Threatened Species Commissioner

Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

As the Threatened Species Commissioner Fiona’s role is to lead the implementation of Australia’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 along with other initiatives to recover our most imperilled plants and animals. Using the principles of science, action and partnership, Fiona works with First Nations people, conservation organisations, governments, communities, scientists and the private sector.

Fiona has a PhD in threatened species and fire ecology in northern Australia. She has worked for the Australian Government for over a decade playing lead roles in Indigenous caring for country and biodiversity conservation initiatives, international environment policy and emergency preparedness and response. Fiona is supported in her role by a small team that is equally committed to and passionate about threatened species recovery.

Vice President and Councillor

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Peter is Vice President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as the Regional Councillor for Australia. He currently chairs the boards of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), the Australian Tropical Herbarium and the National Benefit Assessment Committee of the Marine National Facility. He is also a Director of the SIMS Foundation and TierraMar Ltd.

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Peter is a Commissioner with the NSW Natural Resources Commission, a member of the Australian Heritage Council, a member of the External Reference Group on Nature for the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia, and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science University of NSW.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems Laboratory

Deakin University

Dr Chels Marshall is a cultural systems ecologist belonging to Gumbaynggirr Jagun from the Baga Baga/Ngambaa (Northern NSW). Dr Marshall is a Senior Research Fellow in the Deakin University Indigenous Knowledges Systems (IKS) Lab of the NIKIRI Institute, implementing cultural ecological knowledge and First Nations science frameworks to Creating virtual and physical environments for sharing knowledge through art, science and Indigenous metaphysics.  She has extensive experience in environmental science and marine science and management a PhD, traditional knowledge systems and climate change in the Pacific, in International Governance (Australian National University). She holds a Masters in Marine Science and Management at the National Marine Science Centre /University of New England on Spatial Analysis of Indigenous Marine Associations in Gumbaynggirr Nation. Chels also has Degrees in Wildlife Management and Cultural Resource Management.

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Chels has worked as a Protected Area manager within the NSW and Australian Government for 28 years in private land conservation, coastal marine, karst, wildlife management, policy and protection development, operations and co-operative and integrated cultural landscape management.  Over 28 years Chels has also been actively involved locally and nationally in increasing the capacity of Aboriginal people to participate in land & Sea Country management, planning, research and monitoring.  Chels has sat on several ministerial councils that provide advice, analysis and direction to the Australian Government and Fisheries Senior Management regarding policy, legislation and initiatives that affect Aboriginal cultural values, providing advice and analysis on the Ecological and Cultural values of marine and terrestrial estate as it relates to technical, ecological, and cultural engagement of Aboriginal people and associated cultural values and issues 

Chief Executive Officer

North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance

Mr Barry Hunter is the Chief Executive Officer at NAILSMA. Barry is a descendant from the Djabugay speaking people of Cairns hinterland. He grew up besides the Barron River in the rainforest near Kuranda. Barry's experience includes employment in Government conservation agencies, mining and exploration industry, community and not–for-profit NGO’s, and recently as a consultant working around Aboriginal Land management, Carbon Industry and community economic development. Barry has over 30 years experience in Aboriginal affairs in the areas of land, natural and cultural resource management.

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Barry has a Bachelor of Applied Science from Charles Sturt University and a keen interest in the work community rangers do in looking after land, fire management and cultural heritage. Barry also has a real passion for building community capacity and planning that deliver sustainable social, cultural and economic outcomes within our communities. He is the former Chairperson of the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation, and the current Chairperson of Terrain NRM and Woongal Environmental Services. Barry ran a successful consulting business for 10 years, working in areas including Indigenous economic, community and social development, Indigenous land management and cultural heritage, reviews of government funded programs. 

VC Senior Indigenous Research Fellow

University of Wollongong

Dr Jodi Edwards is the Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Indigenous Research Fellow with the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) at the University of Wollongong. This role builds on a distinguished thirty-year career across Australian Federal and State governments, in the fields of Aboriginal and History Education, Employment and Training, and Small Business ownership.

Throughout a career that spans multiple sectors, Jodi has held various positions within Education and TAFE, contributing to policy development, ministerial advice on Aboriginal Education, and programs focused on Social Justice, Employment, Housing, Youth Services, and Marine Science research. Their work is characterised by a deep commitment to both inward-facing and outward-facing functions. Internally, Jodi actively collaborates with colleagues, educators, and professional staff to embed Cultural Ecological Knowledges, competencies, and respect into institutional practices, teaching, and curricula. Externally, they maintain a strong record of influence in shaping legislation and policy at local, state, federal, and international levels.

A dedicated and enthusiastic researcher, Jodi has led a resilient and expeditious research trajectory focused on collaborative, co-designed, and culturally grounded inquiry. They have established meaningful pathways for cross-cultural research, fostering stronger connections between the University of Wollongong, the academic community, and both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.

With demonstrated expertise in research, governance, and teaching, [Name] continues to lead with vision and integrity, promoting culturally responsive methodologies and deepening the impact of Indigenous-led scholarship across disciplines.

Founder and Executive Director

Wildlife Trust of India 

Vivek Menon is a leading wildlife conservationist, environmental commentator, author, and photographer with a passion for elephants and birds. He has trained enforcement staff in more than 50 countries in the prevention of illegal wildlife trade and lectured in more than 30 countries, including addressing parliamentarians in the UK and Australia.   

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Vivek currently serves as a Councillor of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, and Chairperson of its Governance and Consultancy Committee and Asian Elephant Specialist Group. In addition, he serves as the Chairperson of the Amphibian Survival Alliance Global.  In India, Vivek advises the government on natural heritage conservation as a part of several national committees. He has been part of India’s delegations to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).  

Vivek has authored or edited 10 books about wildlife, including the bestselling Indian Mammals: A Field Guide; scores of technical reports; and more than 250 articles in various scientific and popular publications. Vivek helped create five environmental and conservation organisations in India, and he has led the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) for more than 25 years. 

Chief Executive Officer

Zoos Victoria

Dr Jenny Gray is the Chief Executive Officer Zoos Victoria, charged with the operation of the Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Kyabram Fauna Park and Werribee Open Range Zoo.  

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Over the last decade Zoos Victoria has transformed into a Zoo Based Conservation Organisation, committed to fighting extinction and creating a future rich in wildlife. Working closely with 27 critically endangered species and engaging with over 2.8 million visitors and 360,000 members, Zoos Victoria is testing models of optimism and bravery to address threats to species survival and enhancing care of wildlife.  

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Jenny has a wide range of public and private sector experience having worked in transportation, airlines and banking, before moving into the zoo industry in South Africa, then Australia. Jenny has qualifications in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Business Administration and Ethics. Jenny serves on the Board of the Biodiversity Council.

Professor, School of Biosciences

University of Melbourne

Professor Andrew Pask heads the Evo-Devo-Repro group at the University of Melbourne. His research uses comparative mammalian genetics to identify critical and conserved networks driving key processes in development. His comparative genetics work has led to the sequencing of several marsupial genomes, including that of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger. He uses genome wide, cross species comparisons to define regions of the genome targeted by evolution to drive diversity and adaptation.

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Andrew established the Thylacine integrated genetic restoration research lab (TIGRR lab) to examine the possibility of de-extinction for this species as well as develop next-generation tools to help preserve and conserve current threatened and endangered marsupial species. In addition, he recently established the first Australian living cell biobank at Museums Victoria – to preserve current biodiversity. Together this work is focused on providing an integrated framework to preserve, conserve and even restore Australia’s unique biodiversity. 

Global Director, Strategic Partnerships

IUCN Species Survival Commission

Dr Kira Mileham is a science communicator with a focus on collaborative partnerships, human behaviour change and species conservation. Kira specialises in working with diverse global communities to identify shared visions, develop systems and unite action towards a more positive future for wildlife, wild places and people.

As the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC), Kira is globally responsible for strengthening collaborative species conservation efforts of IUCN SSC’s extensive network of 10,000+ scientific experts by connecting them with NGOs, Corporate partners and Government Agencies. Kira holds degrees in Conservation Ecology, Public Relations and a PhD in human behaviour change and impact evaluation from the University of Newcastle, Australia

Director of Conservation

Zoo and Aquarium Association, Australasia

​James Biggs is a conservation practitioner with over two decades of experience supporting the translation of science into action for wildlife conservation. As Director of Conservation and Population Management at the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA), James leads programs that deliver tangible outcomes for species recovery, population sustainability, and biodiversity protection. He also serves as Director of the IUCN SSC Centre for Species Survival Australasia, working with governments, zoos, aquariums, and conservation partners to conduct extinction risk assessments, develop conservation plans and drive action.

James is an advocate for practical, proactive conservation, championing initiatives that integrate in situ and ex situ strategies to support species recovery. Through leadership roles with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and the IUCN Species Survival Commission, and through his role as representative speaker for ZAA at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, James influences policy development and international conservation frameworks, ensuring that real-world conservation action remains a core focus of global strategies.

Dean, School of Science

Western Sydney University & Threatened Species Scientific Committee

Professor Graciela Metternicht is an internationally recognised sustainability and environmental expert. Graciela's career includes roles in academia, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as well as advisory roles with the Global Environment Facility, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and the Australian Academy of Science. This professional transition between academia and government has given her unique expertise in translational research and the science-policy interface related to environmental management and sustainability.

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Graciela's research interests are in the field of environmental geography, with a focus on geospatial technologies and their application in environmental management and policy, such as sustainable land management, land degradation, indicators, ecosystem services, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through her prior professorial appointments at the University of New South Wales, the University of South Australia and Curtin University of Technology, and her ongoing association with the United Nations, she has developed a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities of influencing policy, together with the barriers and enabling conditions that countries confront in policy-making. In collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams, her work has improved national natural resource management databases, informed national and international policy reviews and has contributed to national and international debates on policy instruments for advancing sustainable development. As well as holding numerous professional memberships and advisory roles, Professor Metternicht is an Honorary Fellow of the International Cartographic Association, Fellow of the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute of Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Chief Research Scientist

CSIRO & Threatened Species Scientific Committee

Dr Sheppard is a Chief Research Scientist in CSIRO based in Canberra Australia working on biosecurity and invasive species management. Since 2006 has been a CSIRO Research leader of three different programs on plant, animal and environmental biosecurity and terrestrial biodiversity management. He was Research Director in the CSIRO Health & Biosecurity business unit from 2015-2021. Andy's current primary role is a secondment into the Australian Department Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry as Co-Executive Director of DAFF-CSIRO Catalysing Australia's Biosecurity Initiative after instigating this partnership across both agencies. This $50-$100M Mission launched in early 2024. He is also the non-residential Director of CSIRO’s European Laboratory in Montpellier since 2002.

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Andy serves on a number of boards and advisory committees including the OECD Cooperative Research Programme Governing Board and the Scientific Advisory Body under the Trade and Agriculture Division, the Federal Government National Biosecurity Committee, and the Federal Government Threatened Species Scientific Committee. He is also the IUCN Species Survival Commission Focal Person for the IUCN National Committee (NC) of Australia. He has led a portfolio of research projects in weed and pest and invasive species management based on Australia, South Africa and France. He was elected to the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering in 2019 and International Fellow of the Académie d'Agriculture de France in 2020.

Chief Executive Officer

Living Future Institute of Australia

Laura has a Master’s Degree in Social Ecology and two decades of industry experience working in conservation, sustainability and social justice in Australia and South Africa. A through line for Laura in all her work is sustainability leadership and leverage points in systems. She was recognised for this as one of the 50 Women in Global Sustainability Leadership by Sustainability X Magazine in 2022.

After several years in roles at Taronga Zoo, Macquarie University and the Centre for Sustainability Leadership, Laura is currently the CEO of the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA). LFIA harnesses the built environment as a powerful vehicle to create a world that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.

Director of Welfare, Conservation & Science

Taronga Conservation Society Australia

Andrew is a leading conservationist who has worked in threatened species recovery, translocation, rewilding and restoration programs for more than 15 years and brings a progressive and innovative outlook to traditional conservation.  Much of his career has centred on threatened species recovery, and has evolved to focus on large-scale, ground-up restoration of critically endangered ecological communities, Andrew has experience with a diverse array of Australian fauna and landscapes and is an advisor to a number of national threatened species recovery teams and expert advisory panels.

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Andrew joined Taronga in 2016 where he leads Taronga conservation portfolio consisting of 16 native Threatened Species Recovery Programs, more than 30 international conservation partnerships, 24 multi-disciplinary conservation science research programs, Taronga’s sustainability and animal welfare programs. In his time with Taronga, Andrew has spearheaded the establishment of a 110ha predator-proof Sanctuary at Taronga Western Plains Zoo dedicated to breeding threatened species for reintroduction to protected wild sites, led Taronga’s role in the return of Greater Bilbies to Sturt National Park for the first time in 100 years, and overseen a 200% increase in Taronga’s direct annual conservation investment. Combining his expertise in habitat restoration and threatened species management with a passion for furthering conservation outcomes through innovation, Andrew was the instigator of Taronga Habitat Positive. Taronga Habitat Positive is a new, multimillion dollar venture which will see Taronga rewild critically endangered Box Gum Woodlands across NSW and generate unique and high integrity Australian Carbon Credit Units with multi-layered value and benefits, leading Taronga's decisive, proactive action to contribute to a Nature Positive future as defined by ‘The Nature Positive Initiative’.

Chief Operating Officer

North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance

Erica McCreedy is NAILSMA's Chief Operating Officer, tasked with overseeing the day to day administration and operational functions of the organisation, including working closely with the management team to deliver NAILSMA's 10 year Strategic Plan.​ Erica is a Māori woman from Ngāti Raukawa and Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti tribes from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Erica is a communications and strategy specialist, with 15 years experience working with Indigenous land and sea managers across Australia, and internationally.​

Erica takes a community-led project management approach. She recently led the development of NAILSMA's monitoring and evaluation framework to track how NAILSMA creates positive and sustainable impacts with Indigenous communities and partners, now and into the future. She has extensive experience facilitating and delivering on-ground training workshops and technical support to Indigenous rangers and communities with a particular focus on culturally led education, training, and communications.​​

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Erica joined NAILSMA in 2011 as an I-Tracker Project Officer, leading the development of the land patrol application to support Indigenous land managers to collect information about their country and their land management efforts. She has developed monitoring and evaluation systems, business on country plans and education and training programs during her time at NAILSMA.​ She has also founded a successful consulting business and business mentoring company supporting women of culture to create and grow culturally aligned businesses.​ She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Indigenous Knowledge Systems at Charles Darwin University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and Media Communications from Southern Cross University.

Head, Regenerative Country

WWF Australia

Darren Grover is the Head of Healthy Land and Seascapes at WWF-Australia, where he leads the Species, Oceans, Science, and Impact teams. With nearly two decades of experience in species conservation, environmental impact assessment, Indigenous education, and environmental policy, Darren is a trusted leader in Australian and Asia-Pacific conservation efforts. Darren oversees a geographically dispersed team delivering projects that aim to improve the conservation status of iconic species such as the black-flanked rock-wallaby and Carnaby’s black cockatoo in southwest Australia, the bilby and Gouldian finch in the Kimberley, southern right whales in the Great Australian Bight, and marine turtles along the Great Barrier Reef. These initiatives are grounded in strong partnerships—with universities, government agencies, environmental organisations, local communities, and empowered Indigenous ranger groups.

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Beyond Australia, Darren also leads WWF-Australia’s species and marine conservation efforts in the Asia-Pacific, with a focus on emblematic species like the tiger and snow leopard, and regions such as the Solomon Islands and Borneo.

An ecologist by training, Darren studied at Queensland University of Technology and James Cook University. Passionate about biodiversity and ecosystems, they bring a deep scientific understanding and collaborative approach to every aspect of their work.

When not working, Darren is most at home in the bush, enjoying birdwatching and bushwalking.

Chief Executive Officer

Australian Land Conservation Alliance

Jody is committed to the conservation of land, water and culture at national and international scales. She is a conservation scientist with executive level management experience spanning over two decades. Jody’s career has included academia, non-government and government organisations, with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne, Australia and a PhD from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, UK. 

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Jody is the CEO of the Australian Land Conservation Alliance, and loves the incredible opportunity to bring people together around a common care for our unique land, water and sea. Prior to joining ALCA, Jody was an Executive Manager for Bush Heritage Australia, during which time she oversaw the expansion of Bush Heritage Australia’s Reserves and partnerships, the delivery and expansion of a private land stewardship program on agricultural land and strengthened Indigenous partnerships across Bush Heritage Australia’s portfolios across southeast Australia. Its her two young children that get her out of bed every morning and give her the drive to keep doing what she does – for their future. 

Aboriginal Partnerships Manager

Bush Heritage Australia

Bruce is an Eastern Arrernte / First Nations South East man with ties to Country in the lower South East region (Kingston S.E.) of South Australia and Central Australia. The people of First Nations South East have strong cultural connections to the Boandik, Meintangk and Tanganekald with First Nations South East tribal boundaries from Salt Creek to the Glenelg River bordering South Australia and Victoria. Bruce has Central Australian ties to Country with family connections in Alice Springs, Hermannsburg and Finke regions. He is fortunate to have a mix of “Salt Water” and “Desert” peoples and appreciates and respects the obligations and responsibilities of each.

 With a career spanning Local Government, Aboriginal Affairs, Policy Development, the Arts, Records Management and Information Technology support. Bruce has also worked for Federal Government establishing and supporting Aboriginal Ranger groups in regional and remote Australia, as well as supporting Aboriginal business and economic development, in remote and regional communities across Australia.

 Bruce currently works with Bush Heritage Australia supporting Aboriginal Partnerships both in South Australia and nationally and is a member of the Bush Heritage executive team. He is motivated and inspired to bring community, Government and NGOs together to protect country for our future generations.

Director, Conservation and Restoration Science

NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Laura Babian is the Director, Conservation and Restoration Science in the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, where she leads an applied science team who undertake science and research related to the NSW Koala Strategy, restoration science on public and private land tenures, fire science and fire ecology, cultural science and conservation science. Laura holds qualifications in applied physical geography, environmental horticulture and public administration.

Manager, Threatened Species Unit

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Jess Birrell is the Manager of the Threatened Species Unit at NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, where she leads a team overseeing the design, coordination, and delivery of threatened species initiatives across the NSW National Parks estate. She brings over 17 years of experience to the role, including a decade in the wildlife rehabilitation sector and working as a consultant on international ecotourism and conservation programs before joining NPWS.

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Over the past seven years with NPWS, Jess has contributed to shaping major policy-driven conservation initiatives, including the development of the Threatened Species Framework for Zero Extinctions and the declaration of important threatened species habitat as Assets of Intergenerational Significance under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. She has an academic background in biodiversity and conservation and is passionate about fostering collaboration to deliver strategic solutions that support threatened species conservation and enhance biodiversity outcomes in NSW.

Director

Biodiversity Council

James is an experienced leader, change maker and policy professional whose career has focused on developing and championing solutions to some of the major challenges facing nature in Australia. He has worked in the environmental advocacy and policy space for over 15 years, with roles spanning both the not-for-profit and public sectors. 

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Prior to joining the Biodiversity Council James worked as Conservation Director at the Invasive Species Council, leading the organisation’s conservation programs and campaigns, including its work to safeguard Australia’s unique alpine areas from invasive species. Prior to this he worked at the Australian Conservation Foundation and played an integral role in the campaign to strengthen Australia’s national biodiversity laws and has been closely involved in advocacy efforts to develop the global biodiversity framework. James has also held regulatory and policy roles within the federal environment department. James currently sits on the Research and Conservation Committee for Birdlife Australia and has tertiary qualifications in business and environmental management. He has previously served on the boards of the Australian Committee for IUCN and the ACT Conservation Council. James is a keen bushwalker and nature lover who lives and works on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people in Canberra

Chief Executive Officer

Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network

Claire O’Rourke is an author, environmentalist and advocate, with two decades working in journalism, communications and campaigns across Australia and around the world. Claire helps others take action on the multiple crises facing people and planet through her role as CEO at AEGN. Her first book, Together We Can, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2022.

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Claire is currently the CEO of the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN). Her previous roles include Australia Director and Energy Transformation Program Co-Director at The Sunrise Project and National Director of Solar Citizens, a community-led renewable energy advocacy organisation. A former journalist, Claire has extensive experience advocating for social impact, including driving communications for the Every Australian Counts campaign for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and as a senior leader at Amnesty International Australia, where she led the Major Gifts area, including oversight of Amnesty’s 2020 Council. 

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Claire takes a systems change view of the climate and biodiversity crises, and is laser-focused on harnessing the people power to ensure we restore nature and halt the expansion of polluting projects and industries. Claire is deeply committed to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Pasifika peoples and all Australians who are on the front lines of climate impacts. Claire has a particular interest in ensuring that Australian communities see tangible benefits as the necessary transition of our economy and society gathers pace. 

Chief Scientist & Director Science, Education and Conservation

Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Professor Brett Summerell AM – is currently Chief Scientist and Director Science, Education and Conservation at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney where he has worked for 36 years. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Kansas State University, USA and at the University of Sydney and a Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He has a PhD from the University of Sydney.

In addition to this, he advocates for plant conservation and represents the Gardens in national and international forums. He also maintains a research interest in plant diseases and microfungi and has published over 160 refereed papers and books in this area. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society and the American Phytopathological Society, a member of the International Advisory Council for Botanic Gardens Conservation International and held a Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Agriculture and Life Sciences at Kansas State University in 2018.

ACIUCN Chair and Director, International Environment

Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water

Fleur leads the International Environment Section in the International Environment, Reef and Oceans Division of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Fleur has previously worked as a qualified lawyer in private practice from 2001-2008. After completing a Master of Environmental Law in 2010 she joined the former Department of Environment and has worked primarily across the environment and water portfolio areas for the past twelve years.

Fleur is currently the Commonwealth Government Board member for the Australian Committee for the International Union for Conservation of Nature.  In 2021, she led the government’s engagement in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s World Conservation Congress, was the National Convenor for the UN Food Systems Summit and was a delegate to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Conference.  She also leads the government’s engagement with the United Nations Environment Programme and will be part of the delegation to the United Nations Environment Assembly in February 2024. Her section also leads on other cross-cutting international environmental organisations and processes, including the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the G20 Environment track, and the OECD Environment working groups

School of the Environment

University of Queensland

Professor James Watson has spent over two decades involved with conservation planning efforts around the world, including Australia, working with conservation NGOs, governments and industry to try and get the best outcomes for biodiversity. He is currently a senior technical expert on spatial planning for the United Nations Development Program’s Global Programme on Nature for Development. James is passionate about understanding the impacts of climate change and he founded the International Union of Nature Conservation’s Climate Change Specialist Group in 2012 and was chair of this specialist group between 2012-2018. He was also a founding member of the IUCN’s offset policy Task Force (in 2010) and recently served on the United Nation’s International Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Data and Knowledge Task Force. James has published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers on conservation related matters, often with a focus on spatial planning. He sits on scientific advisory committees of BirdLife Australia and is deputy chair of the Queensland government’s Landscape Restoration Fund. He was previously a member of Bush Heritage Australia’s science advisory board. He is a passionate birdwatcher and has 8 PhD students working on the conservation of Australia’s rarest birds.

Sydney Environment Institute

University of Sydney

Professor Carolyn Hogg is a conservation biologist who has been working with threatened species for over thirty years both in Australia and overseas. She is the Professor of Biodiversity & Conservation, the Deputy Director of the Sydney Environment Institute, The University of Sydney and is the Science Lead for the National Threatened Species Initiative. TSI is a program generating genomic resources for Australia’s threatened species.

For the past 15 years, Professor Hogg has been working closely with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program in how genomic technology can aid conservation efforts for this threatened marsupial. Building on the success of this work, Professor Hogg and her team have developed novel methods for improving the genetic management of a suite of threatened species across Australia. Through partnerships with both her academic and conservation colleagues she has developed better tools and technologies to integrate molecular genetics into real-time conservation management actions, particularly translocations.

Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Deakin University

​Euan Ritchie is a Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin University. He completed his PhD in 2007 on the ecology and conservation of the Antilopine Wallaroo. His research is cross-disciplinary and focuses on broad but interconnected themes including factors that limit the distribution and abundance of species and those that are responsible for biogeographic patterns of species diversity; and the ecology and conservation of Australia's native mammals.

In answering these questions Euan spans a diverse range of fields of study including behavioural, community and evolutionary-ecology, conservation biology, landscape ecology and wildlife management. His aim is to better understand species' niches and their ecologies, species interactions, and ecosystem dynamics, and in turn, use this information to inform more effective conservation, policy and management of biodiversity. He is also dedicated to science communication and public outreach

Chief Value Officer

Value Australia

Rayne has a background in corporate finance and is a globally recognised pioneer in corporate sustainability and natural capital reporting. As a former CFO for Forico, Tasmania's largest private forest manager, Rayne helped to transform corporate decision-making to incorporate the cost of externalities and the value of natural capital. She witnessed the signing of the Global Biodiversity Framework in Montreal and presented the world’s first Integrated TCFD & TNFD Disclosure for Forico at Climate Week at the global launch of the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures in September 2023. More recently, Rayne has just returned from the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Centre where she was invited to participate in a global convening on How to put Nature on Balance Sheets.

From March 2025, Rayne will lead Value Australia, a regional Capitals Coalition hub for Australia focused on encouraging market confidence and supporting capacity building in Natural and Social Capital Valuation and Reporting.  The hub will build on global and regional momentum that accelerates decision-making by business, finance and policy on all capitals by mobilising the influential network into a collaborative space to shape the regional impact economy of the future

Head of the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience

Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Maurizio Rossetto is the Head of the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Driven by his passion for understanding the distribution and assembly of plant species, Maurizio is dedicated to protecting the unique biodiversity found in Australia. Maurizio's educational background includes a degree in Biology with Honours, a Masters in Biotechnology, and a PhD in Conservation Biology. Throughout his career, he has been recognised for his contributions and takes great pride in supporting and mentoring a growing team of diverse and brilliant young scientists. His initial focus as a zoologist shifted to plant DNA research when he discovered its significance in understanding species movement and responses to the environment. 

Chief Executive Officer

Trust for Nature

Corinne Proske is the Chief Executive Officer of Trust for Nature, one of Australia’s oldest conservation organisations, with unique powers enshrined in legislation to protect Victoria’s natural wonder forever, help meet biodiversity targets locally and globally, and to mitigate the effects of climate change. For over 50 years, Trust for Nature has worked alongside Victorians to create a future where native plants and animals can be valued, protected and thriving.

Corinne has a Masters in Environmental Science and a passion for conservation, sustainability and nature which has dominated her personal life and aspects of her career. Corinne has worked across the NGO, government and commercial sectors. She is passionate about ensuring nonfinancial value is understood and included in how we do business and has a background in impact investing, microfinance and social procurement. Corinne has a passion for making a difference with her people leadership, advocacy and strategic marketing skills and she has a deep and long-standing commitment to nature - getting out and about as much as possible to camp, run and (tentatively) surf.

Manager of Nature and Biodiversity

Bank Australia

Dr Bram Mason GAICD is the Manager of Nature and Biodiversity at Bank Australia. With over 30 years of experience in the environmental sector, including senior roles in government and non-profit organizations, and a Ph.D. in ecological repair, his career has been defined by a deep and enduring commitment to conservation and sustainability. At Bank Australia, he leads the stewardship of conservation reserves and guides strategic initiatives such as the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures. He also designs nature-impact lending opportunities, drawing on extensive experience in nature-based business development.

Throughout his career, Bram has chaired national threatened species recovery teams, advised on the restoration of at-risk ecosystems, and led programs addressing the complex dynamics of wildlife-human interactions. These roles have enabled him to work closely with scientists, Traditional Owners, and policymakers to shape effective, collaborative approaches to biodiversity protection and species recovery across Australia. 

His understanding of nature is grounded in a deep respect for Culture and Country. As a Non-Executive Director at Black Duck Foods Ltd, he contributes leadership experience in the NGO sector to support Indigenous food sovereignty and ecological restoration. This work is guided by traditional knowledge, cultural insight, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach to today’s environmental challenges.
 

Senior Director

ACT Government Environment Directorate | Office of Nature Conservation

​Rosie Cooney leads the Office of Nature Conservation in the ACT Government, responsible for nature conservation science, policy and strategic planning. Her background is as an ecologist and biodiversity policy specialist, with extensive international and national experience spanning the conservation science/policy interface. She has worked both in academia (ANU and UNSW) and for leading international NGOs, including IUCN and WWF International.

Chief Scientist

Bush Heritage Australia

Associate Professor Hedley Grantham holds a joint position as Chief Scientist at Bush Heritage Australia and as an academic within the Centre for Ecosystem Science at UNSW. Part of this role includes being the Director (Research and Conservation) at Fowlers Gap Research Station in western NSW.

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Hedley obtained his Ph.D at the University of Queensland (UQ) on conservation planning in dynamic systems. After a joint post-doctoral fellowship with UQ and The Nature Conservancy focussed on supporting the systematic planning and zoning of a Marine Protected Area network in Raja Ampat Indonesia, he managed to work for international conservation NGOs, Conservation International and Wildlife Conservation Society. He has led conservation planning programs and projects in marine and terrestrial areas across 30+ countries over the past 15 years.

Ecologist and Project Coordinator

WWF Australia

Dr Emma Spencer is a project coordinator and ecologist with WWF-Australia, where she leads initiatives focused on innovative and inclusive approaches to wildlife monitoring. Since 2021, she has coordinated the Eyes on Recovery project, using camera traps and Artificial Intelligence to track the impacts of the 2019–20 bushfires on Australian fauna, and played a key role in launching Eyes on Country, a national program supporting culturally inclusive conservation technologies.​

Emma’s research interests centre on applied ecological monitoring and the development of novel tools to support both conservation outcomes and social good. She completed her PhD at The University of Sydney, studying the necrobiome with the Global Ecology Lab and also conducted research on predator–prey dynamics in the Simpson Desert with the Desert Ecology Research Group.

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Emma will be presenting alongside Mr Ian Yuke and Ms Timmahna Williams of the Minyumai Rangers.

Senior Rangers

The Minyumai Rangers

Ian Yuke and Timmahna Williams are proud Peoples of the Bandjalang Clan of the Bundjalung Nation and members of the Minyumai Rangers, a team dedicated to caring for Country and revitalising cultural heritage. The Rangers are based on Minyumai Indigenous Protected Area (“Minyumai”, meaning “main camp” in Bundjalung language), on Bundjalung Country, South of Evan’s Head in Northern NSW. The Minyumai Rangers are actively involved in cultural burns and pest species management, conservation of culturally important species like Ngugum (Dingo) and Boorubee (Koala) and waterway surveys, and Bundjalung language and cultural revitalisation and mapping. Their work strengthens community connection to Country, and they are passionate about sharing knowledge and inspiring younger generations through school partnerships and on-Country education.

Founder and Director

Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney

Daniel Ramp is the Founder and Director of the Centre for Compassionate Conservation at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he is an Associate Professor in the Transdisciplinary School. He leads the development of research, teaching, and public outreach in the centre, where the goal is to stimulate innovation, novel research, and conservation practices that make the lives of wildlife better. Dan conducts scientific research on human-wildlife interactions, wildlife trade, conservation practice, and wild animal welfare, while also collaborating widely with other disciplines.

He has led multiple ARC and CRC projects, working with government and industry to engage in evidenced-based policy transformation that promote multispecies coexistence and sustainability, particularly in production landscapes. He has published over 160 journal articles and book chapters and received over $12M in competitive funding. He was a founding member of THINKK – the think tank on kangaroos, is a Director of Voiceless, and a founding member of the Society for Compassionate Conservation.

Director of Conservation Science and Programs

ACT Government Environment Directorate

​Renee is the current Director of Conservation Science and Programs in the Office of Nature Conservation, ACT Government, where she leads a team of specialised ecologists to conserve and recover biodiversity in the ACT. Her background is in terrestrial ecology, spanning a variety species and ecosystems, with an emphasis on threatened species management and recovery.

Renee has held previous positions in academia, state and federal government, as well as experience working internationally on the renown Kluane Project. She is a current member of the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra.

Chief Executive Officer

Invasive Species Council

Jack Gough is an experienced campaigner, policy analyst and environmental advocate who is passionate about the intersection between agriculture and conservation. Jack is alarmed about the loss of biodiversity across Australia and believes that harnessing the commitment and knowledge of those who live and work on the land is essential to meet our conservation challenges, particularly when it comes to invasive species.

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Jack previously worked as the National Pastoral Conservation Manager for the Pew Charitable Trusts, leading negotiation and advocacy on law reform, policy development and funding for conservation on pastoral and other private land. He was the policy and government relations lead for the NSW Nature Conservation Council and for many years worked in the NSW Parliament as a senior advisor to a number of cross-bench MPs, focussed on natural resource management issues including environment, agriculture, water, biosecurity, forestry and mining reform. Prior to this, Jack was a livestock and biosecurity policy advisor for the NSW Farmers Association. Jack works on the land of the Dharawal people.

Insect Conservation Lab

Western Sydney University

Kate is the Principal Investigator of the Insect Conservation Lab at Western Sydney University based on the Hawkesbury campus (Marrengorra Land, Darug Country), a current Australian Research Council Industry Mid-Career Fellow and former DECRA Fellow. She is the founding Managing Director of Invertebrates Australia, an environmental charity focused on improving management and conservation outcomes for invertebrates.

Kate is currently a councillor on the Biodiversity Council, a member of the Australian Entomology Society's Conservation Committee, the co-chair of the IUCN grasshopper group and a former member of the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee. Kate was named in the 2017 Superstars of STEM cohort and has served on several scientific societies, she is a past President of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour, and was on their board for 12 years.

Professor, School of Science

Western Sydney University

Professor Ricky Spencer is a conservation biologist at Western Sydney University and a national leader in community-driven conservation. He heads the award-winning 1 Million Turtles program, which empowers citizen scientists, schools, and local councils to protect Australia’s freshwater turtle populations through hands-on engagement and data-driven action.

With a background in population ecology, environmental education, and science communication, Ricky has pioneered the use of innovative tools such as TurtleSAT to crowdsource ecological data at scale, transforming community participation into measurable conservation outcomes. His work has shaped national conservation policy, wetland restoration projects underpinned Nature Repair Market Initiatives, and inspired thousands of Australians to become active stewards of biodiversity. At the Symposium, Ricky will share insights into how community engagement is not just a complementary strategy but an essential pillar of modern species recovery and ecological resilience.

Chief Executive Officer

Centre for Invasive Species Solutions

Shauna Chadlowe is the Chief Executive at the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS). She brings extensive commercial, legal and entrepreneurial experience to the Centre. She joins after nearly two decades with Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), most recently on the Executive Team as Chief Conservation Alliance Officer. AWC is one of Australia’s largest private (non-profit) conservation organisations, operating across millions of hectares of iconic Australian landscapes. Among Shauna’s achievements at AWC was negotiating an historic agreement among key partners and landholders to protect critically endangered Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats. She also led AWC's national fundraising, philanthropy, marketing and communications programs for many years. Prior to joining the environmental sector, Shauna practised law and worked in the commercial conference industry. 

Shauna is passionate about Australia’s biodiversity and the role of science in improving biodiversity outcomes. Her leadership is characterised by positive transformations and motivating teams while emphasising the importance of philanthropy, community engagement, education and making a positive impact.

Founder & Advisor

Ziranjiti + Pollination

​An ecologist by training Guy brings over 20 years’ working in the field of business and biodiversity. Guy has held global roles at some of the largest consulting and advisory firms, as well as being an integral part in the development of many nature-related frameworks and standards such as the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures and the Science-Based Targets Initiative.

Guy's work in nature finance has involved the development of emerging nature credit frameworks, including co-authoring the high integrity principles for the UNDP-led biodiversity credit alliance. Guy possesses a deep interest in primate conservation science, and the use of digital media and community-led storytelling to support effective conservation strategies.

National Campaigns Director

The Wilderness Society

Amelia has spent her life exploring Victoria's vast stretches of forest with her family, and the last two decades working with the Wilderness Society to protect them from logging and woodchipping. From boardrooms to parliaments and from logging coupes to courts, as Victoria Campaigns Manager, she’s been a tireless advocate for science to inform policy, for business and governments to lead, and for the need to collaborate with communities.

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Amelia has developed visionary proposals that put people at the heart of forest ecosystems and negotiated hard for these ideas to become reality. After years of considered, dedicated campaigning, Amelia helped secure the Victorian Government’s announcement to ban the logging of old-growth forests. Her extensive experience working on solutions that secure good outcomes for communities and safeguard ecosystems and the habitat of rare forest animals like the greater glider and the Leadbeater’s possum, made her an ideal appointment to the position of National Campaigns Director in 2020. She is now working with campaigners, organisers, volunteers and supporters to deliver the Wilderness Society’s national campaign strategy at what is a critical time for the environment in Australia.

Manager of Restoration Programs

Taronga Conservation Society

Christopher has spent the last decade delivering nature-based solutions across Australia. This includes designing carbon farming and biodiversity offset projects that fit with primary production, as well as setting up funded long-term monitoring programs and working with First Nations People.  Christopher has been heavily involved in the rapid development of environmental markets in Australia. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science and is an accredited assessor under the NSW Biodiversity Offset Scheme. He is also an accredited expert under the Accounting for Nature Framework, including authoring the first national vegetation condition assessment method accredited under the framework.  

National Translocation Program Coordinator

Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Dr Jennifer Anson has a PhD in ecology and extensive experience in ecological monitoring, conservation programs, and research. She currently coordinates Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s (AWC) national reintroduction program, overseeing efforts to restore over 20 species of threatened mammals across a network of 10 safe havens throughout Australia. AWC’s large-scale reintroduction initiatives has resulted in the establishment of secure population of critically endangered species and metapopulations of threatened mammals that builds resilience in these species.
 
Jennifer brings extensive expertise in the development, implementation, and management of mammal translocations, with a particular focus on improving reintroduction success and advancing post-release monitoring strategies. Her work plays a role in shaping national conservation efforts through strategic collaborations with government agencies, Indigenous communities and other conservation organisations to improve outcomes for Australia’s most vulnerable species.

Postdoctoral Researcher

School of Geosciences, University of Sydney

Dr Mitchell Gibbs is a proud Dunghutti man through kinship, and Lecturer and Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Sydney in the Schools of Geosciences. From Indigenous traditional owners and knowledge holders, he learns about our environments and ways to manage those environments using shellfish-associated practices handed down through oral and lived histories and putting this into practice with Habitat restoration work with the Gamay Rangers and the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Manager of Population Development and Welfare 

Taronga Conservation Society

Claire joined the Taronga team in 2016. She is responsible for strategically planning Taronga’s animal population and promoting positive animal welfare outcomes at both Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Claire has a background in small population management, focusing on genetic and demographic management in zoo populations as well as conservation planning incorporating less intensively managed populations and wild populations. In Claire’s previous role managing the Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Australasian Species Management Program, she worked with many zoos within Australia and internationally to facilitate zoo conservation breeding programs. 

Manager, Biodiversity and Ecology

Minderoo Foundation

Matthew Fraser is a Manager of Biodiversity and Ecology in the Natural Ecosystems team at the Minderoo Foundation. With a background in marine ecology and the conservation of coastal marine ecosystems, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role.

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His current work is focused on integrating environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches into conservation decision-making processes. Matt is passionate about empowering local stakeholders to utilize eDNA methods to maximize management outcomes, ensuring that conservation efforts are both effective and sustainable. Additionally, he is a strong advocate for policy support that embraces innovative and adaptive strategies for marine conservation, aiming to protect and preserve our oceans for future generations. Matt has also been a member of the Blue Nature Alliance Science and Knowledge Team since 2023, helping provide scientific direction in the push towards achieving 30 x 30 in our oceans. 

Relationships Manager

BioDiversity Legacy

Abi has a Masters in Biodiversity Management and over 15 years of experience working in the environmental not-for-profit sector in the UK, East Africa and Australia. Her background is in socio-ecological research, community-based natural resources management, ecological restoration and landscape restoration planning.

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Prior to arriving in Australia in 2019, Abi spent seven years providing technical support and expertise to facilitate the establishment, monitoring and management of a network of over 20 community-managed forest reserves (covering >2,500 km2) in Tanzania. 

In Australia, Abi spent four years working as Regional Manager for a joint ecological restoration and environmental training and employment charity based in eastern Victoria. Currently, Abi is working as Relationships Manager for Biodiversity Legacy, a not-for-profit pioneering a novel approach to protecting land by facilitating the establishment and transfer of title into community-governed non-profit ownership structures for long-term conservation.

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Abi’s work has focussed on protecting and stewarding environments that allow our species and ecosystems to thrive. She is passionate about cross-sector collaboration and in combining robust scientific research with practical on-ground interventions to enhance biodiversity outcomes.
 

Postdoctoral Researcher

UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science

Dr Tom Le Breton is a plant and fire ecologist with an interest in threatened species assessment and conservation. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW. He completed his PhD in 2023 on how fire regimes are changing at scales ranging from local to global and understanding the consequences for plant species and vegetation.

Additionally, Tom has worked extensively and published on threatened species risk assessment This has included leading the national assessment of 260 plant species impacted by the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires. He is co-chair of the recently established Australia Plant Specialist Group which is working to advance plant conservation in collaboration with researchers, government, Traditional Owners and practitioners across the country. In his current role Tom is focussing on applying a developing framework for fire management of ecological communities to case studies in Threatened Ecological Communities.

Technical Specialist, Impact

Greening Australia

Zoe Birnie is a Technical Specialist in the Impact team at Greening Australia who is passionate about Australia’s landscapes and the importance of working with First Nations Peoples to improve environmental and social outcomes. Zoe holds a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) and Master of Environment and Sustainability and joined Greening Australia in 2019. Since then, she has contributed to a wide range of ecological restoration projects with a focus on research and development, climate adaptation and threatened species recovery.

In her current role, she is focussed on embedding impact-centred approaches to effectively design, measure, and evaluate the impact of ecological restoration activities – ensuring benefits for biodiversity and community groups. She is also an Accredited Expert in native vegetation and fauna under the Accounting for Nature Framework.

Outside of Greening Australia, Zoe is a volunteer Director of a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation charity, where she provides care to orphaned wombat and kangaroo joeys in the nursery. In her free time, Zoe enjoys bushwalking with her dogs.

Senior Ecologist

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust

Dr Mason Crane is a senior ecologist with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT), Murray Riverina Region. His role with the BCT largely involves monitoring the ecological condition of existing private land conservation agreements and assessing newly proposed agreements. Mason also plays an integral role in shaping future investments in private land conservation agreements in the region, through his involvement in developing Conservation Tenders to target specific conservation assets. Previous tenders have been aimed at Plains Wanderer Conservation and Restoring and protecting threatened woodland communities in the Murray catchment.

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Before his employment with the BCT, for two decades, Mason was a Senior Researcher with the Fenner School of Environment and Society at The Australian National University. The research focused on biodiversity conservation in production landscapes, particularly agricultural landscapes, contributing to over 50 research publications on the topic. During this time Mason completed a PhD on the conservation of squirrel gliders in agricultural landscapes. Aside from his scientific and biodiversity conservation activities, Mason together with his wife run a meat sheep enterprise near Gundagai and enjoys a close connection to the rural communities of the region.

Research Scientist, Malacology

Australian Museum

Dr Isabel Hyman specialises in the systematics, phylogenetics and conservation of land snails. Her work has included taxonomic revisions of many of Australia’s endemic species. She has a particular interest in the conservation of land snails on oceanic islands, working closely with land managers and other research and industry partners on Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island.

Isabel is a Research Scientist based at the Australian Museum and holds the position of Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University. She is a member of the IUCN SSC Mollusc Specialist Group and the IUCN SSC Australia Species Specialist Group, and is a Council member of the Malacological Society of Australasia.

Manager, Policy and Species Recovery

Birdlife Australia

Andrew is Manager Policy and Species Recovery at BirdLife Australia, leading the Recovery Action Coordination Program—an ambitious national effort to lift the effectiveness and visibility of threatened bird recovery. Funded by the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species initiative, the program supports threatened bird Recovery Teams through best-practice governance, capacity uplift and training, and strategic coordination.

With over seven years of experience in conservation campaigning and policy, Andrew is driving systems-level change to ensure recovery efforts are well-resourced, collaborative, and accountable. He is a 2022 BirdLife International Graeme Gibson Fellow and brings a strong commitment to community-led, outcomes-focused conservation.

Founder

Lonely Conservationists

Starting out as a terrestrial ecologist and environmental educator, Jessie Panazzolo considers herself to be one of the world's first conservationist conservationists. In 2019, she founded the global community, Lonely Conservationists, a pioneering platform that provides resources, advocacy, and a voice to budding and burnt-out environmentalists. 

Advocating for the need to provide care to members of a caring industry, Jessie's book and podcast "How to Conserve Conservationists" is used as a resource in international universities, and she works with global organisations to help their staff, students, and volunteers care for each other and themselves. When Jessie isn't working on her plight to care for conservationists, she is working her day job coordinating programs and community initiatives for women and non-binary individuals with a STEMM background. 

Conservation Coordinator (Protection)

The Nature Conservancy

Rich started his professional journey in the Kimberley region, WA, learning the importance of landscape-scale conservation. Rich also spent 6 months in Central Kalimantan (Borneo) working to help return Orangutans and Sun Bears back to the wild. He later found a niche, for a while, in feral cat management. This included nationwide research and led to work in Island conservation. He developed the first Threatened Species Plan for Millowl (Phillip Island) and developed a community-based feral cat management program for Mulgumpin (Moreton Island).

He has since coordinated many large-scale projects with a strong emphasis on community and stakeholder engagement. Understanding the importance of connecting with nature during the pandemic, he even found himself coordinating the inaugural state-wide virtual Victorian Nature Festival. Rich proudly joined The Nature Conservancy in 2023 as a Conservation Coordinator and is helping work towards the 30 x 30 mission to protect 90 million hectares across Australia.

Manager, Invasive Species Unit

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Peta has worked in conservation and land management with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) since graduating with an honours degree in environmental science and ecology in the 1990s. She has a strong foundation in operational management and much of her work has focused on managing threats to conservation assets, including fire, pathogens and invasive species. She currently leads state-wide strategy, coordination and support for NPWS invasive species programs where she has led the development of NPWS feral animal and weed management strategies. The strategies outline the strategic, risk-based, outcome focused approach NPWS takes to invasive species management, that coupled with improved data management, works towards demonstrating outcomes at all levels.

Peta holds qualifications in environmental science, ecology, environmental law, government management, bushfire and incident management, and workplace training and assessment.

Research Analyst

Bloomberg NEF

Alexander is a research analyst with BloombergNEF's Food, Agriculture and Nature team. Alexander's research explores the techno-economics of agricultural transition and leads long-term crop and livestock scenario analysis. Prior to BloombergNEF, Alexander worked in the crop protection industry.

Alexander holds a BSc Hons from Newcastle University in Zoology and a Master of Finance from the University of Otago.