Dr. Ian Boothroyd

My interest in all things aquatic began in my riverside hometown of Teignmouth in southwest England. I always had a great love of, and interest in, wild animals. I was totally inspired when, on a school field trip, a wild European otter swam past — at that time, an extremely rare and threatened animal.

After studying for my Masters degree in freshwater ecology at the University of Wales, I won a Scholarship to research my PhD at the University of Waikato. That brought me to New Zealand, and I've remained here all my working life.

I have well over three decades' experience in ecology: assessing and reviewing the environmental effects of small to large developments ranging from energy generation activities, extractive mining, roading, stormwater and sediment effects in urban and peri-urban subdivisions, and the effects of the discharge of treated wastewater to water. I've prepared Integrated Catchment Management Plans, carried out extensive ecological surveys and provided resource management advice to national, regional and local governments, SOEs, private businesses and community groups.

I've co-authored several national standards for freshwater and biodiversity management and monitoring in New Zealand including a national guide to Ecological Impact Assessment.

As an accredited and experienced environmental commissioner, with substantial experience as an expert witness, I've appeared at many resource consent hearings and in the Environment Court; and am regularly called upon to provide independent expert testimony. I am also appointed as Freshwater Commissioner.

I very much enjoy the 'people-side' of my work, so along with mentoring younger colleagues I have always been active in the professional associations related to ecology. We sometimes forget that the environment includes people, too! Most recently, I've led the re-opening of our Whangarei office.

Qualifications

DPhil, Freshwater Biology, University of Waikato
MBA (Executive), University of Auckland
MSc Applied Hydrobiology, University of Wales
BSc (Hons) Zoology, University of Manchester

Affiliations

Fellow, Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand (FEIANZ)
Fellow, Royal Society of Biology (FRSB)
Chartered Biologist, Society of Biology (CBiol)
Certified Environmental Practitioner (General Practitioner), Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) 
Member, Freshwater Sciences Society