My interests are in biodiversity conservation and its interface with human societies and needs, with a particular interest in indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights/livelihoods. I have particular current engagement in conservation policy, climate adaptation for nature, frameworks to achieve nature-positive outcomes, and supporting the engagement of traditional custodians in conservation and land management. I currently lead the ACT Office of Nature Conservation, where I lead a team responsible for conservation science, policy and strategic programs, working closely with ACT Parks and Conservation Service, other land custodians, and community, and in collaboration with ANU and other research institutions.

I have previously worked extensively on sustainable use of wild resources, community wildlife management, wildlife trade and its regulation, poaching and wildlife crime, the precautionary principle, and  biodiversity governance and policy generally. I have tended to work across disciplinary and sectoral boundaries, with a history of engaging knowledge from diverse quarters and convening dialogue to address topical issues, and analysing and distilling research findings to inform practice and policy.

I have spent most of my career in international conservation organisations (mainly IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature), with stints in academic roles at UNSW and ANU, in government, and as a consultant (to international organisations, governments and the private sector).

From 2012 until 2019 I led an active program of work for the IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (a joint initiative of IUCN’s SSC and CEESP), a diverse and interdisciplinary expert network of >300. I convened global interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral groups to generate new thinking on topical conservation issues (such as community-based responses to illegal wildlife trade and the use of indigenous and local knowledge in IUCN Red List assessments), led the synthesis of research findings into policy-relevant guidance and briefing papers (such as on the conservation and livelihood impacts of trophy hunting), and carried out research and analysis to inform policy deliberations (for instance on community-based wildlife management for the UN Environment Assembly). A strong focus was supporting the inclusion of indigenous and community voices and perspectives in conservation deliberations, through supporting community leaders to participate in global meetings and debates.

Leadership roles include:

• UN Secretary-General’s Science Advisory Board
• Deputy Chair, Convention on Biological Diversity's Collaborative Partnership on Wildlife
• Advisory Council, Luc Hoffmann Institute
• Biodiversity Advisor, Science and Technical Advisory Panel to the Global Environment Facility.