Andrew C. Stewart

A Highly Experienced Curator of Fishes, taxonomist and award-winning science communicator. Sought after for identification services to the Seafood Industry, CRIs and the public sector; public speaker, writer and editor. Taxonomy (identification) of Fishes: Able to identify and work with a wide range of taxa from the most primitive to the most evolved; across a broad geographic range including New Zealand, Southern Ocean (Antarctica) and Pacific. Editing and writing: Co-author and co-editor of The Fishes of New Zealand; author 58 papers and five reports over the last ten years; referee for scientific papers, proof-reader a 1,000 page book manuscript and wrote letters of support to funding agencies to secure publication monies. Relationships and networking: Developed and strengthened work with allied organisations (DoC, MPI, NIWA, and Universities etc.), Industry and the Public sectors; impacting commercial and by-catch species. Preservation and Curation: Knowledgeable about techniques, H & S, best practice, etc. for specimens in the Spirit Collection Area (ca. 200 tonnes of alcohol). Communication: Skilled public speaker, media liaison, taking complex information and presenting this to a broad audience in ways that makes it accessible & understood. • Grew the Fishes collection by over 450% (+13,000 lots to +62,200 lots). • Developed the Fishes DNA tissue collection (+10,000 lots) • Oversaw the development and building of the new world class alcohol collection storage facility considered the best in the world by our peers internationally; developed and designed unique solutions to formalin and alcohol preservatives, and collection management work in that space. • Principal contact person for the media for information on fishes at the Museum. • Principal writer and editor for the 2,000 page The Fishes of New Zealand (wrote, or co-authored over 50% of the publication; 47 family chapters, 211 pages as sole author; 37 family chapters, 277 pages as senior author and 46 family chapters, 334 pages as co-author). • Author/co-author 56 published peer-reviewed papers and 21 internal reports (list available on request). • Taxonomic and identification skills used in writing, amending and illustrating a book of diagnostic keys (published 1989).