of Tasmania

  • 2016-2016

    CEO’s Award for Excellence
    Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre

  • 2015-2017

    RJL Hawke Postdoctoral Fellowship
    Australian Antarctic Division

  • 2015-2015

    SCAR Fellowship and Prince Albert II of Monaco Fellowship for Biodiversity
    Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research

  • 2015-2015

    Quirks and Quarks Award for best PhD Thesis in the Sciences
    Simon Fraser University

  • 2013-2013

    Science Program Scholarship
    Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists

  • 2009-2013

    Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
    NSERC, Canada

  • 2007-2007

    Global Fellowship in Marine Conservation
    Duke University

  • 2006-2006

    The Rhodes Scholarship for Tasmania
    The Rhodes Trust

Current Roles

  • Team Leader
    Ecosystem Modelling & Assessment Team, CSIRO

  • Member
    Coastal and Marine Steering Committee, Nature Repair Market EKS project, CSIRO

  • Vice-chair
    IMBeR Scientific Steering Committee

  • Member
    Biodiversity Assessment Expert Reference Group for the Nature Repair Scheme, DCCEEW

Professional Experiences

  • 2021-2023

    Member, EcoCommons Scientific Advisory Committee
    ARDC

  • 2020-2021

    Scientific Advisor to the EcoAssets Project
    ARDC

  • 2019-2021

    CSIRO representative on the Baselines and Monitoring Working Group
    National Marine Science Committee

  • 2014-2019

    Research Fellow, Southern Ocean Ecosystems
    Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania

  • 2014-2014

    Consultant (Dive Biologist)
    Haida Fisheries Program, Canada

  • 2013-2013

    Consultant (Ecological Analyst)
    Fisheries and Oceans Canada

  • 2008-2009

    Statistical Programmer
    Australian Antarctic Division

  • 2006-2007

    Seabird Biologist
    Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment, Tasmania

  • 2005-2006

    Marine Conservation Officer
    Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment, Tasmania

Community and Corporate Citizenship

  • 2023-present

    CSIRO Mental Health Champion

  • 2022-present

    Councillor for Tasmania on the National Council of the Australian Marine Science Association

  • 2023-present

    Local Organising Committee, AMSA & NZMSS 2024 Conference

  • 2022-2023

    Oceans & Atmosphere EMCR Leadership Committee, founding co-chair

  • 2022-2023

    Member, Australian Academy of Science EMCR Forum Executive

  • 2022-2023

    Member, Australian Academy of Science Reconciliation Action Plan working group

  • 2022-2022

    CSIRO Delegate. Science Meets Parliament.

  • 2018-2023

    Associate editor for Frontiers in Marine Science, Marine conservation and sustainability section

  • 2017-2022

    Member of the Southern Ocean Indian Sector Regional Working Group, Southern Ocean Observing System

  • 2018-2018

    Australian Representative at at the EU/Australia Emerging Leaders Forum, Brussels, Belgium

  • 2018-2018

    Local Organising Committee, International Conference on the Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean

  • 2018-2018

    Initiated and co-convened workshop on ‘Early career trajectories in Biodiversity and Conservation’. University of Oxford

  • 2017-2018

    Graduate of 2017 Tasmanian Leaders Program

We have publications by Dr Rowan Trebilco