About the speakers

Enya Chitty is a PhD candidate in Coastal Systems at Flinders University and ATSE (Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering) Elevate Scholar. Her research aims to improve seagrass restoration in southern temperate oceans by identifying hydrodynamic thresholds for seagrass recruitment and persistence. Her work combines expertise in coastal geomorphology and nearshore hydrodynamics with predictive geospatial modelling and direct hydrodynamic observations.

Faith Coleman is an estuarine ecologist specialising in microbiological ecology and biochemistry. Her work focuses on estuarine processes, integrated management, and adaptive landscape strategies to protect ecological features. Passionate about climate change adaptation and sustainable resource use, Faith began testing water samples at Waitpinga shortly after the initial algal bloom and has since galvanised citizen science efforts across South Australia’s coastal communities.

Ian Gibbins is Emeritus Professor of Anatomy at Flinders University, where he taught and conducted research for 30 years. Internationally recognised for his studies on the microscopic structure and function of autonomic and visceral sensory nerves, his research has been widely published and cited. Since the emergence of the algal bloom in early 2025, Ian has been investigating associated toxins and their effects.

Georgina Wood is an ARC Early Career Fellow at Flinders University, specialising in temperate kelp ecosystems. She has led restoration projects focused on the genomics of key seaweed species and the conservation of genetic diversity. Georgina co-led the first underwater surveys of the algal bloom’s impact and is a member of the Great Southern Reef Research Partnership, a national network of leading temperate marine scientists.