Martin has over 15 year's experience in research and consultancy covering many aspects of coral biology, coral reef ecology and coastal management, and has worked extensively in SE Asia, Caribbean and the Middle East. He was a NERC Post-doctoral fellow at the University of Reading before returning to Newcastle for further post-doctoral projects funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Department For International Development (DFID). Environmental services have been provided to projects worldwide, including the UK, Egypt, Asia (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkmenistan) as well as the Caribbean (Barbados, US Virgin Islands). Clients have included the EU (e.g. TACIS) and the UK Government (e.g. Department for International Development, Environment Agency), the United Nations as well as a range of commercial companies

Recently, Martin has been project manager for a number of capacity and capability building projects for Integrated Coastal Management to the Governmental and non-Governmental sectors in India and Bangladesh. He was lead Editor for the writing of "A manual for Integrated Coastal Management capacity development" funded by DFID. Work on coral reefs has included ecology and impacts of natural and anthropogenic disturbances (e.g. climate change, hurricanes and storms, ship groundings, coral disease).

In addition to the scientific services provided above Martin has experience as a professional trainer and has a track record in the development of novel approaches to enhancing the effectiveness of work related learning. He teaches on the MSc in Tropical Coastal Management at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and has a particular interest in the application of sciences to coastal management issues and development of training and capacity-building.