Dr. Simon Albert has a background in the fields of natural resource management, water quality, marine ecology, autonomous systems and climate change. For the past 20 years he has worked at the intersection of these fields in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Through an understanding of both biological and physio-chemical factors Dr. Albert has developed integrated monitoring approaches that capture temporally and spatially relevant dynamics. Most recently, Dr. Albert has developed transformative autonomous technologies using unmanned aerial vehicles and surface vessels to monitor water quality. In addition to this research and innovation, Dr. Albert has led a range of high-profile environmental assessments across Melanesia in often complex social and logistical environments. These activities have been founded on a deeply collaborative approach with communication and interaction with stakeholders a key aspect of the work.