Fiona Valesini
Program Director, Oceans
Australia
Fiona Valesini Marine Coordinator, Western Australia © Brendan Bowles
Areas of Expertise
Estuarine and marine ecology, fish and invertebrate communities, socio-ecological systems
Biography
Fiona has worked across a spectrum of coastal and estuarine environments, focused mainly on understanding how these ecosystems function and how to better support their sustainability alongside healthy coastal societies. Before joining The Nature Conservancy, she worked as a Senior Research Scientist in the university sector, undertaking applied research for government, commercial and community agencies for about 20 years.
As the Marine Coordinator for Western Australia, Fiona’s core focus is the development and management of ecosystem restoration projects in estuarine and coastal waters, including in the Swan-Canning and Peel-Harvey estuaries. These projects centre on bolstering the health and resilience of our waterways, as well as the vast societal benefits they support.
Fiona has a Bachelor of Biological Sciences and a PhD in coastal ecology from Murdoch University in Western Australia. She started with TNC in 2019 and works from her Perth office.
Places We Protect
Revitalising the Peel-Harvey Estuary
Finding nature-based solutions to improve the health of the Peel-Harvey Estuary.
Places We Protect
Swan Canning Estuary
Shellfish reefs were once abundant in Perth's Swan-Canning Estuary. With the loss of these natural water filters that historically lived there, the health of the estuary is at risk, but we’re bringing them back.