Jackie holds an Honours degree in Environmental Science from the University of Canberra. In her thesis, she looked at the habitat selection of brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) in the absence of introduced predators. Jackie received First Class Honours and a University Medal for outstanding academic achievement.

Previously Jackie has worked on several large-scale water resource management projects both nationally and internationally with Land and Water, CSIRO. She continues to work part-time while completing her PhD studies.

Under the supervision of Professor David Lindenmayer, Dr Claire Foster, Dr Damian Michael and Daniel Florance, Jackie’s PhD project looks at quantifying the ecological role of surface rocks on reptile conservation in agricultural landscapes. This project aims to experimentally test the response of reptiles to rock addition and grazing exclusion treatments in agricultural areas of NSW. The project findings will have broad application value, informing government regulations on surface rock removal and management, national offset strategies for limiting the loss of rock habitats, sustainable farming practices and future ecological restoration programs.