PERSONNEL
The Company currently employs 8 full-time, 2-4 part time and a range of consultants covering a wide range of disciplines. Our staff has extensive industrial and research experience, possess an in-depth understanding of all aspects of the terrestrial and aquatic environments, are fully competent in all current environmental assessment methods and are active in further development and refinement of such techniques and their applications.
Brendan O'Connor, Ph.D. Managing director of AQUAFACT. Brendan specialises in the biology and ecology of water-floor communities. He was formerly Assistant Director of NUIG’s Benthos Research Group and has been associated with the drafting, management and reporting of all AQUAFACT's contracts. He was a member of the board of the Marine Institute for a 5 year term.
John Costelloe, Ph.D. Joint managing director and formerly a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with NUIG's Benthos Research Group. John has been involved in mariculture-linked research in both Spain and the U.S.A. and specialises in the biology and ecology of benthic animals, particularly fouling organisms. John has a wide experience in the management, execution and assessment of monitoring and baseline studies in aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Mark Costelloe, Ph.D. Mark has experience as a lecturer and course co-ordinator with the Aquaculture Diploma and MSc. courses in the Shellfish Research Laboratory, Carna, under the auspices of NUIG. He participated in the management team in the commissioning of a shrimp farm in Kenya. As technical manager at AQUAFACT he is responsible for managing project groups and ensuring that quality procedures are adhered to. He also has a high level of expertise in parasitic lice biology and ecology.
Stiofán Creaven, B.Sc., M.Sc. A marine biologist with expertise in diving and underwater technologies. Stiofán's multidisciplinary background and practical skills are valuable assets in both office and field. He specialises in biological surveying and applied marine technology.
Caroline Roche, Ph.D. A marine biologist with experience in environmental monitoring and recovery processes following anthropogenic disturbances. Caroline has experience in managing Environmental Impact Assessments for offshore wind farms. She also has over 8 years experience in invertebrate taxonomy and specialises in polychaete identification. Caroline also specialises in the statistical analysis of biological data and GIS.
Eddie McCormack, Ph.D. A benthic ecologist with expertise in arthropod taxonomy. Eddie specialises in the taxonomy of crustaceans, with particular emphasis on Copepoda. Within AQUAFACT, Eddie is primarily involved in the identification of faunal species.
Seán Gallanagh, B.Sc. Seán is an environmental biologist experienced in freshwater and marine biology. His main interest lies in freshwater taxonomy.
Helen Diskin Helen is responsible for office management and the implementation and auditing of ISO9001:2000 in-house quality system.
CONSULTANCY PANEL
- Dr. Dave McGrath, GMIT, Ecologist.
- Dr. Niall Brady, The Archaeological Diving Company Ltd., Archaeologist.
- Dr. Anthony Cawley, Hydro Environmental, Marine Engineer.
- Dr. Martin O’Farrell, Aztec Limited.
- Dr. Marinus Otte, N.U.I. Dublin, Botanist.
- Dr. Bernard Picton, Ulster Museum, Marine Taxonomy.
- Dr. Don Rhodes, SAIC, Sediment Profile Imagery Development.
- Dr. Cilian Roden, Galway - based Marine and Terrestrial Botanist
- Dr. Emer Rogan, Coastal Zone Institute, N.U.I. Cork., Marine Zoology and Cetaceans.
- Dr. Michelene Sheehy-Skeffington, N.U.I. Galway, Terrestrial Botanist.
- Dr. Martin White, N.U.I. Galway, Oceanographer.
- Dr. Ian O'Connor, GMIT, Bird Survey Specialist.