Principal Hydrogeologist | Director & Founder

David Jackson

Strategic environmental advice at the intersection of science and decision-making. Helping organisations navigate complex groundwater, contamination, and remediation challenges.

David Jackson
CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist IAH Member ACLCA Member EIANZ Member 20+ Years Experience

About

Clear thinking for complex groundwater and environmental problems

I work on complex groundwater and environmental challenges where technical uncertainty, real-world constraints, and human considerations intersect.

My approach is grounded in rigorous analysis and careful interpretation of evidence, with a strong awareness of context regulatory, environmental, and social. I focus on clarity: helping decision-makers understand what is known, what is uncertain, and what those uncertainties mean in practice.

I value careful thinking over quick answers, and considered judgment over unnecessary complexity.

Background

What shapes my approach

I grew up close to nature, spending much of my early life on my grandparents' farm. Seeing how natural systems shaped and commanded the environment left a lasting impression — particularly the way land and water quietly set the boundaries within which people make decisions.

Through my work in groundwater and environmental science, I've come to see my role as a bridge between complex science and regulation, and the value-based outcomes people are ultimately trying to achieve. Environmental problems are rarely just technical. They sit between competing priorities, uncertainty, and real consequences, and they need to be approached with balance and pragmatism.

That philosophy shows up in how I work day to day. I place a strong emphasis on kind interfaces, clear communication, and pragmatic advice helping clients and project teams navigate complexity without losing sight of what actually matters. I care about the quality of the work and the people on both sides of it: those making decisions, and those delivering the work.

Professional journey

I began my career as a graduate environmental scientist at WSP, where I developed a strong technical foundation across groundwater, contamination, and environmental assessment. Over time, I moved into senior and leadership roles, working on increasingly complex projects and supporting multidisciplinary teams.

More recently, I co-founded Reditus, where I helped shape and grow an independent environmental consultancy focused on technically rigorous, pragmatic advice. That experience deepened my appreciation for proportionate responses, clear thinking, and the importance of professional judgment particularly when working under uncertainty and real-world constraints.

Today, I work independently, supporting clients with complex groundwater and environmental challenges. I bring together technical depth, practical experience, and a considered, human approach to advice.

I'm most comfortable working on problems that are complex, uncertain, or contested where careful thinking and respectful engagement matter as much as technical skill.

Expertise

Technical Specialisations

Groundwater & Hydrogeology

Numerical modelling, impact assessment, aquifer characterisation, and dewatering management for complex subsurface environments.

Contaminated Land Assessment

Detailed site investigations, high-resolution characterisation, and human health and ecological risk assessment.

PFAS Investigation & Remediation

Assessment, fate and transport modelling, remediation design, and litigation support for PFAS-impacted sites.

Expert Witness Services

Expert evidence in NSW Land and Environment Court, Supreme Courts, and VCAT. Experience in hydrogeology, contamination, and environmental matters.

Remediation Strategy & Design

Options assessment, remediation action plans, construction quality assurance, and long-term management strategies.

Environmental Due Diligence

Rapid assessment and strategic advice for property transactions, informing risk and guiding commercial decisions.

Selected Projects

Experience Across Sectors

Remediation

Former Corrimal Coke Works - Site Rezoning & Remediation

Project Director overseeing the rezoning of a former coke works for residential land use, including site-wide detailed site investigation and development of a dewatering management strategy for drained basement construction.

Strategic Advice Land Remediation Site Investigation
Litigation

Major Airport PFAS Litigation

Expert groundwater modeller providing evidence on the source, nature, and degree of PFAS impacts in Supreme Court proceedings involving a major Australian airport and Commonwealth agency.

Expert Witness PFAS
Expert Witness

Quarry Dewatering Dispute - NSW Land & Environment Court

Hydrogeological expert witness for proceedings involving a limestone quarry. Completed groundwater impact assessment and 3D numerical modelling (MODFLOW) to demonstrate dewatering impacts on surrounding aquifers.

MODFLOW LEC Class 1
Government

Town Centre Rezoning - Site Investigation & Management

Project Director for detailed site investigation of a town centre to facilitate rezoning for mixed-use development. Scope included characterisation of a DNAPL groundwater plume, soil gas and indoor air assessment, with strategic resource recovery and remediation advice.

Council Site Investigation Contaminated Land

Additional experience across aviation, government departments, waste management, and state significant developments.

Advisory Services

Strategic Guidance for Complex Challenges

I provide technically rigorous groundwater and environmental advice to support complex decisions.

My work focuses on clarity and proportion — helping clients understand what is known, what is uncertain, and what that means in practice. Advice is grounded in sound science, professional judgment, and an awareness of real-world constraints.

Beyond project delivery, I offer strategic advisory services to executives, boards, and fellow consultants seeking expert perspective on environmental matters.

Executive Consultation

One-on-one strategic advice for CEOs and decision-makers facing complex environmental challenges.

Technical Peer Review

Independent review and guidance for consultants on complex hydrogeological and contamination matters.

Speaking & Workshops

Presentations on technical topics, leadership, and consulting excellence for teams and conferences.

How I work

  • Technically rigorous, evidence-based analysis
  • Balanced and pragmatic advice under uncertainty
  • Kind interfaces and clear communication
  • Respect for people, place, and consequence

Book a Consultation

Schedule a conversation to discuss your environmental challenge or advisory needs.

Get in Touch

Booking calendar coming soon. For now, please reach out via email.

Beyond Work

Grounded in What Matters

Outside of consulting, I'm a husband and father of two young children. My family keeps me grounded and reminds me why the work of environmental restoration matters. We're not just cleaning up contamination, we're protecting the places where future generations will live and play.

I spend as much time as possible outdoors - hiking, surfing, climbing, camping. There's something clarifying about being in nature that sharpens both thinking and perspective.

I'm a quiet advocate for men's mental health and for a version of masculinity grounded in compassion rather than competition. I believe that how we treat the environment and how we treat each other are inseparable.

Organisations I support:

David Jackson outdoors

Contact

Let's Talk

If you're facing a complex environmental or groundwater challenge and want technically rigorous advice, delivered with care and considered judgment, I'd welcome a conversation.

Based in Sydney, Australia. Available for projects nationally.