Elisa Plati – a 2017 AFMA Graduate
At the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) we just love our graduates. Each year participants of the AFMA Graduate Program partake in three rotations across AFMA and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Today we introduce one of our graduates, Elisa Plati, who is spending her first rotation in the Foreign Compliance Policy Section of AFMA’s Fisheries Operations Branch. During this time she will be working with Parks Australia and the Australian Border Force on ghost net activity.
Elisa shared with us what she looks forward to in her graduate year with AFMA.
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I’m originally from Sydney and have only recently moved to Canberra to take up this fantastic opportunity with AFMA grad program. I completed an undergraduate degree in Marine Science and a postgraduate Diploma in Biodiversity and Conservation at Macquarie University. After a break for a couple years I went on to complete a Masters in Fishing Policy at Wollongong University. It was during my masters course that I discovered a passion for fisheries management.
Outside of my six years of study, I spent an exciting year in South Africa working for research/conservation groups. My main focus was examining great white shark behaviours off the south coast of South Africa. I also worked on turtle conservation in Guatemala as a research intern.
What made you interested in coming to AFMA for the grad program?
As my background is very hands on and research based, I am looking forward to understanding the other side of things, how policies and procedures work and putting theory into practice. For my grad year I hope to increase my understanding of how Australian fisheries works alongside other countries and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and reduce bycatch.
What are you looking forward to the most for your Grad year?
I think participating in the grad program will be an interesting and eye-opening experience to learn about the Commonwealth regulator side of fisheries management and how AFMA works with its various stakeholders, but especially industry, recreational fishers and environmental organisations.
I am very interested and passionate about conservation and sustainability, so that will definitely be something that drives me at AFMA. Working on policies and management that strive for best practice and reduces the impact on bycatch and the environment are key areas that interest me and I can’t wait get involved.
AFMA welcomes Elisa!
Every year AFMA runs a graduate program to help develop the next generation of AFMA leaders. For the past few years, AFMA has partnered with our portfolio agency, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources on this program giving AFMA graduates an opportunity for an external rotation, and departmental graduates a chance to do a rotation at AFMA.
Want to know more about working at AFMA? Visit afma.gov.au or follow us at Facebook. Details on how to apply for next year’s Graduate Program will be released soon.