Dr. Capri Jolliffe joins JASCO Applied Sciences (Australia) Pty Ltd. as Technical Director
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July 2024 – JASCO Applied Sciences (Australia) Pty Ltd. welcomes new Technical Director, Dr. Capri Jolliffe.
Dr. Jolliffe brings extensive expertise as a bio-acoustician and marine biologist, with over 11 years of experience spanning various academic and research environments, government, and regulatory contexts related to marine fauna. Her expertise extends beyond marine mammal behavior and acoustics, spanning scientific design, regulatory policy, environmental management and conservation, and the design and management of holistic scientific programs. Capri is driven by a desire to design and deliver holistic and strategic science which can inform regulations and best practice management approaches, demonstrated by her publication track record and research initiatives.
Prior to joining JASCO, Dr. Jolliffe served as a Principal Environment Officer at the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and an Environment Specialist at the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA). In these roles she served on scientific panels to peer-review government directed strategic research programs (including the WAMSI Westport Marine Science Program), international working groups with a focus on the design of survey and monitoring techniques for predicting and managing underwater noise impacts to marine mammals and has led and executed reviews of key policy documents and played a critical role in defining key terms and driving consistency and rigor in the application of the Blue Whale Recovery Plan. This has included being a member of WA Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Working Group, and the WA Environmental Liaison Group for oil spill emergencies.
Dr. Jolliffe’s research has specialized in passive acoustics, cetacean communication, cetacean behavior, migration, and abundance studies. Since completing her PhD, Capri has continued to undertake marine mammal research with a focus on blue whales and combining multidisciplinary approaches to provide holistic research outputs that meet end user needs. Her desire to contribute to purposeful science has seen her design and lead ‘The Bay Blues’ an innovative research project focused on blue whales in Geographe Bay which JASCO supported.
As Technical Director – Asia Pacific Marine Science, her role at JASCO involves leading holistic marine mammal focused ecological monitoring programs within the Asia Pacific region, contributing to the development of scientific strategies, and working collaboratively within our global science team. She will represent JASCO as a subject matter expert, using her strong analytical skills and detailed understanding of the Australian regulatory environment and marine mammal science to support regulators and proponents alike. During her time at DWER, Capri joined the JASCO-led authorship team for the Australian National Underwater Noise Guidelines under contract to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), and she will continue and expand these contributions in her new role.
Dr. Jolliffe holds a Doctor of Philosophy Applied Physics (Bioacoustics) from Curtin University, and from the University of Western Australia an Honours in Marine Science, Bachelor of Science, and Double Major in Marine Biology and Zoology. She is the Director of Research and co-founder of The Blue Whale Project Oz, and is a board member of the Research Chair for Geographe Marine Research, a scientific not-for-profit based in Dunsborough, WA. Capri is also a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Australian Air Force Security Reserve.
“We are delighted and honored to have Capri join our outstanding scientific staff. We have collaborated in the past on exciting projects and initiatives, with her contribution as a member of our team we look forward to expanding our marine mammal related ecological scientific contributions, and supporting sustainable offshore energy development in innovative ways.”
About JASCO Applied Sciences
JASCO Applied Sciences is a world leader in the science of underwater sound and its effects on marine life. JASCO is Canadian company, founded in Victoria in 1981, with subsidiaries in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. We provide support for all stages of environmental reviews and assessments of underwater sound for the renewable energy, oil and gas, marine construction, shipping, and defence sectors. We design, develop, and manufacture state-of-the-art oceanographic data acquisition systems to meet project demands for quality, endurance, reliability, and performance. We enable our clients to satisfy regulatory requirements by providing scientifically defensible assessments of their projects to government regulators and the public. For more information, visit www.jasco.com.
