Heidi is a marine ecologist and fisheries scientist with significant experience in the collation, analysis and translation of science and evidence to technical advice, management plans and policy. She has over a decade of experience advising UK Government bodies and marine stakeholders on how to operationalise UK and EU fisheries and marine conservation policy and regulations at a local and national scale. 

Heidi has developed environmental risk assessments and management plans which would enable conservation objectives for protected species and habitats in marine protected areas (MPAs) to be achieved whilst maintaining sustainable fishing activities, and led the provision of scientific advice for MPA designation (60+ potential sites) in England’s waters. As a Senior Policy Officer for Defra, Heidi worked closely with UK fisheries stakeholders and other EU Member States to implement the EU’s Landing Obligation (discard ban) through strategic and technical plans, policy and legislation. 

Heidi has a BSc Hons from the School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton and a PhD on the diversity in Icelandic cod and its consequences for population persistence and sustainable exploitation.

Heidi was the Technical and then Managing Director of MacAlister Elliott and Partners (MEP), an international fisheries and aquaculture consultancy, prior to joining ERC. Consultancy has enabled Heidi to apply her expertise, leadership and analytical skills to the design, management and delivery of numerous projects across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Pacific and South Atlantic. Heidi has delivered evidence-based, pragmatic and best practice recommendations on how Governments, conservation bodies, development agencies and private businesses can improve policy, management, operations, infrastructure and supporting services to achieve sustainable resource exploitation, minimise environmental impacts and to maximise socio-economic benefits.

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