Background

Dr Hayes started his research career with the Institute of Offshore Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, in 1993. Here he helped to develop quantitative risk assessment techniques for the abandonment and disposal of offshore platforms, and for demersal trawl interactions with subsea well head and pipelines. Keith joined the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in 1997 and completed his PhD in Quantitative Ecological Risk Assessment in 2000. Since joining CSIRO he has led over 20 research projects,addressing the ecological risks associated with biological (invasive species and transgenic organisms) and physical (major coastal developments) stressors at local, regional and continental scales. Keith is currently a senior research scientist in the CSIRO Division of Mathematical and Information Sciences. His major research interests lie in quantitative ecological risk assessment methods, cumulative risk, uncertainty analysis techniques, landscape-level strategic assessments, indicators of environmental change and monitoring methods. He is currently theme leader of theme 1 in the NERP biodiversity hub and is tasked with developing blueprints for a sustained national monitoring strategy for the Commonwealth Marine Reserve estate and Key Ecological Features in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Academic qualifications

Dr Hayes has been awarded a:

• Bachelor of Arts in Geography with Honours from Exeter University, UK, in 1990
• Master of Science in Marine Resource Management from Heriot-Watt University, UK, in 1992
• Graduate Certificate in Mathematics from University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia, in 1997
• Doctor of Philosophy in Quantitative Ecological Risk Assessment, also from Heriot-Watt University, in 2000.

Achievements

Dr Hayes' professional achievements include:

• he was principal architect of the Australian ballast water Decision Support System (DSS) providing an estimated net benefit to the Australian economy of between A$59 - $289 million.
• co-editor of a United Nations Environment Programme/Global Environment Facility sponsored book, Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Fish
• author of 26 peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and 28 technical reports.