MG Algal Labs brings together a team with more than 90 years of combined experience in microscopic identification and taxonomy, built through commercial laboratory work with our parent company, MGPalaeo.
technical analyst / director
Carey Hannaford
Carey leads MG Algal Labs’ marine phytoplankton work, with nearly 30 years of experience in microscopic identification and environmental interpretation. Since the onset of South Australia’s harmful algal bloom in 2025, she has run a research monitoring program, regularly sampling multiple bloom-affected sites to track changes in marine phytoplankton communities. She contributes to the award-winning Phytoplankton of South Australia citizen science initiative (recognised at the 2026 South Australian Citizen Science Awards) and participated in the 2026 International Phytoplankton Intercomparison (IPI) exercise. Her long career identifying dinoflagellate cysts, the resting stages of many bloom-forming species, underpins her understanding of harmful algae. Carey holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geology from the University of South Australia, with Honours from the University of Adelaide.
technical analyst / director
Adam Charles
Adam brings more than 20 years of taxonomic and environmental research experience to MG Algal Labs. He leads an ongoing internal research program examining phytoplankton composition, diversity and seasonal variability across freshwater lakes and estuaries in the Perth region, with particular focus on potentially toxic cyanobacteria. His extensive dinoflagellate cyst experience provides a deep taxonomic grounding, and he participated in the 2026 International Phytoplankton Intercomparison (IPI) exercise. Adam holds a PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of Southampton, UK, and has used microfossil analysis of Western Australian borehole samples to characterise aquifer systems.
technical analyst
Jesse Vitacca
Jesse holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science and First Class Honours in zoology and geoscience from Monash University, and has fifteen years’ experience in sample processing, microscopy and taxonomic identification, including extensive dinoflagellate cyst experience. His recent focus has been the identification and analysis of fossil and modern diatoms across commercial and research projects in archaeology and environmental science. Jesse is also involved in MG Algal Labs’ research monitoring program of phytoplankton communities in Perth freshwater lakes and estuaries, and participated in the 2026 International Phytoplankton Intercomparison (IPI) exercise.
managing director
Marty Young
Marty holds a PhD from the Australian National University and has over 25 years of professional experience across industry, government and academic research, including project management and running a commercial laboratory serving clients to agreed deadlines and specifications. His doctoral research examined the distribution and ecology of modern marine dinoflagellate cysts in the eastern Indian Ocean, and he has contributed to numerous international publications on their application to marine environmental interpretation. As Managing Director, he oversees strategy, technical operations and quality management, and is leading the development of MG Algal Labs’ laboratory quality management system in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025.
