Sonia Claus

Background

About Sonia Claus

I'm an aquatic ecologist with over 17 years’ experience specialising in ecosystem health and impact assessments and management of freshwater and estuarine environments and their catchments. I have extensive experience in water quality impact assessments, project management, design and implementation of aquatic ecosystem monitoring programs and assessment frameworks, ecosystem management plans, conceptual models and field experience. In my current role I provide technical surface water and groundwater quality advice to the regulatory division of the department on activities that may impact on the aquatic environment. I’m particularly interested in making science accessible to a larger range of stakeholders, including policy makers, natural resource managers and the general public. I'm dedicated to synthesising scientific information and knowledge in innovative ways to achieve this including the use of visual elements. I have experience in the use conceptual models to synthesis information and depict the essential attributes and processes of the ecosystem to communicate results and information; facilitate communication between stakeholder; identify key anthropogenic, natural pressures, and stressors; design monitoring programs; select indicators to measure condition and pressure; and identify which management actions may be appropriate for addressing these issues.