Dr Danielle Smith
Researcher biography
Dr Danielle Smith is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Blue Economy CRC, The University of Queensland. Her research identifies international best practices in the legal and policy frameworks that will inform and govern the expanding offshore wind energy industry in Australia.
Danielle has specialised expertise in international environmental legal institutions and regimes, marine protected areas - particularly biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction - marine spatial planning, environmental impact assessments, and the effects of anthropogenic and climatic impacts on offshore marine and coastal environments.
As a highly experienced international marine environmental consultant, Danielle brings extensive knowledge in ocean governance, having conducted thorough environmental impact assessments for major development projects. Her significant contributions to the offshore oil and gas industry, along with her transition into the rapidly growing offshore wind energy sector, have equipped her with a deep understanding of the regulatory framework's successes and challenges from both scientific and legal perspectives.