Nathan McGrath
Albury,NSW
Summary
Community-oriented public servant that enjoys team work and collaboration with a range of parties to achieve outcomes with multiple benefits. Interested in learning about environmental management
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Environmental Water Management Officer
NSW DCCEEW
08.2019 - Current
- Planning and managing environmental flows for the LachlanRiver, associated creeks and wetlands.
- WHS Committee member for South West branch.
- Coordinating monitoring of environmental water releases and outcomes.
- Working closely with DCCEEW, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Water for the Environment branch, Fisheries, WaterNSW, university and private monitoring contractors.
- Liaising with a diverse range of stakeholders including First Nations, landholders, irrigators, ecological scientists and community interest groups.
- Executive officer to the LachlanEnvironmental Water Advisory Group (EWAG), this involves organising meetings for members based across NSW and the ACT to provide background information on watering actions for their consideration and advise.
- Assist the Senior Environmental Water Manager prepare annual environmental water plans and budgets as well as report on previous seasons actions.
- Remotely manage watering actions using large volumes of water to target multiple assets.
- This involves identifying and prioritising ecological objectives to justify the use of public water and funding to try achieving these outcomes by negotiation and coordination landholders that have influence on flow paths to other properties using satellite imagery, site visits and regular phone calls.
- Often adapting plans as environmental water is relatively new in a lot of areas and the limited volumes combined with seasonal variability means the landscape responds differently everywhere.
- Convene the LachlanWater Quality Technical Advisory Group, this involve coordinating various agencies and technical experts to decide on the best operation practise to maintain reasonable water quality in the LachlanRiver. This can include managing blue green algae blooms, hypoxic blackwateror potential fish kills and how to mitigate these events.
Assistant Environmental Water Programs Officer
NSW Department Of Planning And Environment
06.2019 - 08.2019
- Monitoring position responsible for Murrumbidgee and Lachlan catchments primarily.
- Coordinate staff and participate in DPIE Spring waterbird monitoring to coincide with UNSW aerial surveys wetland sites across the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Murray.
- Present results to landholders and environmental water advisory groups.
- Reporting on water usage and ecological outcomes from the use of environmental water.
Assistant Environmental Water Management Officer
NSW Office Of Environment And Heritage
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Project management of environmental watering events on the Murray and Lower Darling rivers on private properties for a range of flora and fauna outcomes.
- Negotiate with community members, landholders, private businesses and government agencies to deliver environmental water including the preparation of agreements.
- Collaborate with research organisations including Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre and Charles Sturt University in several long and short-term projects.
- Team member of Edward Wakool Long Term Intervention Monitoring program.
- Monitoring and reporting of environmental outcomes of watering events and water usage.
- Work closely with the OEH threatened species team to develop watering strategies, in particular the Southern Bell Frog projects in the Mid and Lower Murray.
Project Officer
NSW NPWS
01.2014 - 06.2014
- Landforms and Rehabilitation Team of NPWS
- Acting Senior Rehabilitation Officer (Water) attending environmental water meetings with state and federal stakeholders, working on environmental water uses for following financial year.
- Data collection and reporting for projects including River redgum ecological thining trial and grazing trials.
- Liaising with contractors regarding water infrastructure works and contract management.
- Managing contractors for flora survey and pest control work.
- Flor and Fauna monitoring and reporting for environmental water response in waterbirds, rehabilitation monitoring using remote devices, day and night surveys.
- Bush Fire fighting.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and Management - Double major in Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Natural Resource Management
Southern Cross University
01.2014
Associate degree in Environmental Horticulture -
University of Melbourne, Victoria
01.2009
HSC -
Griffith High School
01.2006
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Interagency Coordination
- Water Quality Management and Emergency Response
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Report Preparation
- Public speaking abilities
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Problem-solving abilities
- Environmental Monitoring
- Project Management
Community Volunteer Work
- Member of OzFish Unlimited, Lachlan chapter. A non-for-profit organisation dedicated to the health of rivers made up of recreational fishers. Ozfish are focusing on habitat restoration for fish in the Lachlan river
- Volunteering in Nepal doing conservation work, monitoring various terrestrial animals (camera traps and field surveys) and working with locals with regard to waste management
- Volunteering with NSW DPI fisheries in the fishcare program, teaching school children about sustainable recreational fishing
- School captain and member of student representative council, Griffith High School 2003-2006
Relevant Training Licenses
- Full Class C Drivers Licence
- Boat Licence
- White Card
- Remote First Aid
- Off-Road Four-Wheel Drive Training
- WHS committee member training
- Work Safely around Aircraft
- Undertake Helicopter Winch Operations
- Undertake Hover Exit Operations from Helicopter
Timeline
Assistant Environmental Water Management Officer
NSW DCCEEW
08.2019 - Current
Assistant Environmental Water Programs Officer
NSW Department Of Planning And Environment
06.2019 - 08.2019
Assistant Environmental Water Management Officer
NSW Office Of Environment And Heritage
01.2017 - 01.2019
Project Officer
NSW NPWS
01.2014 - 06.2014
Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and Management - Double major in Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Natural Resource Management
Southern Cross University
Associate degree in Environmental Horticulture -
University of Melbourne, Victoria
HSC -
Griffith High School
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