DCN October Edition 2019

The grill
a lot of time at my grandparent’s holiday
house at Victor Harbour SA.
Where do you live now? What makes it
a special place to live?
I’m living back in Belair in South Australia,
but not at my parent’s house although
they’re still there in that same house.
Dr Michael Sierp talks with DCN editor David Sexton
about his job as a biofouling inspector, his love of
mountain biking and the contribution of Bob Hawke
What is your job and what does it entail?
I’m currently managing director of
Aquatic Biosecurity Pty Ltd. I’m a scientist,
biofouling inspector, marine surveyor, vessel
master and a commercial diver. My job is
doing anything in the aquatic arena that I
can get out of the office to do, although I
seem to end up writing lots of reports in the
office describing what I was doing.
How did you get into your line of work?
I was surfing, fishing, sailing dinghies,
snorkelling, reef combing and going out in
boats so I started at Flinders University as a
young man thinking about how to get paid
to go to the beach.
After university I took a dream job as a
government research scientist working in
fisheries, aquaculture and water quality in
the South Australian government.
Later I took another government job
as manager of Marine Biosecurity for
South Australia. I was voted in as the
national chair of the Marine Pest Sectoral
Committee which helped me to understand
the joint biosecurity and maritime issues
facing industry, the environment and the
community.
Then I left government and started my
business. Twenty-five years, five degrees and
a bunch of certifications later I find myself
here running my business and representing
stakeholders on a range of volunteer
fisheries and maritime NGO boards.
What makes your work rewarding?
I never quite know what I’m going to be
doing or where in the world I will be each
month which is exciting and rewarding.
Project work is like solving a puzzle every
time with an innovative solution.
I also do a lot of volunteer work on
boards which I find very rewarding. It
puts you in contact with good people,
interesting projects and it is good to give
back to the community.
What did you want to be when you
were growing up?
I wanted to be an industrial designer or
engineer but I didn’t get the marks I needed
at school. Then I had an epiphany moment
at university and I changed my course to
Marine Biology with Chemistry. It all made
sense to me and then I started getting very
good grades. Almost everyone told me I was
wasting my time but I went for it anyway
and it has proven to be a great decision.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the leafy Adelaide Foothills of
Belair in South Australia, but we also spent
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I have been mountain biking since the
sport started in the 1980s and still get
out there for the occasional race. I have a
700cc adventure motorbike and a research
dive boat. I still like going surfing, diving,
snorkelling and sailing outside work. I
coach tennis once a week and go rockclimbing
sometimes.
Do you play a musical instrument?
I have a guitar signed by Mike from the
Beach Boys in my campervan so I’m
looking forward to getting better at it as
I’m not very good.
What music do you enjoy?
Spiderbait, Disclosure, The Presets, Calvin
Harris, Beastie Boys, Nirvana, The Happy
Mondays, Billy Idol, Brian Ferry, Bowie etc.
Have you got a favourite restaurant?
Where is it and what makes it special?
Hentley Farm in Seppeltsfield Barossa
Valley because it is more of an adventure
than a menu and their wines are nice too.
Is there one Australian (past or
present) who you particularly admire?
Former Australian Prime Minister, the
late Bob Hawke. He genuinely cared about
all the things that made Australia a great
place to live. His position on stopping the
Franklin Dam development and other
natural heritage destruction projects was
admirable. A great role model.
To where would you like to retire?
I would like to retire travelling the world
wherever it is safe to go, with just short
stays back in Adelaide to catch up with
friends. There’s so much to see out there
and while I know Australia very well I know
there’s lots I want to see and do.
Image supplied
66 October 2019
thedcn.com.au