Baker Consultants Limited has made a significant move to expand our in-house capability in marine ecology with appointment of Dr Anna McGregor and Federica Pace. As well as being marine biologists Anna and Federica both bring new skills and expertise to our established bio-acoustic team.

Federica graduated in Marine Biology from St Andrews University then completed an MSc in applied digital signal processing at Southampton University Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR). She then went on to research the automatic classification of Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song at the ISVR under Dr Paul White and is currently in the final stages of writing up. In addition to her research Federica has experience of noise pollution in the marine environment and the impacts upon marine mammals and fish species.

Anna is an expert in marine mammals. Her PhD thesis at Duke University, North Carolina investigated the energetics of locomotion in North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis). Earlier in her career Anna was awarded an MPhil from St Andrews University where she studied the vocal signatures of resident killer whales (Orcinus orca).

Both Anna and Federica have a wealth of field-work experience gained in the UK and internationally and allow us to offer a greatly enhanced marine ecology service.

Andrew Baker said of the appointments; “Expanding our marine ecology capabilities was the next logical step for the company. Many of our existing clients are active in the marine environment and we are now able to offer an integrated service of both terrestrial and marine service. In addition, Anna and Federica are a major boost to our bio-acoustics team and we can now offer a combined serviced of marine bio-acoustic and noise monitoring”.