NATURAL CHOICE FOR LACHLAN
LACHLAN Barnes had always been drawn to biological science and natural resources but did not initially know how to turn this into a career.
Now, he leads one of engineering consultancy Cardno’s environmental management teams, with projects such as advising government agencies on shark mitigation, developing strategic vegetation management and assessing large-scale water management and power generation.
“My job provides a unique opportunity to engage and collaborate with highly skilled and passionate professionals to deliver projects that are exceptionally challenging, demand agility and adaptability and are ultimately both personally and professionally rewarding,” he says.
Barnes, who took a gap year after high school to travel Australia, began on this career path with a Bachelor of Science with Honours, majoring in Marine Biology.
He then began working for NSW Fisheries and undertook a PhD in Marine Ecology, before joining Cardno in the NT to monitor recreational fishers and independent fishery sampling as well as corals, mangroves, water quality, turtle and dugong populations and seagrass.
“I guess my career is a mixture of a dream and evolution based on the development and enjoyment of new skills,” he says.
Barnes is an ambassador for the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association’s campaign to make the people who work with natural gas more visible to the people who use it.