Our Team

Dr Sean Williamson brings more than a decade of experience in marine megafauna research, conservation and project management to QMTN, along with a strong commitment to community-led marine turtle conservation.

Sean has extensive experience working with diverse stakeholders, including Traditional Owners, community and volunteer organisations, NGOs, industry, government agencies and academic institutions. His PhD and postdoctoral research focused on marine turtle ecology and physiology, and his work combines field-based research and advanced data analysis to inform evidence-based conservation and management.

Alongside his role as QMTN Coordinator, Sean is a Senior Ecologist with Nocterra, where he works on marine turtle research, monitoring and environmental management projects. He is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at Monash University, where he co-supervises graduate research students, and is a member of the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group.

Click here more information on Sean’s research publications and reports.

John Gatley was an inaugural QMTN Steering Group member from 2023 until 2026.

John has been involved in turtle research for nearly 30 years. He has represented turtle conservation interests on the Mon Repos Technical Working Group in relation to changes to the Bundaberg Regional Council Planning Scheme and its effect on Marine Turtles. John is a member of the Reef Authorities Wide Bay Local Marine Advisory Committee.

John has been a guide and researcher at Mon Repos since 1998. This involvement expanded to field trips in Moreton Bay, Sandy Straits, Gladstone Harbour, Shoalwater Bay and Raine Island. John is one of the departments approved citizen science trainers able to train other volunteers in research techniques for them to gain their accreditation.

One of the founding members of the Sea Turtle Alliance on the Woongarra Coast, John serves as the Vice President. He enjoys his roles as an intermediary between government, scientists and the average citizen.

Nev McLachlan was an inaugural member of the QMTN Steering Group from 2023 until 2026.

Bev & Nev McLachlan live on the Sunshine Coast and their lives revolve around square dancing and Australian Marine Turtles. Nev, an ex-school teacher and Bev, a former office manager/Tuckshop convenor, live in Buderim and run the Sunshine Coast Square Dance Centre, a purpose-built dance complex catering for dancing and fitness activities for all ages. But for 2 months of the year their world changes completely and they move to Wreck Rock where they continue to monitor Marine Turtles as they have since 1977, the year they were married.

Nev started as a volunteer at Mon Repos in 1970 while studying at university under then lecturer Col Limpus. Nev’s interest was soon shared by Bev and their interest in Turtles led them, with Col’s guidance, to Wreck Rock where several Leatherback turtles had been sighted by fishermen. Nev and Bev tagged several Leatherbacks in subsequent years as well as many Flatbacks, Greens and Loggerheads. For over 45 years and since their retirement from the general workforce, they have spent 2 months at Wreck Rock (north of Bundaberg) monitoring Marine Turtles. This involves patrolling 22 km of beach, now on 4WD side by side vehicles, from dusk til dawn. Data collected at Wreck Rock has been published as part of studies on migrating turtles and the data published on leatherback gives insight into Leatherbacks nesting in Australia.

In 2003 Nev and Bev instigated the formation of Turtle Care Volunteers Queensland Inc, an incorporated association as a means of raising funds directly for the work done on this beach. Nev and Bev are founding members. The Associations purpose – fostering conservation through study and enjoyment of turtles.

This organisation has the power to raise funds to further the study that operates in conjunction with the Turtle Research Program. On the 12/12/2022 this Association was accepted as a Charitable Organisation and as such donations over $2.00 are tax deductible.

In June 2008 Bev and Nev were awarded the EPA Excellence Award in recognition of our valuable contribution to the Environmental Protection Agency in the “Volunteering” category. This award recognises volunteers for their dedication, commitment and hard work for the environment and for the people of Queensland.

They are still very supportive of Marine Turtle Research and hope they will be able to continue with this for years to come.

Ainsley Gatley was an inaugural member of the QMTN Steering Group from 2023 until 2026.

Ainsley has been a volunteer turtle guide at Mon Repos for 19 seasons over a 27-year period. She has actively patrolled this beach undertaking both tourism and research activities.  She has a strong passion in enabling our youth to care for the environment and volunteers with the Junior Ranger Program at Mon Repos each season.

Ainsley has worked for 7 years as a casual ranger and completed a stint at Curtis Island with the flatback turtles. She was part of the inaugural Sea Turtle Alliance volunteer-based charity organisation that was incorporated in 2015 and has been President since 2022.

Ainsley works off the philosophy that we can all make a difference in our everyday life.

Sue Sargent worked with the project Steering Group between 2022 and 2024 to establish the Queensland Marine Turtle Network (led by Nev and Bev McLachlan) and convened the first QMTN Forum (held in May 2023).

Sue is a marine scientist and independent consultant living and working in the Wide Bay region of Queensland. She has previously volunteered with both the Lady Musgrave Island and Wreck Rock turtle monitoring programs.

She specialises in project management, monitoring, evaluation, communications, stakeholder, and traditional owner engagement.

Misty Neilson was an inaugural member of the QMTN Steering Group from 2023 until 2025.

Misty  is an ecologist and conservation biologist who specialises in translating science into on‑ground action. She helps land managers, Traditional Owners, citizen scientists and government partners measure and improve environmental health across agricultural landscapes.

Misty currently works for Accounting for Nature, also chairs Forever Wild (Global), and previously served as an ecologist with Burnett Catchment Care Association, bringing a rare blend of ecological rigour, community engagement and business acumen to every project.