Meet the team

ERIAS’ Principals average more than 25 years’ experience through industry appointments and as consulting advisers with international energy and resource companies. Our Principals are supported by senior consultants with technical expertise in a range of disciplines including terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecology, social impact assessment, stakeholder engagement, environmental chemistry, land management, oceanography, spatial data analysis (GIS) and closure landform modelling.

David Browne

David has over 30 years of experience in the mining, oil and gas, energy, infrastructure and agricultural industries, which includes environmental and social impact assessments, closure plans, the management of potential acid-forming waste rock and tailings, community consultation and operations management.

David has worked on resource and energy development projects in most Australian states and territories, and elsewhere in Asia-Pacific (New Zealand, China, Indonesia) and Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, Ghana), and has held Environment Manager positions with Pasminco, Normandy Mining, Newmont Mining and Origin Energy. Prior to ERIAS, David was General Manager ESIA (South Australia/Northern Territory) and then CEO of the environment and social performance service line in a large consulting firm.

Andrew Pym

Andrew is an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Management specialist with over 28 years’ experience in the energy, resources (mining and oil & gas) and infrastructure sectors, undertaking projects in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Malawi, New Caledonia, China, New Zealand, Indonesia and Argentina. He is experienced in ESIA and management services including: design, management, review and reporting of major project environmental and social impact assessments to IFC standard; construction and operations environmental management and monitoring (EMS and EMP development and implementation); environmental compliance and due diligence auditing; and social performance management (strategic advice and stakeholder engagement planning and implementation).

Andrew began his career with Santos and has subsequently undertaken contract assignments with BHP Petroleum, APA Group and British Gas/Shell. He has a strong grounding in energy, petroleum and mining development and operations issues management and has conducted audits in Australia, Papua New Guinea, China and New Zealand for lenders and pre-acquisition due diligence, regulatory compliance and decommissioning/relinquishment planning and implementation programs.

Michael Wright

Michael has over 25 years consulting and industry experience in environmental and social permitting studies, environmental management, auditing, due diligence and project management for the mining, oil & gas and power generation industries. Michael has a particular focus on marine and freshwater environmental management and has worked in Australia, throughout the Asia-Pacific, Africa, United Kingdom, the Americas and international waters. Michael has held industry positions with resource companies and was previously Papua New Guinea Manager for a large consulting firm.

Luci David

Luci has over 25 years of consulting experience in the resources, energy and infrastruture sectors. Luci specialises in project direction/management and projects have included environmental assessment and management of projects in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and Africa. This has included scoping studies, baseline and characterisation investigations, environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs), environmental and social management plans (ESMPs), stakeholder engagement, sustainability reporting, liability assessments and compliance reviews/audits. Several of these projects have involved working with either the World Bank/IFC or their performance standards and guidelines. Luci has gained practical experience of both site and corporate activities through several secondments.

Clark Monahan

Clark is an aquatic scientist and chemist with over 20 years’ experience in environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), particularly the assessment and management of impacts from greenfield resource projects in tropical, high-rainfall environments. Clark has worked on over 40 projects in all Australian states and nine other countries (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Lao PDR, New Caledonia, Central America, Indonesia, Ghana, Guinea and Greenland).

Clark has extensive experience managing, conducting and reviewing environmental studies and investigations to meet international standards, and is experienced in the assessment of sediment transport in riverine and marine systems; freshwater, coastal and marine chemistry; and freshwater and marine ecology, particularly assessing risks due to exposure to contaminants.

Greg Terrens

Greg has over 30 years’ experience as an environmental specialist and senior environmental advisor working on all environmental aspects of oil and gas exploration and production projects, operations and decommissioning. He has filled roles ranging from Senior Environmental Advisor with ExxonMobil with extensive experience in oil and gas operations and new projects in Victoria, Western Australia, UK and west Africa. He has led new facility oil and gas project approvals in the Middle East with a large international consulting firm.

Melanie Brown

Melanie is a social performance and stakeholder engagement specialist with over 15 years’ experience in mining, energy, infrastructure, tourism and natural resource management. Melanie has delivered multiple environmental and social impact assessments and management plans for projects in Papua New Guinea, Australia and Tanzania, and has expertise in planning and executing socio-economic field surveys, ecosystem services assessments and stakeholder engagement strategies. Melanie also specialises in sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies and reporting.

Jayne Rutter

Jayne has over 20 years’ experience in the resources sector, predominantly with the environmental impact assessment of mining projects, coal seam gas/LNG, renewables and power stations. Jayne specialises in the project management of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), mining due diligence assessments and mine rehabilitation and closure planning. She has experience with Projects in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tanzania. As the Project Manager for numerous major projects, she has experience in managing large teams of environmental and technical professionals to deliver major projects on time and within budget. Jayne is also a Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) Impact Assessment Specialist.

Frances Carter

Frances consults for ERIAS as an ESG, sustainable development, carbon management and climate change advisor. Frances has managed several projects supporting our clients with their ESG Action Plans, Modern Slavery Statements, sustainability reporting, and GHG and climate change reporting. Frances’ 15-year career covers a diverse range of sectors including financial auditing, agriculture, banking and funds management, international development, and natural capital, climate change and biodiversity consulting. Frances is a Chartered Accountant and holds two international Masters’ degrees: Master of Science (Sustainability Management) from Columbia University (New York City), and a Master of International Business Administration from IE Business School (Madrid).

Jacinta Hinks

Jacinta has over 25 years of experience in the resource industry across earth resource compliance, environmental management, emergency response (AIIMS, OSR), Health and Safety, and stakeholder engagement. As a qualified Geologist, Environmental scientist, and HSE professional, Jacinta brings skills and knowledge from mineral exploration and mining, oil and gas operations, and working in regulatory departments across Cth & State legislative boundaries. Jacinta has developed, implemented, and maintained Environment Plans (and EMPs), response plans OPEPs, OSMPs, ERPs and HSE MS procedures and is qualified to conduct OHS, EMS, and QMS auditing and overall HSE governance, Jacinta is committed to a high standard of work, team participation, and communication to achieve project outcomes, sustainability, and environmental awareness.

Laura Zafry

Laura is an environmental scientist with over 15 years’ experience project management, environmental management, environmental management systems, approvals and regulatory compliance. Laura’s early career focused on regulatory compliance in the Federal legislative environment as well as developing and implementing sustainability programs. Recently, her focus has shifted onto environmental approvals within the South Australian legislative framework, compliance in the mining industry and impact assessment. Laura was a member of the team who authored the Smith Bay Wharf Environmental Impact Statement and is currently managing the technical studies for the assessment of a pumped hydro project. In 2022, Laura achieved certification as a General Certified Environmental Practitioner.

Nicole Frani

Nicole Frani is an environmental scientist with a background in biology. Nicole has 3+ years of work experience in environmental science, environmental permitting and regulations, HSE and ISO auditing. Nicole has successfully led and coordinated several environmental advisory projects and programs such as the UN World Environment Day and has worked on a number of Projects in Papua New Guinea. Nicole is passionate about environmental conservation and how to manage and reduce impact towards the environment.

Mitch Goodin

Mitchell is a consultant with 4+ years of experience, having worked on multiple projects across Australia, Papua New Guinea and other countries. These pieces of work have consisted of a multitude of project types, including terrestrial and deep-sea mining, oil & gas, rehabilitation and infrastructure works. Across the various projects he has been a part of, Mitchell has completed multiple environmental and social impact assessments, regulatory approvals, project management, logistics coordination, research and various field studies.

Andrew Todd-Weckmann

Andrew is an environmental scientist with a background in ecology. Andrew has experience planning, managing, and executing field surveys both in Australia and Papau New Guinea for a diverse range of clients. Andrew has extensive field experience conducting pre-construction surveys for oil, gas, and infrastructure projects with a focus on recording ecological datasets. Andrew has an interest in site rehabilitation and conservation projects, with experience developing a rehabilitation nursery for Total Energies in the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea.