Crystal has worked in the APS since 2001 in the social services and environment portfolios. For over 15 years she has led various domestic and international environment policy programs such as chemical policy, biodiversity policy and natural capital accounting policy. In partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Crystal recently led the development of Australia’s first national ocean ecosystem account and co-chaired the United Nations working group advancing global ocean accounting standards.

Crystal’s PhD research explores what is ‘critical natural capital’ in Australia’s environmental and socio-economic context, the way Australia’s essential economic products and services depend on nature, and options for protecting critical natural capital in law and policy. She is particularly interested in how critical natural capital dependency can be reflected in Australia’s system of national accounts. Crystal’s research aims to support governments to understand and address natural capital dependency risk.

Supervisor: Associate Professor Sarah Clement

Publications

• Gacutan J, Pinarbasi K, Agbaglah M, Bradely C, Galparsora I, Murillas A, Adewinmi I, Praphotjanaporn T, Bordt M, Findlay K, Lantz C and Milligan B M (2022) ‘The emerging intersection between marine spatial planning and ocean accounting: A global review and case studies’. Marine Policy, 140, Article 105055.