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conservation biology engineering environmental entrepreneur

inadvertent ecological engineer

Kelly Hughes places a flexible baffle inside a concrete culvert.  He's wearing gumboots in about 12cm of flowing water.

Kelly Hughes of ATS-Environmental describes himself as a inadvertent ecological engineer. With baffles, ramps, ropes and fish-friendly flood gates, Kelly is reconnecting waterways around the world.

Talking points

Solving problems with technology

The ecological world came to me with a problem – all I could hear was excuses.

Creating environments where fish can move at their leisure, with choices

Overcoming ignorance and bureaucracy that believes things are not doable, even when you have done them.

People aren’t very good at joining the dots, and that’s what we need, joined up waterways.

Plastic bottles really are the icon of unsustainability

All my learning has been done wearing gumboots

Kids should go to school with their gumboots on.

Sustainable: being conscious of impacts – being mindful of the things that you touch – both self and societal

Superpower: Tempering one’s desires to match

Activist: Yes, Don’t walk on eggshells

Motivation: We need to make the most of being awake

Miracle: Every school had an enviroclass teacher like Graham Henton

Advice: Be honest about who you think you are trying to impress.