Julia Jasonsmith
Environmental Chemist and Director
Dr Julia Jasonsmith (BSc, BAppSc Hons, PhD, CEnvP) is an environmental chemist, specialising in the assessment and management of pollution, contaminated land, waste streams, soil, water, compost, and biosolids. With two decades of consulting, research, and project management experience, Julia combines robust technical expertise with a strategic, policy-aware approach to environmental problem-solving.
Julia has delivered major advice to government agencies such as the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW), NSW EPA, and EPA Victoria, driving regulatory improvements and risk assessment processes for high-concern chemicals and sustainable waste management. She excels at synthesising complex environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, and soil science to provide actionable guidance on contaminant behaviour, risk, and remediation strategies.
Her work has ranged from national reviews of Schedule 6 & 7 chemicals and informing standards for compost and soil conditioners, to providing expert witness testimony in environmental impact hearings and delivering cradle-to-grave solutions for industry waste stewardship. Julia is renowned for her ability to bridge scientific research with regulatory outcomes and stakeholder engagement, ensuring clients achieve compliance and best practice in challenging environments.
Julia holds a PhD in Earth Sciences (Australian National University), Honours in Environmental Chemistry (University of Canberra), and is a Certified Environmental Practitioner. As convener of the multidisciplinary course “Pollution in Practice” at ANU’s Fenner School of Environment and Society, she leads students in understanding contemporary pollution issues, regulation, and solutions through real-world, applied projects and fieldwork. Julia also serves as an honorary lecturer and research supervisor at ANU, and has received awards including ACT Young Water Professional of the Year (2016). She is deeply committed to making high-quality scientific knowledge accessible and actionable for those managing pressing environmental challenges, both in public policy and private industry
Akter, S., Hulugalle, N.R., Jasonsmith, J. and Strong, C.L. (2023). Changes in soil microbial communities after exposure to neonicotinoids: A systematic review. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 15(6), pp.431–444.
Jasonsmith, J.F., Liu, X., Strong, C., Wang, X., He, C., & Leys, J.F. (2021). Dust from rural Australia as a potential source of persistent organic pollutants to the Southern Hemisphere. Australian Bulletin of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Chemistry, 7, pp. 1–16.
Jasonsmith, J.F., Macdonald, B.C.T., & White, I. (2017) Earth tide induced fluctuations in the salinity of an inland river, New South Wales, Australia: a short-term study. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment,189 (4), p. 188