Coral Reef expert takes on new global role after AIMS leader exit

July 1, 2025

Education / Environment / Tourism /

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Research Team Leader Dr Manuel Gonzalez-Rivero has been named the new Global Coordinator of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) – taking on the role from Dr Britta Schaffelke, who is leaving AIMS after a remarkable 20-year career at the institute.

The GCRMN is a global network of scientists, managers and organisations that monitor the condition of coral reefs throughout the world, under the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). AIMS has hosted the GCRMN for most of its 30-year history.

Dr Gonzalez-Rivero leads ReefCloud , a project enabling the world's coral reef monitoring community to share data and work together in real time, which he presented at the One Ocean Science Conference in Nice, France, earlier this month.

He was involved in the production of the Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020 report, and is a member of the GCRMN Data Taskforce, contributing to ongoing discussions about artificial intelligence-driven data and analysis platforms, such as Coral Net, ReefCloud and Data Mermaid.

The GCRMN are collating reef monitoring data from around the world for the development of the seventh 'Status of Coral Reefs of the World' global report, which will be released in 2026.

Dr Schaffelke is currently AIMS' manager of International Partnerships. Before this role, she was focused on the research and management of environmental impacts on the Great Barrier Reef, particularly from water quality. She led AIMS' coastal and Great Barrier Reef research programs and helped evolving AIMS' research from observation and understanding to exploring ways to apply that knowledge.

In addition to her science leadership, Dr Schaffelke has been instrumental in forming research and monitoring partnerships, a trusted mentor to staff and students, and a leader of gender equity initiatives at AIMS.

In 2022, Dr Schaffelke received the AIMS medal, a biennial award that recognises the outstanding, sustained, and enduring commitment of a staff member to excellence, and the exemplification of AIMS values.

As Global Coordinator of the GCRMN, Dr Schaffelke was instrumental in the creation of the GCRMN Data Taskforce in 2023 to address the challenges of data management, analysis and integration across the different regions of the world.

20th April 2023 - Australian Institute of Marine Science additional funding will support equipment upgrades and job security

19th July 2021 - Australian Institute of Marine Science data should not impact UNESCO’s decision on the Reef

19th February 2025 - AIMS $42.7 million National Sea Simulator expansion unveiled in Townsville

17th April 2025 - AMCS demands urgent action as Great Barrier Reef faces 6th mass bleaching

19th February 2025 - Governments remains silent as Ningaloo Reef suffers widespread coral bleaching

22nd January 2025 - University of Sydney study reveals catastrophic bleaching of Great Barrier Reef coral

12th April 2024 - New video footage reveals worst coral bleaching ever seen for Greater Barrier Reef

25th March 2022 - Severe coral bleaching revealed on Great Barrier Reef as UNESCO/IUCN considers whether to recommend ‘in danger’ listing

18th March 2022 - Great Barrier Reef suffers another bleaching event ahead of United Nations assessment visit

7th April 2020 - Reef tourism industry and conservationists demand climate action following release of new bleaching survey

5th March 2020 - Great Barrier Reef tourism operators highlight the distressing impacts of coral bleaching

22nd March 2019 - Technology offers remedy to revitalise sun-bleached outdoor seating

8th June 2018 - Coral bleaching leads to fall in domestic tourism to Great Barrier Reef

25th March 2017 - Report suggests Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching could deter one million visitors

14th October 2015 - Tourism industry alarm at global coral reef bleaching

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.