Marie Louise Heffernan is the Director of Aster Environmental Consultants Limited and a highly experienced environmental scientist with over 30 years of expertise in biodiversity planning, Habitats Directive implementation, and marine conservation. She holds an MSc from Trinity College Dublin, is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), and a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). Marie Louise specialises in conducting Appropriate Assessments, ecological surveys, and environmental impact assessments, with a particular focus on ornithology and marine ecosystems.

Her work spans advising on renewable energy projects, biodiversity action planning, and community engagement to protect natural habitats. She has authored numerous conservation plans, published articles on seabirds and marine habitats, and trained professionals on the Habitats Directive. Marie Louise has served on the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland and actively advocates for sustainable development that safeguards biodiversity.

She is passionate about empowering communities and ensuring ecological integrity in environmental decision-making.