My research focuses on understanding, protecting, and restoring marine ecosystems, particularly the world's kelp forests. I work at the intersection of marine ecology, conservation science, environmental economics, and policy, with an emphasis on translating scientific knowledge into practical conservation outcomes.

A central focus of my research is marine ecosystem restoration, including evaluating the ecological and socioeconomic outcomes of restoration, understanding what makes projects successful, and developing approaches to improve restoration planning, implementation, and monitoring. This includes investigating how restoration can be scaled from individual projects to meaningful ecosystem recovery.

I also investigate the ecological, social, and economic value of kelp forests, including the ecosystem services they provide, the threats they face, and the implications of their decline for people and nature. My work combines global-scale assessments, evidence synthesis, and interdisciplinary approaches to better understand where conservation and restoration efforts can have the greatest impact.

An increasingly important part of my research examines conservation policy, governance, and finance. I am interested in how scientific evidence can inform policy decisions, strengthen marine protection, mobilise investment, and overcome the institutional and financial barriers to ecosystem recovery.

Through my research at UNSW and leadership of the Kelp Forest Alliance, I collaborate with scientists, governments, Indigenous Peoples, conservation practitioners, and communities around the world. My overarching goal is to bridge the gap between science and action, generating knowledge that supports effective, equitable, and lasting marine conservation.