Invited Speakers

Alison Debney  

Alison is the UK & Europe Conservation Lead for ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and is a technical specialist in estuarine and wetland conservation.  Alison has 25 years’ experience in delivering conservation projects around the world focussing on the restoration and sustainable management of aquatic habitats ranging from mangroves, to flooded forests and to urban rivers.  Her drive is to create healthy and resilient ecosystems with beneficial outcomes for both wildlife and people.  Alison is the chair of the Essex Native Oyster Restoration Initiative and co-founder of the Native Oyster Network – UK & Ireland.  Alison also sits on the Advisory Board of the Europe Native Oyster Restoration Alliance.

Pete Malinowski 

Pete Malinowski is the Executive Director of the Billion Oyster Project, an organization on a mission to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives. A goal of Billion Oyster Project is to use the restoration of a keystone species to build awareness and affinity for the natural world in an urban setting.  Pete comes from a family of oyster farmers in Fishers Island New York and his favorite thing about Billion Oyster Project is watching students at the New York Harbor School — BOP’s flagship school — become experts in their field. In addition to his work with Billion Oyster Project, Pete sits on the Mayor's Waterfront Management Advisory Board and Co-chairs the Governor's Shellfish Restoration Council.

Dr Michael Dove 

Dr Michael Dove has 20 years of research experience in oysters and presently manages the NSW DPI Sydney Rock Oyster (SRO) Breeding Program.  His research duties relate to selective breeding of Sydney Rock Oysters to boost industry profitability as well as contribute to industry-relevant collaborative research projects in the fields of oyster genetics, reproduction, physiology and ecology. Michael has worked on both national and international programs to improve quality and quantity of commercial oysters and bivalve hatchery production techniques.

Stephanie Westby  

Stephanie Reynolds Westby is with the U.S. federal agency NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) near Washington, DC. She directs a multi-agency program to achieve large-scale oyster restoration in Chesapeake Bay. This includes working with state and federal agencies, academics, and non-governmental organizations to set common goals and develop restoration plans, then implement, track, monitor, and adaptively manage the restoration work. She holds a master’s degree in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University, and her background includes working as an environmental lobbyist and fisheries scientist.  She grew up sailing, and prior to her conservation career spent 10 years working on traditional sailing vessels, eventually as captain. She feels most at home on the water. 

Photo by: Port Stephens Tourism