Leigh McGaughey

Leigh McGaughey is an aquatic ecologist with extensive international research experience. Her early research focused on invertebrate biology including working on krill in Antarctica, invasive mussels in Africa, and shellfish in Australia. McGaughey received a Ph.D. in ecological modelling at the University of British Columbia, Canada, which was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the European Commission in Italy as a marine and coastal ecosystem analyst. Work with the Commission involved developing ecological indicators for conservation and fisheries initiatives combining satellite remote sensing with ecological models to bridge the gap between science and policy. McGaughey’s global perspective through past work experience in research and government agencies is now rooted in eastern Ontario, Canada, where she works for the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences. Currently, McGaughey leads the Great River Rapport, an ecosystem health report for the Upper St. Lawrence River founded in partnership with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. Along with an exceptional team, she is focused not only making new scientific discoveries, but also making them accessible to the public.