Professor Pauline Ross holds dual professorships in Marine Ecology and Higher Education, with two PhDs, one in experimental ecology and the other in higher education. Over more than two decades, she has held senior leadership roles in higher education, including Associate Dean (Education), Deputy Head of School at the University of Sydney, and National Teaching Fellow with the former Office for Learning and Teaching. In her current role as Director of Academic Leadership and Innovation, she explores the evolution and resilience of academic roles, with a focus on assessment redesign in response to Artificial Intelligence. As an internationally recognised marine ecologist, Pauline is a leading expert on the resilience of oysters and estuarine invertebrates to climate change. She leads a prominent research group at the University of Sydney investigating transgenerational plasticity and adaptive responses of molluscs—particularly oysters—critical to a $60 million-a-year industry that employs thousands of Australians. Her research also integrates Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK), working in partnership with Indigenous researchers and communities to restore shellfish reefs and advocate for development of sustainable conservation practices grounded in deep cultural and ecological understanding.

Jess Boomer is an education focused academic passionate about delivering learning experiences that are active, authentic, and relevant, equipping students with critical thinking and practical skills for real-world application, while nurturing a passion for learning.

Dr Larissa Braz Sousa is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Sydney and an Associate Lecturer at La Trobe University. She leads the citizen science node of Learning by Doing, specialising in animal biology, science education, and citizen science. Larissa co-founded the Great Southern BioBlitz and serves on the Australian Citizen Science Association.

Dr Anna Hopkins is a research and teaching academic in molecular ecology and conservation biology. She leads the Molecular Ecology and Evolution Group at Edith Cowan University.

I am a dedicated advocate for education, scientific communication, and research, utilising the power of storytelling to make scientific knowledge accessible. I have experience in ecological research, theatre, policy development, community consultation, educational theory and practice, and university and school teaching. As a registered teacher and former lecturer at Griffith University and Queensland University of Technology, I have a deep commitment to fostering learning and understanding. My diverse research interests include the conservation of critically endangered urban forests, recreational use of urban green spaces, forest responses to wildfires, marine dispersal and connectivity, exploring the intersection of art and science, educational outreach, and data synthesis challenges and opportunities. I have represented Australia nationally at the world-renowned science communication competition FameLab, been interviewed by ABC radio's Dr. Ann Jones in her science communication programs 'Offtrack' and 'What the Duck', featured on History Channel's 'Coast Australia' with Professor Tim Flannery, and featured in the 'Back from the Brink' nature documentary series. Currently, I am leading the development of the TERN Australia education strategy and modules, which aims to democratise access to Australia's most comprehensive ecosystem monitoring data through transformative data-driven learning experiences for diverse audiences from primary school students to industry professionals.

Anastasia Shavrova is an Evolutionary Ecologist and Lecturer at UNSW, based in the School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences (BEES) and a member of the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre (EERC). Beyond her research, she is a science communicator focused on making science accessible and engaging. She produces her own podcast Convos with Chordates, writes blogs on succeeding in academia, and has been featured on radio programs including ABC Sydney. Anastasia has also presented at public events such as Splendour in the Grass, Sydney Comedy Festival, and the World Science Festival. She brings these skills into the classroom, using storytelling, podcasting, and multimedia tools to support accessible, interactive learning in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

I am a wildlife ecologist in South Australia, focused on improving the conservation outcomes for reintroduced and threatened species in the region through effective monitoring, management, and research. I completed my PhD in 2021, investigating novel methods for tackling the problem of naiveté in native Australian species. I have been lucky to work with a variety of species across Australia, from crocodiles in the Kimberley to small mammals and reptiles along the post-bushfire east coast of Australia. I am committed to finding the best path forward for species at risk of extinction, with the goal of working myself out of a job; the best future is the one where we don’t even need conservationists anymore.