IUCN CCC Climate and Nature Thematic Group

A conservation specialist with extensive experience at the interface of primary forest research, biodiversity protection, and climate policy. Through the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society, contributions are made to an international research program on primary forests led by Griffith University, working with global scientific leaders to deepen understanding of forest ecosystem dynamics and the role of ecosystem integrity and stability in climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and biodiversity outcomes. Professional focus is centered on the nexus between biodiversity and climate change and its relevance to international policy arenas, including the UNFCCC, CBD, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Significant voluntary leadership roles include serving as Chair of Gondwanalink Ltd (GLL) and as a Board member of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative (GER). These large scale connectivity conservation programs deliver integrated outcomes for climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and biodiversity protection and restoration. Their work is grounded in long-standing partnerships with local landholders, Indigenous communities, and regional stakeholders, embodying a community driven model of landscape restoration and ecological resilience.

GLL represents Australia’s first major connectivity conservation initiative, spanning approximately 1,000 kilometers across the south coast of Western Australia and engaging multiple local and Indigenous communities in the restoration and protection of critical ecosystems. GER covers the entire eastern seaboard of Australia, linking biodiversity hotspots and landscapes that are home to the majority of the nation’s population. Both initiatives are widely recognized for advancing ecological connectivity as a foundation for climate and biodiversity resilience.

Further governance roles include membership on the Board of the U.S.-based Partnership for Policy Integrity, contributing to global understanding of the adverse climate and biodiversity impacts associated with burning wood for power. Additional contributions are made through the steering committee of IntAct, an international science-based initiative focused on improving the outlook for the world’s primary forests, and through Board membership with Wilderness Australia. These roles reinforce a commitment to advancing evidence-based approaches to primary forest protection and high-integrity climate and biodiversity policy.

A former President of the Australian Committee for IUCN, ongoing support is provided to the Union through participation in the IUCN Task Force on Primary Forests Including Intact Forest Landscapes and membership in the World Commission on Protected Areas Climate Change Specialist Group. Experience also includes supporting Indigenous and local communities in navigating IUCN and World Heritage processes to strengthen protections for natural World Heritage Sites in Australia and Canada. Recent private-sector experience includes serving as Managing Director of Forests Alive Pty Ltd, an Australian company assisting landowners in developing projects that generate financial returns from the carbon value of protecting natural forests for their climate and biodiversity benefits.