Meet some of our principals specialising in Environmental management.
Peter te Hennepe – Principal Water Quality Specialist
Peter te Hennepe has more than 30 years experience in the environmental industry, particularly in environmental monitoring, on-site industrial auditing, laboratory management and environmental reporting.
He has particular expertise in analytical chemistry, including the analysis of waters, soils and sediments. His extensive involvement in this discipline has led to a thorough understanding of the instrumental techniques and field sampling operations, which will assist in the assessment of parameters, methods and equipment.
Peter manages several large multidisciplinary water quality monitoring programs, with responsibilities including the coordination of sampling and equipment, implementing sampling protocols, analysing data, checking results and reporting data to the warehouse are all part of the work for this program.
Peter has been a NATA Technical Assessor for 20 years and an authorised EPA Analyst for over 20 years.
Jean-Michel Benier – Principal Environmental Scientist
Jean-Michel Benier is an ecologist, with broad experience in a wide range of ecological and environmental projects.
His diverse ecological experience has included investigations into the role of farm dams as refugia for the aquatic macroinvertebrates, monitoring the impacts of groundwater abstraction on the ecological condition of coastal wetlands and the assessment and monitoring of wetland revegetation communities through his work on the Western Australian Salinity Action Plan. Jean-Michel completed his Master's thesis on the role of farm dams as refugia for the aquatic macroinvertebrates of Lake Toolibin, a Ramsar wetland in the wheat belt area of Western Australia.
He worked for over five years on the Gnangara Mound Environmental Monitoring project, monitoring the impacts of groundwater abstraction on the ecological condition of coastal wetland macroinvertebrate communities and water quality.
He is also experienced in the assessment and monitoring of wetland revegetation communities through his work on the Western Australian Salinity Action Plan – Wetland Vegetation Monitoring program, including several Ramsar wetlands in south-west Western Australia.
Jean-Michel also has a strong background in project management and report production for both government and non-government agencies, and has particular experience in environmental and occupational health and safety management systems.
Prior to joining ALS, Jean-Michel was employed as Group Environmental Manager for a major wine producer. Achievements in this role include facilitating the formation of the Western Australian Wine Industry Environmental Management Focus Group, and the implementation of a large-scale water quality monitoring program.
Patrick Maiden - Principal
Patrick Maiden is an ecologist with experience in the aquatic sciences gathered through conducting biological condition reports, impacts assessments and ecological research for the water industry. Patrick is a passionate about developing ecological sustainability into economically and socially responsible management of water and natural resources.
Patrick commenced his career in aquatic ecology within the CRC for Freshwater Ecology, working on projects investigating the ecological effects of river flow regulation, and a benchmarking river condition assessment of Melbourne's iconic Yarra River. Patrick subsequently commenced conducting ecological assessments for numerous government agencies, water authorities and private organisations.
He has considerable experience with freshwater ecosystems using macroinvertebrate indicators. Patrick was NATA signatory for species level identification of macroinvertebrates, and has experience working on biological samples collected from Victoria, South Australia, NSW and Tasmania. Patrick was among the first consultants accredited for AUSRIVAS, and was involved with the development and first accreditation of the Rapid Bioassessment accreditation program by the EPA Victoria.
Patrick managed the design, analysis and delivery of broader ecosystem monitoring and research programs that involved fish, algae, aquatic plants, geomorphology and water chemistry. In 2006, Patrick commenced ARC funded research at the University of Adelaide to investigate salinity and nutrient thresholds for diatoms in arid and semi-arid Australia.
Patrick has designed and managed several applied research projects for the water industry, and provides specialist expertise in the tolerance of aquatic ecosystems to water quality pollutants, especially salinity stress. Patrick retains a strong relationship with technical and scientific community, and now helps lead the Research and Development program for ALS - developing real world solutions with rigorous scientific review.