Russell Reichelt BSc PhD FAICD FTSE

After graduating from Queensland University in 1980 with a PhD in marine ecology, Russell Reichelt worked for 10 years on tropical coral reef ecology at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (Townsville) studying marine ecology around Australia, in Canada and Europe. His scientific expertise is in marine ecology, remote sensing and fisheries.

Between 1990 and 1995 he managed the Fisheries Resources Branch of the Bureau of Resource Sciences (BRS) in Canberra, providing scientific advice to the Minister responsible for Australian fisheries. Russell Reichelt began the BRS Fisheries Status Reports in 1991. He was closely involved in the planning and coordination of resource assessment research for Commonwealth-managed fisheries, advising government on the status of Australian fish stocks and on the R&D arrangements for fisheries in Australia.

From 1995 to 2000, he was Director of the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Based in Townsville (Qld) and Perth (WA), the Institute had 170 staff, 2 research vessels and conducted marine scientific research across a broad range of disciplines, working on problems of national significance in the areas of coral reef science, coastal and continental shelf science, remote sensing, physical, chemical and biological oceanography, aquaculture and the study of bioactive compounds.

In 2002, he retired as Chairman of the Board of Australia’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation after a 7-year term. He has been the ‘marine’ member of the Australian State of Environment Committee since 1998.

He has been a Director (and chairman) of a seafood exporting company and is currently a Director of Cleveland Biosensors P/L, which is creating biosensor technology for rapid detection of toxins in food and water.

In June 2000, he became the CEO of the CRC Reef Research Centre, a non-profit company that coordinates research in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. He is currently Chairman of the National Oceans Advisory Group, the Great Barrier Reef Consultative Committee and a Director of the Board of the International Ocean Institute. He is an adjunct Professor at James Cook University and the University of Queensland