I have lived and worked on environmental projects on Kangaroo Island for many years, as well as spending some years working in the arid ranges of northern South Australia. I have been involved with the Glossy Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program since the mid 1990s, and I currently chair the SA Glossy Black-Cockatoo Recovery Team. I had the opportunity, through my work with the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, to manage the GBC Recovery Program immediately following the devastating 2019-20 bushfires, re-kindling my long term interest in the ‘Glossies’ and leading to my decision to undertake this research. My research focusses on glossy black-cockatoo foraging and nesting response to the fires, as well as exploring the genetics of the population on Kangaroo Island. I am currently in the 4th year of my PhD which I am undertaking part time.

Tom Hurley grew up in the Adelaide Hills where he developed a keen interest in Australian avifauna. He has spent the last 16 years working in Zoos and Wildlife Parks both locally and interstate. Currently, Tom manages the Native Fauna department at Monarto Safari Park, developing and overseeing threatened species breed-for-release programs, collaborating with a wide range of government and NGO conservation partners, and coordinating long-term regional management for ex-situ populations of native species. Since 2015 Tom has been involved in the ex-situ husbandry trials for Mallee Emu-wren, a long-term, multi-jurisdictional conservation program supported by the Threatened Mallee Bird Steering Committee. Tom has been responsible for many aspects of this program including the design and construction of purpose-built aviaries, surrogate species trials with Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, trialling novel marking and monitoring techniques for the species in the wild, and the development of husbandry methods and procedures. Throughout his career, Tom has remained passionate about how innovative ex-situ management techniques can be used to support the conservation of Australian threatened species.

My name is Pher, I have a bachelors degree in Animal Behaviour and have done a honours degree focussing on sea snakes. Since 2021, I have been undertaking my Masters degree at Central Queensland University, investigating how temporal cycles influence the predation habits of fish within subtropical intertidal areas.

Meg completed an Honours research project on Long-nosed Potoroo population and movement ecology in 2019. She has since enjoyed working with a diverse array of native species in her role as a Research Assistant with Zoos Victoria's Wildlife Conservation and Science team, before being drawn back in by Long-nosed Potoroo to continue her research as a PhD candidate at Deakin University. Meg's research examines changes in long-nosed potoroo ecology as predation pressure by feral cats is reduced on French Island. Through extensive trapping surveys, GPS tracking and habitat analysis, her research aims to quantify potoroo habitat use and understand how cats affect potoroo populations and behaviours (spatially and temporally). Investigating the persistence of a threatened mammal species alongside of one of the world’s most ubiquitous invasive predators has broad applicability across threatened species (prey) conservation. Meg's research can be applied in habitat management contexts, exploring novel methods that may have high conservation return for critical weight range mammals, particularly in situations where feral predator eradication is infeasible.

Dr Lucy Clive, PhD, is a Project Officer for Nature Foundation. Lucy is a conservation ecologist specialising in threatened species management and habitat restoration on a number of nature reserves across South Australia. After completing her PhD examining the risks associated with pygmy bluetongue lizard movements at Nature Foundations Tiliqua nature reserve, Lucy is using her specialised skillset to establish new robust population monitoring methods to generate a regional species estimate and detect the onset of declines in those populations. As part of this work, this year Lucy was senior author on the manuscript 'Power and the passion: assessing statistical power with simulations to optimise monitoring of a threatened lizard.' Having been a member of the pygmy bluetongue recovery team for four years, Lucy has spent that time actively working with institutions such as Flinders University and Northern & Yorke Landscape Board to identify and address knowledge gaps, progressing conservation efforts of this endangered species.

Tessa has just completed her honours at the University of Adelaide with the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) as well as the Global Change Ecology & Conservation Lab. She works with historic sedimentary environmental DNA and developing quantitative PCR assays for a range of Australian mammals, in particular the endangered numbat. Prior to doing ecology research, Tessa graduated from a Bachelor of Science majoring in physics. After completing a summer research scholarship working with freshwater aquatic invertebrates, she pivoted to pursuing a career in conservation. She has since spent time out in the field at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Newhaven sanctuary in the Northern Territory, gaining valuable experience with sediment and data collection and GPS navigation. She is also an active committee member and Honours representative for the School of Biological Sciences Postgraduate Association (SoBSPA) as well as a member of the Biological Society of South Australia (BSSA). In her spare time, she enjoys cycling, language learning and hiking.

Alex Nankivell is the Chief Executive Officer of Nature Foundation, a role he assumed in 2022 after joining the organisation in 2008. His career began as Bushbank Conservation Officer, followed by leadership roles in conservation and science programs. With a background in environmental management and project leadership—holding a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Project Management—Alex brings strategic vision and hands-on expertise to biodiversity conservation. Alex is a passionate conservationist and avid birdwatcher, currently pursuing a PhD focused on the behavioural ecology of Wedge-tailed Eagles at Witchelina Nature Reserve. His work reflects a deep commitment to preserving Australia’s unique ecosystems through science-led, sustainable land management.