Adrian Caneris
Managing Director

Adrian Caneris is a Principal Wildlife Expert and a Director of BAAM Pty Ltd. His areas of expertise are vertebrate fauna assessment and identification, assessment of terrestrial habitats, ecological monitoring, wildlife management, biodiversity planning, feral species management and community liaison and facilitation. He has been involved in research, management, consulting, tertiary teaching and community based studies of terrestrial ecology, particularly vertebrate fauna, throughout South-east Queensland for over 20 years.

Adrian spent five years with the Department of Environment and Heritage NatureSearch program as a Wildlife Ranger. Following that appointment, he was employed as a Senior Conservation Officer-Wildlife for Redland Shire Council from 1996 to 2002. Adrian also spent three of those years as an Environmental Sciences Teacher at the Moreton Institute of TAFE. During this time he provided specialist advice to Council on all aspects of wildlife management and conducted detailed field investigations and data collection to advise on fauna species presence, distribution and conservation significance. Adrian established and coordinated an After-Hours Wildlife Ambulance Service for the Redland Sire Council. This required the training of volunteers in rescue techniques, safety issues and relevant legislation, and the development of agreements with state departments. Since 2002, Adrian has undertaken specialist consultancy work for local and state governments and private organisations, undertaking fauna investigations and providing advice for fauna management and species recovery planning.

Since 1993, Adrian has been appointed to a number of advisory committees, councils and trusts including:

• the Ipswich City Council Environmental Advisory Committee (1993-96),
• the National Heritage Trust (1997-99),
• the QPWS Macropod Management Advisory Committee (1997-2000),
• the Wildlife Preservation Society (1994-ongoing, past President and Vice-President),
• the Koala Coast Conservation Council (1999-2002),
• the South East Queensland Conservation Strategy Committee (1999-2002),
• the Recreational & Commercial Animal Management Committee (1999-2003),
• the Wildlife Land Trust Ltd Qld. (2000-ongoing, Director), and
• the Pest Animal and Plague Advisory Committee (2001-2003).

His commitment to the application of sound scientific investigation techniques to wildlife management issues is valued by policy-makers, land use planners, land managers, community organisations and private enterprise in Queensland.

Paulette Jones
Managing Director

Paulette Jones is Principal Environmental Scientist and a Managing Director of BAAM Pty Ltd.  Her areas of expertise are natural resource planning and management, ecological survey, impact assessment and environmental project management.

Paulette has been an environmental consultant for the past 20 years, primarily contributing to the ecological components of multidisciplinary assessments, but also as a manager of environmental assessments for a broad range of projects in Queensland, the Northern Territory and New South Wales.  These have included ecological assessments of port facilities, army training areas, airport radar towers and mines, to the management of environmental impact statements for major industrial facilities.  Paulette has also advised government organisations, such as the Wet Tropics Management Authority, NSW Forestry and the Australian Development Assistance Bureau, regarding threatened natural heritage values and the ecological sustainability of specific projects and actions.

As well as researching and writing ecological assessments, within BAAM Paulette is responsible for training and advising internal project managers, and for editing all reports issued by BAAM.

Dr John Stanisic
Director

Dr John Stanisic has recently retired as Curator and Biodiversity Scientist at the Queensland Centre for Biodiversity, Queensland Museum, retaining Honorary Fellow status. He is Australia's foremost expert on land snails. John gained his PhD at the University of Queensland with a thesis on minute rainforest snails and has written a number of publications on the systematics and biogeography of land snails. His research interests are the distribution and documentation of land snails in eastern Australia and their potential use as indicators in land management. His work has been applied to many biodiversity assessment projects.

John has considerable field experience and over the past 25 years has surveyed more than 2000 sites from the islands of the Torres Strait to far southern New South Wales. Consequently, the Queensland Museum now holds Australia's most significant land snail collection.

John is also a highly experienced invertebrate consultant, undertaking work covering most invertebrate phyla, including aquatic invertebrates. He has undertaken faunal consultancies for the Wet Tropics Management Authority, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry-Australia (AFFA), Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Kuku Djungan Aboriginal Corporation and the Queensland Department of Natural Resources, as well as for a range of consulting firms throughout Queensland and New South Wales.

Invertebrates are a largely untapped source of fine-grain information for use in environmental assessment. Their vital role in determining the quality of aquatic habitats has gained almost universal acceptance but their use in land based fauna surveys is still in its infancy. Expert identification, underpinned by sound field knowledge and a comprehensive specimen database now allow this group of organisms to make a substantial contribution to environmental impact assessment.

Terry Reis
Director

Terry is a Principal Ecologist with 10 years of consultancy and professional research experience with various academic, regulatory and advisory bodies and over 25 years of field experience with more than 1100 species of terrestrial vertebrate throughout Australia. He has expert knowledge of the taxonomy, distribution, habitat requirements and behaviour of terrestrial vertebrate fauna, extensive experience with a wide variety of methods for recording the presence and abundance of vertebrates and invertebrates, and an excellent working knowledge of relevant legislation, agreements, recovery plans and action plans. Terry specialises in rainforest and restoration ecology, with contributions to numerous publications and conferences.

Dr Kris Plowman
Principal Ecologist

Kris has 30 years experience in the field of ecological assessment and management. During this time Kris has been employed by the Qld and NSW State Governments to conduct research and has used her expert knowledge to co-ordinate the National Threatened Species Network. Kris has also been employed by Universities as a lecturer and researcher and has published numerous report and journal articles.

Kris is considered a leading expert in the management and control of exotic ant species and prior to commencing employment with BAAM Pty Ltd, was employed as Senior Scientist (Ecology) at the DPI & F Fire Ant Control Centre. Due to her vast experience and expert knowledge. Kris is a valued member of a range of committees/organisations, such as:

• Queensland Scientific Advisory Committee and Biological Diversity Advisory Committee;
• the Commonwealth Southern Queensland Assessment Panel (Australian Heritage Commission),
• the Queensland Threatened Species Network Advisory Committee,
• Brisbane River Management Reference Group the Australian Marine Conservation Society,
• the Wildlife Preservation Society, and
• the Editorial board of ‘Wildlife Australia Magazine’.

Kris is currently responsible for facilitating the implementation of BAAM’s Quality and Health and Safety systems.

Jedd Appleton
Senior Ecologist and Project Delivery Manager

Jedd Appleton is a Senior Ecologist and Project Delivery Manager at BAAM Pty Ltd. Since completing an Honours degree in zoology, he has gained professional experience in environmental management, wildlife conservation and management, environmental impact assessment and constraints analyses, local and Shire-wide creek and catchment management, and stormwater and receiving water quality assessments. This has required the application of knowledge of numerous disciplines, including riparian, terrestrial and aquatic ecology, stormwater quality and quantity management, environmental planning, geology and geomorphology and social planning, as well as certain engineering principles.

Jedd has been responsible for the preparation of, or contribution to, reports to a diverse range of clients and applications, including Local Government Plans and Strategies and supporting material for Development Applications and Environmental Impact Statements, as well as general project management, including client and sub-consultant liaison, project team coordination and community consultation.  

Since joining BAAM Pty Ltd in early 2004, Jedd has been able to continue these roles while gaining valuable field experience, particularly in knowledge and application of wildlife survey and identification techniques.  It is this broad range of experience that has led to his appointment as Project Delivery Manager, where his role enhances the capabilities of individual project managers through field study programming, resource allocation, project scheduling and report editing.

Paul Grimshaw
Principal Ecologist

Paul has over 30 years experience working with the Queensland National Parks Service in its various guises and with associated agencies such as the EPA and the Qld Herbarium. He has a strong background in natural resource management in the Qld National Park estate as well as natural resource assessment and vegetation mapping throughout many parts of Queensland. Paul has also had significant experience in bird survey and observation. He has been involved in seed collecting, plant propagation and vegetation restoration.

Over 3000 plant specimens have been incorporated into the Qld Herbarium collection from Paul’s extensive collections as well as thousands of Herbarium Corveg records from hundreds of vegetation sites. Some 50 000 or so fauna records (mostly birds) have recently been entered into WildNet (EPA/QPWS natural resource data base) from Paul’s own fauna records and observations made during field trips and outings over the past 30 or so years mostly in southern Qld.

During his secondment to the Qld Herbarium (1993 –1998) he discovered at least 3 new plant taxa while on field trips doing vegetation site assessment. One of these taxa, which is from near the town of Gayndah in the Burnett District has since been named Boronia grimshawii “in recognition of his extensive collections, which have added much to the knowledge of the Queensland flora”.

He has been working with BAAM since 2002 and has undertaken a range of vegetation and flora assessment projects, including acting as an expert overseer for EPBC listed plant relocation, and providing vegetation management advice for conservation lands.

Dr Joanne Chambers
Senior Ecologist

Dr Joanne Chambers is a Senior Ecologist with BAAM. The focus of her PhD research was terrestrial habitat requirements of a suite of frog species in semi-arid Queensland. This research involved intensive pit-fall trapping within the Barakula State Forest, Chinchilla. Results of her research have been presented at the Ecological Society of Australia annual Conference in Perth 2007 and Cairns 2002 and the Australian Society of Herpetology annual Conference in Mary River NT 2003. A manuscript detailing results of one section of her research is presently ‘in print’ with the Australian Journal of Ecology.

Joanne’s honours research identified the affect of sand mining on the distribution and abundance of small reptiles and frogs on Fraser Island. Results of this research have been presented at the Fraser Island Research Forum 2004 and the Pumicestone Passage and Deception Bay Catchment Conference 2000.

Through employment with the Queensland University of Technology in undergraduate education, Jo has also developed skills in mammal trapping, water quality analysis, and macroinvertebrate sample collection, identification and analysis.

Jo is an experienced project manager and has been responsible for the management, coordination and preparation of a range of ecological assessment reports for BAAM.  She is also responsible for the ongoing monitoring of significant frog species for CRL on North Stradbroke Island and has designed and tested frog exclusion fences for the Tugan Bypass project.

Dr Andrew Daniel
Director and Principal Ecologist

Andrew is a Principal Ecologist and a Director of BAAM Pty Ltd.  He has 20 years of experience in ecological research, environmental consulting and with State and Local government environment agencies. 

Trained as a botanist by the Queensland Herbarium, Andrew undertook numerous botanical assessments, mapping and monitoring projects for the Wildlife Ecology Section.  He has 10 years of consultancy experience and specialises in ecological assessment and impact mitigation for mining, development and infrastructure projects; vegetation mapping and biodiversity conservation prioritization; and wetland mitigation and management. 

Andrew has successfully managed and completed a broad range of projects including ecological assessment with mining, quarry, industrial and residential fields.

Dr Chris Schell
Senior Ecologist

Chris Schell is an ecologist with over 8 years field experience.  He has been involved in a range of flora and fauna assessments across South-east Queensland and New South Wales.  In particular his expertise includes RE identification, vegetation mapping, the preparation of Property Vegetation Management Plans and Revegetation/Regeneration Plans and the development of Translocation Plans for species of special conservation significance.

Chris has been involved in a range of environmental studies across South-east Queensland and New South Wales which have involved both flora and fauna surveys and as a result he is experienced with many standard fauna trapping techniques, including, pitfall trapping, Elliott trapping, Harp net trapping and Spotlighting. He has also had experience in seed collection and a lifelong interest in plant propagation.

In 2005, Chris received his training from the Queensland herbarium outlining the framework, assessment and verification of Queensland’s Regional Ecosystems (REs). This was followed by his certification to assess REs by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM).

Paula Boosamra
Senior Environmental Scientist

Paula is an experienced environmental scientist with extensive experience in ecology, environmental planning, development assessment, education and sustainable tourism. Prior to her employment at Biodiversity Assessment and Management, Paula was employed at Griffith University where some of her notable achievements included the development and administration of the Griffith Journal of the Environment, an online, multidisciplinary, referred journal. She also lectured and tutored postgraduate courses in environmental planning, environmental policy as well as organizing and supervising field trips.

Paula was previously involved in the development of recovery plans for threatened species (notably Xeromys myoides, Water Mouse) and provided advice on the management of vegetation including the assessment of infrastructure applications under the Integrated Planning Act. Importantly, Paula has also been part of a team overseeing and compiling many mining related documents for large mining clients such as Stanwell, Henry Walker and Almag Resources.  This has included Environmental Management Plans, Plan of Operations, Waste Characterisation Reports, Environmental Audits and Noise Impact Assessments.

Paula’s strong background in environmental licensing, client and public liaison and mining has strongly supplemented Biodiversity Assessment and Management’s ecological team.

Adam Abbott
Ecologist

Adam Abbott is an ecologist with BAAM Pty Ltd.  After a decade as a registered nurse Adam trained to become an ecologist to service a long-held passion for the environment. Having recently completed a BSc (Environment) he has since worked for the Suburban Wildlife Research Group within the Griffith University Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies. His experience there included a sub-consultancy to Brisbane City Council carrying out fauna surveys and the preparation of reports evaluating the efficacy of land bridges and culverts constructed as wildlife movement corridors in south Brisbane.

He has a good working knowledge of contemporary study design and survey techniques used in the research of vertebrate fauna, and extensive field experience in the trapping and species identification of small mammals throughout the greater Brisbane region. Other areas of expertise include infrared and motion sensing camera monitoring techniques, an involvement in relocation projects for species threatend by urban development.

Julie Zyzniewski
Team Leader – Fauna Spotter/catcher

Julie Zyzniewski leads the four-strong fauna spotter team at BAAM Pty Ltd.  Julie has over 20 years of experience with wildlife rescue and management. She initially became involved with environmental issues through community based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. This interest and involvement led Julie to setting up and coordination of a wildlife rescue service, which is now in its 14th year of service. The group has diversified into education, training, lobbying, and on-ground activities.

Julie has worked with numerous individuals and organisations examining impacts on wildlife and the environment.  An example of her activity is Julie's role as the chairperson of the former Koala Conservation Council for over five years and being appointed to the Steering Committee to establish a Wildlife Rehabilitation Council for Queensland.  In the Logan area, Julie has served on various committees, including Logan City Council's Greening Committee and the Daisy Hill Forest Reference Group.  Julie has also assisted community based environmental interest groups to establish themselves into incorporated entities by providing technical advice and training for committee members. In the inaugural year of the Pride of Australia Medal Awards, Julie was a runner up in the Environment category.

In her role as the coordinator for the Logan wildlife rescue service Julie has gained vast experience in all aspects of fauna management and particularly dealing with a wide range of fauna rescue, handling and release. This role has provided Julie with a sound working knowledge of wildlife rescue equipment and procedures.

Since joining BAAM in 2006, Julie has been able to continue these roles while gaining additional field experience, particularly in developing a working knowledge of fauna spotter operations and relevant legislation. This has allowed Julie to develop and deliver practical application of fauna spotter services to our clients. She has been responsible for the preparation of, or contribution to, habitat assessment reports to our clients and relevant applications, including addressing specific management requirements as well as general project management, including client and sub-consultant liaison, and fauna spotter/catcher team coordination.

Cindy Fitzgerald
Administration Manager

Cindy is BAAM's administration manager.  She has a degree in international business and is currently studying accounting.

Brett Taylor
Ecologist

Brett Taylor is an Ecologist and Wildlife Technician.  He has six years experience in ecological research and consulting, primarily with the Australian Rivers Institute, the Rainforest Cooperative Research Centre and the Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies at Griffith University during and following undergraduate and honours studies. 

5 He has specific experience with identification of species through bird surveys, small mammal trapping, pitfall trapping, spotlighting and a range of invertebrate trapping techniques.  In addition, Brett has well-developed project design, data analysis and report-writing skills.

Sonya Clegg
Research Officer

Sonya is the Biodiversity Research Officer with BAAM whose primary project is to conduct translocation trials for the critically endangered Boggomoss Snail (Adclarkia dawsonensis). Sonya is also involved in broader studies at BAAM which aim to establish protocols for the use of terrestrial invertebrates in environmental surveys.

Prior to taking a position with BAAM, Sonya researched and published extensively on the evolutionary processes responsible for divergence in wild vertebrate systems using a range of techniques to examine variation in molecular and quantitative genetics, behaviour, ecology, and morphology among species and populations. Sonya has considerable field experience, particularly with avian species in Australia, Oceania, and North and Central America.

Gavin Jones
Administration Assistant

Gavin is an Administrative Assistant and Field Assistant/Equipment Maintenance Officer.  He has a background in administration and customer service, as well as experience in field assisting zoological and botanical studies.  He holds a Certificate in Environmental Science from Moreton Bay Institute of TAFE (2002), and has First Aid and 4WD Recovery training.  In his field assistant role Gavin organises equipment and logistics, and accompanies ecologists into the field.