ecofact Environment Consultants

About Us - Staff Profiles

ECOFACT place an emphasis on ensuring that our environmental consultancy team maintains up-to-date knowledge of environmental legislation and relevant regulations, current and emerging issues and environmental best practice guidelines. The quality of our environmental consultancy team places us at the fore-front of our industry.

Senior Environmental Scientist

Dr. William O'Connor is a senior environmental scientist who has over 17 year's professional ecological management experience. He is a graduate of the University of Wales, Cardiff where he was awarded an MSc degree in Applied Hydrobiology, and the National University of Ireland, Galway where he received a PhD degree in Zoology. He is a chartered member of the Institute of Biology, the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, and the Institute of Fisheries Management. He was employed as a Senior Fisheries Biologist with the Electricity Supply Board during the period 1992-1998, and has been working as a private consultant since 1999.

William has extensive experience in managing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies for large scale projects on behalf of public and private clients; including national infrastructural and renewable energy developments. William's primary expertise lies in water quality, fisheries and aquatic ecology; with significant research and project experience in freshwater fisheries management, fish passage requirements, electrical fishing surveys, water quality assessments and surveys for protected aquatic species (including lamprey species, white-clawed crayfish and pearl mussels). In addition to aquatic ecology William has wide ranging experience in ecological survey methodologies in marine and terrestrial environments, having carried out intertidal and benthic sampling surveys; bat roosting and activity surveys; non-volant mammal surveys; and seasonal bird surveys.

Senior Ecologist

Daireann is a senior ecologist who has been working in the environmental consultancy industry for over eight years. Daireann is a graduate of the University of Limerick where he was awarded an MSc (Research) in Environmental Science. Daireann holds an undergraduate degree from University College Dublin where he received a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture and Environmental Management. He is a full member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. Prior to joining ECOFACT in 2008, Daireann held a principal ecologist position with a large environmental consultancy, where he was responsible for the management of the ecology section across multiple offices. He also previously worked with an environmental consultancy in the west of Ireland.

Daireann's environmental experience extends across freshwater, terrestrial and marine habitats. His project experience includes the completion of full Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) and Article 6 Appropriate Assessments for proposed plans and developments affecting designated Natura 2000 sites. His survey experience incorporates a wide range of environmental and ecological methodologies within these habitats including habitat mapping, botanical surveys, marine sampling methodologies, aquatic invertebrate identification and bird surveys. Daireann has extensive experience in aquatic surveys for protected species and the provision of training in freshwater ecology to fisheries boards, local authorities and local interest groups.

Senior Field Technician

Gerard Hayes has five years professional experience in ecological field study and environmental consultancy. Gerard Hayes graduated from the University of Limerick with a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Education (Hons) primary degree. He is a full member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. Gerard was previously employed as a teacher in secondary education, teaching science and mathematics, before joining ECOFACT in 2004.

Gerard is responsible for biological water quality assessments and detailed sampling surveys for protected aquatic fauna and fish species, which are followed up by laboratory identification of invertebrate fauna. His faunal identification skills extend across freshwater, terrestrial and marine habitats. With ECOFACT's development of expertise in Receiving Water Impact Assessments, Gerard's role has grown to include hydrological and waste assimilation capacity modelling, to complement his skills in biological water quality assessments and aquatic ecology. He has also operated as the site ecologist for the monitoring of numerous construction projects including flood alleviation, drainage and infrastructure schemes.

Environmental Consultant

Imelda Barry joined ECOFACT in 2009 from Bat Conservation Ireland, where she had a role in the implementation of the National Daubenton's Bat Survey. Imelda holds a Masters degree in Environmental Science from University College Dublin, where she completed a thesis on the genetic structure of sika (Cervus nippon) subpopulations and the extent of hybridisation with red deer (Cervus elaphus) and holds an undergraduate BSc (Hons.) in Zoology from University College Cork.

Imelda's key strength lies in mammalian ecology and zoology. She has extensive experience in the provision of field ecology workshops and environmental education in both terrestrial and marine environments. Imelda worked in co-ordination with Bat Conservation Ireland contractors, committee members and volunteers and also implemented quality control during the field recording period. She has further experience in mammal field surveys, bat surveys, terrestrial habitat assessments and cetacean and marine mammal monitoring and observation.


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Ecofact Environmental Consultants Ltd.
Tait Business Centre, Dominic Street. Limerick City, Ireland
Telephone: +353 61 419477   Fax: +353 61 414315   Email: info@ecofact.ie