Emily is a PhD student at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney. Her thesis is investigating how species composition, species abundance and ecosystem function may respond to differing levels of fire severity and historic fire frequency. Her work focuses on the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area which experienced an extreme wildfire event in 2019/2020.

Elliot is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne. Their PhD investigates the transparency and reproducibility of ecological models in applied ecology and conservation decision-making. Elliot seeks to combine data-science techniques with open-science tools to improve the reliability of ecology and conservation science. Other research interests include decision-theory, Structured Decision Making, and plant ecology (especially grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plains). They have an enthusiasm for teaching and skill-sharing, particularly with regard to building a strong community of practice in emerging open-science methodology and computational biology within ecology and conservation.

I'm a PhD fellow in a joint program between the University of Adelaide and the University of Copenhagen, under supervision of Damien Fordham, Carsten Rahbek and Kasper Thorup. My PhD underscores the use of process-based modelling to identify species traits that promote resilience in the face of global change. I study how climate and land-use change have affected European bird populations in the past decades, and how species traits play a role in mediating any changes in the distributions of these birds. In doing so, I aim to untangle the mechanisms underpinning species responses to climate and land-use change and offer perspective on the future of avian persistence under global change.

Belinda Linnegar is a PhD candidate at Griffith University. With a BSc from the University of New England and a Master's in Biodiversity Conservation from Macquarie University, her interest in disease ecology developed during her work as a data analyst. She is broadly interested in zoonotic disease transmission and the role of domestic animals as bridging hosts. Her PhD research focuses on the ecological and behavioural dynamics that drive Hendra virus spillover from flying foxes to domesticated horses.

Brett graduated with first-class honours and a medal from the University of Sydney in 2024 and is now a first-year PhD student, continuing to unravel the pollination of endangered midge orchids (Genoplesium spp.) for successful conservation. His honours’ work in chemical ecology revealed that midge orchid floral odours contain compounds found in insect alarm pheromones. This suggests a kleptomyiophilous strategy where flowers mimic the odours of injured insects to attract kleptoparasitic flies for pollination. Brett now plans to develop and test chemical lures to detect potential grass fly (Diptera: Chloropidae) pollinators, and to also increase our understanding of these pollinators, including their taxonomy, distribution, and abundance, as well as their ecology, such as the location of egg deposition and identification of larval host plants. This research is crucial for managing and protecting threatened midge orchid populations, including the identification of potential translocation sites. Brett has also assisted the University of Sydney’s Desert Ecology Research Group with ecological surveys of flora and fauna in the Simpson Desert, and currently volunteers at the Australian Museum in the Diptera collections. Brett’s broad interests encompass ecology and conservation, plant-pollinator mutualisms, and all aspects of entomology, with a growing focus on Diptera taxonomy and systematics.

Drew is an evolutionary biogeographer, landscape geneticist, and global change ecologist who frequently bemoans his failed careers as a farmer, chef, and footballer. He is from the US, where he completed his PhD in UC Berkeley's Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. His research crosses a wide range of fields, but is united by a passion for using computational and quantitative tools to creatively address imaginative scientific questions and pressing conservation needs. He is a big fan of birds, coffee, hammocks, and the Oxford comma.

Tessa is an early career scientist with a Bachelor of Zoology and an Honours degree focused on the impacts of nest inundation on the endangered Bell’s turtle (Myuchelys bellii). Her research explored how shifting water regimes affect reproductive success, informing conservation strategies for freshwater turtles. With a strong interest in ecology and threatened species recovery, she has experience in fieldwork, data collection, and population monitoring across eastern Australia. Tessa is particularly focused on the conservation of freshwater turtles in dynamic and changing environments.

Harrison kent is a honours student from the University of Adelaide. His interests and research focuses on the herpetofauna of South Australia.

Jaclyn Wilmot is an Honours student in Ecology and Environmental Science at the University of Adelaide. Jaclyn has always held a deep passion for ecology and conservation which laid the foundation for her academic journey and deep interest in plant science. Most recently, Jaclyn completed an internship with Iluka Resources’ Rehabilitation team at the Jacinth-Ambrosia mineral sands mine, where she gained hands-on experience in environmental monitoring and ecosystem restoration. Her Honours research now focuses on Maireana sedifolia, a dominant but low-flowering species posing challenges for post-mining rehabilitation at Jacinth-Ambrosia due to limited seed availability.

Lauren Haylen is a first year PhD candidate at La Trobe University, delving into the intersections between restoration science, microbial and landscape ecology. Lauren is drawn to and passionate about interdisciplinary research as a member of both the Applied and Environmental Microbiology Group, and Research Centre for Future Landscapes. Lauren will be presenting her Honours work which centred around investigating the gut microbiomes of nestling lyrebirds, with a particular focus on successional dynamics. After a successful Honours year, Lauren is being supported by both a RTP and ATSE Elevate Scholarship to continue her work. Lauren is striving towards impact based research that looks at management and ecological theory through a holistic lens.

I am originally from Indonesia and currently pursuing a PhD as a Higher Degree Research student at the School of Agriculture, Environment, and Veterinary within the Faculty of Science and Health, Charles Sturt University, based in Albury. I hold both a bachelor's and a master’s degree in Aquatic Resources Management from Bogor Agricultural University (IPB University), Indonesia. In addition to my academic journey, I work as a lecturer at IPB University.