Susan is an aquatic ecologist with a passion for anything in the ocean. After completing a postgraduate diploma from the University of Auckland in Marine Science, she was invited to carry out further study with NIWA and completed her Master’s degree focused on Marine Spatial Planning and biodiversity prioritisation in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Susan joined the Tonkin and Taylor ecology team in 2017, and since that time has worked on a wide range of projects involving habitat assessments, monitoring and assessing ecological effects in sensitive environments. She came previously from a background in freshwater science and as such is proficient in the use of an array of stream assessment tools.

While living and working overseas in the Philippines and the Maldives, Susan gained a respect for the unspoiled nature of the New Zealand environment after seeing first hand severe issues with coastal pollution. This has made her all the more passionate about protecting our unique environment. Susan is a Dive Master, but as a warm weather diver (shorty only) you won’t often find her in the seas around New Zealand, but somewhere off the coast of South East Asia.