Dr. Tanya Blakely

Being in the outdoors and interacting with the natural world has always been a huge part of my life. When I started university, pursuing a career involving freshwater and invertebrate ecology became a clear direction.

My career started in academic research, but I've always been an applied scientist. Working as a consultant alongside planners, engineers and designers – particularly those who share my passion for freshwater – and finding creative ways to minimise adverse effects on the natural world, is one of the most satisfying parts of my job.

On a project team, I often lead our ecologists' work with contractors to ensure that roading infrastructure doesn’t impact fish migration and freshwater habitats, and ecological processes. More recently, through the elevation of Te Mana o te Wai in the NPS-FM, this work has involved engaging with tangata whenua and finding ways to apply mātauranga Māori, as well as 'modern science' to the management of freshwater. I believe that forming connections between these two knowledge systems will have positive effects as we restore and protect the integrity and health of Aotearoa's freshwater systems.

I'm currently the technical leader for sciences at Boffa Miskell, providing leadership, direction and oversight for the ecology and biosecurity disciplines. We have a lot of passionate early-career scientists and many later-career consultants who hold a wealth of experience and knowledge. I enjoy working closely with them and championing growth in the capacity and capability of Boffa Miskell’s science team.

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Ecology, University of Canterbury
Bachelor of Science (Hons, 1st), Zoology, University of Canterbury

Affiliations

Certified Environmental Practitioner (Ecology Specialist), Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ)
Member, New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society
Member, New Zealand Ecological Society
Member, New Zealand Entomological Society
Peer reviewer for selected scientific journals