
Show Notes
Acid Sulfate Soils are a tricky subject. The second episode of our "The Basics" series is all about the ASS (oh this acronym is just endlessly amusing, isn't it?). Gunnar and James' guest is Laurie Fox, one of the most recognised and distinguished ASS experts not only in Australia, but globally. Aside from doing fantastic assessment and ASS management work on mind bogglingly big projects himself, Laurie is also committed to improving our industry's understanding of these soils. This im...
More from Below the Surface
What makes a good regulator? Gunnar and Hammond are joined for the second time by Jason Scarborough, former NSW EPA officer and founder of JS Regulatory Services and Echidna, to talk about how regulation should actually work. They discuss behaviour change, regulatory transparency, poorly designed KPIs, explain the term "regulatory capture", the “fit and proper person” test and why vague regulatory language can create problems. This episode is particularly relevant to regulators and anyone in ...
What makes something worth keeping, and who gets to decide? In this episode of our The Basics Series, Gunnar and Hammond talk with heritage specialist Dr MacLaren North. They cover what heritage actually means, the differences between built, archaeological and Aboriginal cultural heritage, how heritage significance is assessed, and why the process can sometimes be surprisingly subjective. They also look at how heritage considerations affect development, why getting specialist advice early mat...
Who keeps environmental professionals honest, and what happens when they get it wrong? Gunnar and James open with a deceptively simple question: would you take a guaranteed $50,000 or risk it on a coin toss for $1 million? Their answers lead to a revealing conversation about risk, certainty, running a business and how personal circumstances shape financial decisions. Then the episode switches to newly appointed EIANZ President Fiona Gainsford about the growing influence of professional certif...
What does a career in the environmental industry actually look like, and how do you know when it is time for a change? That change can range from minor adjustment in your life and your expectations and goals to a big one like changing jobs or even careers altogether. Gunnar and Hammond are joined by career coach Kellie Guenther to discuss career pathways, professional development, leadership, mentoring and workplace culture. They also explore the pressures facing young professionals, ...
Disclaimers in our reports. Useless fluff or necessary ass covering? Who better to discuss this than Sarah Mansfield (LinkedIn) who is returning to Below the Surface and almost immediately raises the bar for all future lawyer and engineer jokes. Sarah, Gunnar and Hammond tackle P&O cruise insults, ALGA glory, puppies, and why a useful “How to Read This Report” section may be better than hiding AI created legal fog at the back. Other subjects: Report reliance, executive summaries, co...