Danielle Smith

Dr Danielle Smith is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Blue Economy CRC, The University of Queensland. Her research identifies international best practices in the legal and policy frameworks that will inform and govern the expanding offshore wind energy industry in Australia.

Danielle’s areas of expertise are in international ocean governance, international environmental legal institutions and regimes, marine protected areas (MPAs) in particular biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), marine spatial planning, environmental impact assessments, and impacts of anthropogenic activities and other climatic impacts on offshore marine and coastal environments. Danielle has seven years working experience in ocean governance and over 15 years’ experience working as a marine environmental consultant conducting environmental impact assessments for large development projects such as, coastal defence plans, port developments, offshore wind farms, nuclear power stations, offshore oil and gas activities, etc., both within Australia and internationally.

Danielle has worked in the offshore oil and gas industry for several years before moving into the burgeoning offshore wind energy industry arena, and through her experience has come to understand the successes and challenges of the regulatory framework from both a scientific and legal background.