Prof Bax is applying his expertise in marine resource management to help understand, manage and conserve our oceans’ biodiversity.

Current activities

Prof Bax led the Marine Biodiversity Hub for the University of Tasmania from 2007 to March 2020, and is a Senior Principal Research Scientist in the Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship of CSIRO. He co-chairs the Biology & Ecosystems Panel of the IOC/UNESCO Global Ocean Observing System.

Background

Prof Bax has 30 years’ experience in developing options to improve marine resource management. He is experienced in the development, supervision, and presentation of marine research projects in Australia, the United States and Europe, and providing modelling expertise to support management decision making.

Prof Bax has led teams of marine biologists, geologists, geneticists and oceanographers:

• predicting and managing marine biodiversity
• responding to oil spills
• providing the scientific advice to manage deepwater fisheries
• developing multidisciplinary assessments of marine ecosystems
• creating options to control invasive marine species

Developed and applied computer models to determine:

• the impacts of oil spills
• impacts of fishing and ocean ranching on marine ecosystems
• sustainable fishing practices o movement of invasive species
• genetic options for the control of invasive species

Worked in the private and public sectors on:

• technology development
• environmental impact assessment
• environmental mitigation and design

Academic qualifications

Prof Bax earned Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. He completed his PhD through the Fisheries Research Institute at the University of Washington in the USA in 1983.

Membership of key national committees

Co-Chair Biology and Ecosystems Panel, Global Ocean Observinsg System, IOC/UNESCO (current)

Member Global Oceans Biodiversity Initiative (current)
Member National Marine Biodiversity Working Group
Member National Marine Protected Areas Working Group
Member IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group (current)
Member Marine Biodiversity Decline Working Group (2007-2008)
Member National Introduced Marine Pest Coordination Group (2000-2006)
Member Consultative Committee on Introduced Marine Pests (2000-2006)
Chairperson Deep Sea Stock Assessment Group (1993-2006) Member Australian Biosecurity Group (2004-2005)
Board member Global Invasive Species Program (2003-2004)

Professor Bax has published over 100 research papers, reports, book chapters and invited conference papers on topics such as:

• environmental assessment and monitoring
• marine biodiversity and conservation.
• deep sea fisheries
• marine invasive pests