The Gamay Initiative

The Gamay Initiative brings together expertise from a range of disciplines to promote science and management in Gamay (Botany Bay) that protects biodiversity and ecosystem functioning whilst meeting the social, cultural and economic needs of humans now and into the future.

The aim of the Gamay Initiative is to facilitate collaboration and cooperation between different stakeholder groups. These collaborations drive innovative scientific research across a range of programs to inform policy, management actions and general understanding of this important urban coastal waterway.

Gamay Botany Bay, or Gamay (alternatively spelt Kamay) as it is called by First Nations people of Australia is a coastal urban waterway of immense social, cultural and ecological value. The waters of Gamay have been fished and farmed by First Nations people of Gamay for tens of thousands of years. The bayis also where British explorers first arrived in Australia in 1770, and since this time has become a hub for industrialisation and human modification.

Gamay’s long and complex history with humans means that successful and sustainable management requires consideration of the often competing interests of many different stakeholders including; government, industry, national and international transport, recreational users, residents, local Indigenous communities and the environment.

By providing a collaborative platform of engagement for Gamay stakeholders, the Gamay Initiative aims to incorporate scientific knowledge and Traditional Ecological Knowledge from First Nations people of Gamay to provide data and expertise that will enhance ecosystem health and support sustainable management of urban coastal waterways.

THE INITIATIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

The Gamay initiative is intended as a framework for collaboration towards the common goal of a sustainable Gamay ecosystem. The leadership team works to develop funded projects within the initiative but importantly also to build collaborative opportunities for other relevant projects within Gamay which are run by others.

(click headshot for bio)

A/Prof. Willian Figueira

Associate Professor, University of Sydney

Dr. Katherine Dafforn

Associate Professor, Macquarie University

A/Prof. Paul Gribben

Professor, UNSW Sydney

A/Prof. Will Glamore

Associate Professor, UNSW Sydney Water Research Laboratory

Prof. Martina Doblin

Professor, University of Technology Sydney

Dr. Talia Stelling-Wood

Post-doctoral researcher, SIMS

Dr. Danial Khojasteh

Post-doctoral researcher, SIMS