Nicole Flint

Nicole Flint is a Principal Research Fellow at CQUniversity Australia, affiliated with the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) and the Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Tropical Marine Biology from James Cook University, a PhD in Fish Biology, and a Master of Economics from the University of New England. Her primary roles include research leadership, postgraduate coordination, and membership in scientific and policy bodies such as the Fitzroy Partnership for River Health’s Independent Science Panel.

Education:

• BSc (Hons) in Tropical Marine Biology, James Cook University
• PhD in Fish Biology, James Cook University
• Master of Economics, University of New England

Research Interests: Nicole focuses on improving monitoring and management of marine/freshwater ecosystems, particularly in Northern Australia. Key areas include aquaculture, fisheries management, environmental indicators, and the interplay between industries and natural resources. Her work integrates ecological, economic, and policy perspectives.

Grants & Projects: Nicole has secured ~$7M in external funding since 2011. Notable projects include water security for Northern Australia, development of mud crab and fish health indicators for report cards, and ecological assessments for ports and river infrastructure. Recent collaborations include the Fitzroy Basin Report Card and Gladstone Harbour Health Partnership.

Labs/Teams: She leads projects at CMERC and collaborates with regional groups like the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership. Her research actively informs policy through report cards and technical working groups.