Participants

As an environmental engineer and scientist, I collaborate with researchers, technologists, and industry partners to accelerate the development and deployment of omics-based tools for environmental monitoring. My work integrates engineering design with molecular methods such as eDNA and eRNA analysis to enable scalable, in-situ assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem change.

Lachie is a Research Engineer at CSIRO’s Environment Research Unit, based in Hobart, Tasmania. He specialises in electronics engineering and has experience across a broad spectrum of technical domains, including low-power embedded design, signal analysis, sensor integration, wireless communications, and firmware development. Lachie has led multidisciplinary design teams and applied his expertise across diverse industries, particularly in remote and challenging environments, spanning both oceanographic and land-based settings. Since joining CSIRO in 2022, Lachie has focused primarily on ocean-based environmental sensing, automated sampling, and underwater acoustics, contributing to innovative technologies for monitoring and understanding complex marine ecosystems.

Dr. Anastasija Zaiko is an aquatic ecologist with expertise in environmental DNA (eDNA), which she has applied in research and monitoring since 2012. She is the President of the Southern eDNA Society (SeDNAs) and Co-Founder of Sequench, where she leads the development of scientifically robust, user-friendly, and cost-effective tools for optimized eDNA sampling, alongside delivering high-quality eDNA analytical services for a wide range of end-users. Her work focuses on bridging science and application to advance biodiversity monitoring and aquatic biosecurity.

Andrew Filisetti is a mechanical engineer at CSIRO, working at the intersection of autonomous systems and sensor development for environmental monitoring. He leads the Sensor Prototyping Hub within the Autonomous Sensors Future Science Platform, focusing on in situ technologies to support biodiversity and ocean research.

Originally from Switzerland, Xavier is a marine biologist with over 25 years of research experience across the Indo-Pacific. He leads the Molecular Surveillance Team at the Cawthron Institute and is the Science Lead of Citizens of the Sea, New Zealand. His work bridges coral symbioses, aquatic ecology, biosecurity, and molecular biomonitoring. Since moving to New Zealand in 2012, he has led pioneering research on environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess biodiversity and ocean health. A founding member of Citizens of the Sea, Xavier brings scientific leadership and infectious curiosity to the mission of making ocean data accessible to all.

Jack Waller is an early career mechanical engineer at CSIRO and based in Hobart. He is part of a team developing a diverse range of environmental sensors and sensor systems. His primary focus is in the development systems to support marine science. This includes the design and development of eDNA sampling systems for use on crewed and uncrewed vessels.

Dr. Shaun Wilkinson is the Founder and CEO of Wilderlab, an award-winning commercial environmental DNA lab operating in New Zealand and Australia. As a former Rutherford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, Shaun developed new eDNA methods for marine and freshwater diversity assessments, and new machine learning techniques for identifying patterns within complex eDNA datasets. Since launching Wilderlab in 2019, Shaun has grown an impressive team of talented scientists who have helped catalyse the uptake of eDNA monitoring across Australasia. Shaun has a strong interest in helping communities connect with and protect their environment through eDNA technology.

Austen is the Molecular Division Director at Smith-Root, responsible for overseeing the development of eDNA products and services. He is a molecular ecologist by training with a background in eDNA metabarcoding and marine mammal ecology. He joined Smith-Root in 2015 and spearheaded the development of the eDNA Sampler Backpack, self-preserving eDNA filters, and the Smith-Root eDNA Autosampler. Most importantly, he is an enthusiastic member of the broader eDNA technology developer community and appreciates all opportunities for scientific collaboration.

Christina Pavloudi is a Post Doctoral Researcher interested in microbial ecology, marine biology and bioinformatics. She has extensive experience in using eDNA metabarcoding for biomonitoring of marine ecosystems.