I’m an expert archaeological geophysicist and geoarchaeologist, lecturer and consultant located in Brisbane, AUS. I have over 20 years experience in field and laboratory-based archaeology; specialising in archaeological geophysics, geoarchaeology, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). I’ve worked in Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia, and have worked internationally on archaeological sites in the Caribbean, Europe, Indonesia, Myanmar, and North and South America. I am also affiliated with the University of Queensland.

I care deeply about understanding and preserving the history of traditional cultures and translating this knowledge to help local Custodians advance in a modern society by giving them the tools and techniques to assist in their management of country. I continuously engage in many community-based projects in Australia and globally, some of which include; public outreach forums and collaborations with local organisations, councils, Indigenous communities and universities. I also have significant relevant industry experience as a consultant in cultural heritage management in both Australia and the U.S. and have managed large heritage projects for both federal and state agencies. My experience and knowledge in landscape archaeology and geophysics allows me to be a great candidate on many heritage projects.

Teaching and Outreach Experience

As a leader in geophysical applications in Australia archaeology, I have been invited to speak at high-profile international institutions and universities. Since 2012, I have designed and taught several specialised workshops/short courses in Archaeological Geophysics and GIS mapping. Through teaching specialised short courses such as these, I enable students, academic staff, industry professionals and local communities to have a core understanding of the skills needed to apply these kinds of invaluable techniques to their research and heritage management projects. Furthermore, I provide them with hands-on, practical experience. Over the last several years, I have also taught at the University of Queensland, on a range of topics in archaeology and cultural heritage management. This research-led teaching focuses on increasing the knowledge interest and skills in archaeology. 

I am a firm believer in the importance of actively mentoring and supporting students as they proceed with their studies. As a member of the industry body Woman in Technology, I am actively engaged in acquiring the skills and knowledge required for effective mentorship. Although these skills are useful in all situations, they are also geared explicitly toward mentorship of females in highly scientific disciplines, such as geophysics.

Research Focus

My research was instrumental in identifying the earliest human occupations at archaeological sites where the stratigraphic integrity was questioned because the deposits were primarily sand, and where there was no clear way to corroborate the lithic record in these deposits to the geochronology. I was able to resolve the questions about the onset of human occupation and its association with specific stratigraphic levels through a novel technique that can be applied globally to identify human occupation. As a benchmark for Archaeological Geophysics, this work led to my involvement in significant and high-profile research projects in Australia and worldwide. Collectively my research has set a standard for examining the role of geophysical technologies to address fundamental issues in Australian archaeology.