Cosmos Archaeology collaborates with the following network of heritage professionals, academics and scientists, to ensure our clients receive industry-leading advice and technical results.

Milly Bendell is an archaeologist who has worked on significant terrestrial and underwater projects across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Norfolk Island and within Asia. Her expertise includes site survey and planning, and archival recording of archaeological sites and artefacts. She is also highly proficient in archival research and report writing. She holds a Bachelor of Business from James Cook University, a Graduate Certificate in Archaeology and Maritime Archaeology, and a Graduate Diploma in Maritime Archaeology from Flinders University.

Dr. Kurt Bennett is a cultural heritage specialist with extensive experience in land and marine archaeology. He provides expert assessments, conducts surveys and investigations, and guides clients through complex regulatory processes to ensure the successful completion of their projects. From local families to large international corporations, Kurt’s work is focused on delivering tailored solutions that respect heritage values while meeting development goals. His career spans New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific, and beyond, where he has contributed to preserving diverse cultural landscapes and uncovering stories embedded in both land and underwater environments. Kurt is deeply committed to advancing underwater cultural heritage in Australasia, regularly publishing academic articles and advocating for its protection and awareness.

Dr. Ian D. Goodwin is the founder of ClimaLab and principal scientist, following a 40-year career in climate, marine and earth science, as university academic and researcher, government researcher and private consultant. He is a specialist in marine climatology, paleoclimatology, coastal oceanography, glaciology and coastal-marine geology. His multi-disciplinary approach has enabled him to develop ‘cross-over’ scientific thinking that makes the link between modern processes and historical studies to understand the natural variability of the climate system and the marine environment. Ian has been at the forefront of the development of Quantitative Paleoclimatology, wind and wave climatology, decadal–scale coastal processes and coastal evolution.

Dr. Fiona Hook is an archaeologist and cultural heritage expert with over 30 years of experience in cultural heritage management, archaeological consulting, and community engagement. Her PhD research explored 50,000 years of Aboriginal marine adaptations on Barrow Island, contributing to the global understanding of human responses to climate change. Fiona is deeply involved in Australia’s professional archaeological community, having served as President of both the Australian Archaeological Association and the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists. Fiona continues to shape industry standards and mentor the next generation of archaeologists as an Honorary Research Fellow at UWA and a Research Associate for the Desert People Project.

Dr. Vikki Lowe is a paleoceanographer, whose current research focuses on reconstructing past Southern Ocean water masses and sea ice conditions using the fossil remains of radiolarians. This research is of particular importance as the Southern Ocean plays an important role in global climate due to the exchange of CO2 between the ocean and the atmosphere. Vikki is currently undertaking a mini-postdoc at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), at the University of Tasmania, characterising the changes in radiolarian assemblages in the Southern Ocean using paleo-genomics. She has also started a post-doctoral position at Bordeaux University, working on diatoms and biomarkers, focusing on terminations, particularly at MIS 11.

Connor McBrian is a maritime archaeologist who has conducted archaeological excavations in both terrestrial and underwater settings and is adept at historical and archival research as well as report writing. During his employment as both a historical and maritime archaeologist, Connor has worked for State and Federal agencies in the USA, as well as in Bermuda, Barbados and Vietnam. He has further practice and training in artefact recording, artefact conservation, site survey/planning, database management, and GIS software. Connor has assisted in the preparation of archival photographic recordings and maritime archaeological management plans. Connor holds an ADAS Occupational SSBA diver to 30m (Part Two), as well as an AAUS Scientific Diver certification, Advanced Open Water (PADI) and Rescue Diver (SDI).

Dr. Phil O’Brien is a research geologist, specialising in Antarctic geology, formerly of Geoscience Australia. He was an Adjunct Senior Researcher at the University of Tasmania (Oceans and Cryosphere) with interests in palaeontology, sedimentology and glaciology. Phil is a highly published researcher, who is currently an honorary associate at Macquarie University, working in the fields of marine geology, geological mapping and quaternary geology. Phil’s expertise in geomorphology ensures industry-leading technical results for projects involving submerged terrestrial archaeology.

Dr. Mick O’Leary is a marine geoscientist whose research focuses on palaeosea level studies and coastal geomorphology. Mick has broadened his research interests to include the field of submerged landscape archaeology and First Nations underwater cultural heritage to address knowledge gaps in deep history such as early human migrations, and the role of climate in the peopling of Australia. These broad research areas cross discipline boundaries but centre on a central theme of climate change, coastal evolution, and human behaviour spanning deep time, the present day and projections into the future. He is currently an Associate Professor in climate geoscience at the University of Western Australia.

Neville Rosengren is a geoscientist and geomorphologist with experience in teaching, research and consultancy. He has particular expertise in geology, geomorphology and environmental history of the Victorian coastline and wider landscape. Neville has been the senior geomorphologist on recent and on-going projects assessing coastal changes on the Victorian coast at Marengo-Mounts Bay, Apollo Bay, Great Ocean Road, Bellarine Peninsula, Port Phillip, Western Port, South Gippsland, Gippsland Lakes, and Ninety Mile Beach. He has also provided his expertise for an assessment of potential submerged landscapes in Bass Strait.

Fiona Weaver is a consulting archaeologist based in Victoria, specialising in Aboriginal, historical and maritime archaeology. Her firm undertakes projects involving both Aboriginal cultural material and historical archaeological sites. She has demonstrated expertise in research and field survey, sub-surface testing and excavation, artefact analysis and report preparation.

Dr. John Webb is a geomorphologist, hydrogeochemist, hydrogeologist and geologist who has worked extensively in academia and consultancy. John regularly provides geomorphological expertise as a consultant to archaeological investigations throughout Victoria. His interests include the interaction between landscape evolution and human settlement; and he has worked on the geomorphology of archaeological sites in Australia, China, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia, and looked in detail at the influence of coastal and volcanic processes and neotectonics on settlement patterns.

Caroline Wilby is a senior archaeologist with a wide range of experience in Aboriginal and historical cultural heritage investigation and management, and has worked on various maritime projects as a non-diving archaeologist and as acting Underwater Cultural Heritage Practitioner for the NT.  Her skills include archaeological survey, excavation, recording, and reporting, stakeholder consultation and liaison, archival research and predictive modelling, preparation of archaeological and cultural heritage assessments, heritage impact mitigation and management plans, heritage legislation interpretation and compliance advice, and post-excavation analysis and specialist reporting (including faunal, lithics, military, and aircraft wrecks).