Professor Emerita Carmen Lawrence

Senior Honorary Research Fellow, School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia

After training as a research psychologist at the University of Western Australia and lecturing in a number of Australian universities, Dr Lawrence entered politics in 1986, serving at both State and Federal levels for 21 years. She was at various times W.A Minister for Education and Aboriginal affairs and was the first woman Premier and Treasurer of a State government. She shifted to Federal politics in 1994 when she was elected as the Member for Fremantle and was appointed Minister for Health and Human Services and Minister assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women. She has held various portfolios in Opposition, including Indigenous Affairs, Environment, Industry and Innovation and was elected national President of the Labor Party in 2004. She retired from politics in 2007.She was Director of the Centre for the Study of Social Change in the School of Psychological Science at UWA between 2010 and 2018 and is now Professor Emerita in the same School.

Professor Stephen van Leeuwen

BHP/Curtin Indigenous Professor in Biodiversity & Environmental Science, Curtin University

Dr Stephen van Leeuwen is a respected Aboriginal-Noongar leader with a profound respect for Country coupled with an appreciation of contemporary threats impacting biodiversity and the emerging challenges and opportunities presented through evidence-based natural resources and land management.

Dr Stephen van Leeuwen is an astute and knowledgeable executive manager and senior scientist empowered with the interpersonal and organisation skills to combine a broad scientific competency with a commitment to leadership in biological research to protect biodiversity and manage Country.

He embraces innovation and opportunistically engages and builds collaborative relationships with Traditional Owners, other land managers and biodiversity research providers. He seeks to deliver novel and enduring outcomes for nature conservation, Country and community.

Professor Kerrie Wilson

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Sustainability Strategy, Queensland University of Technology

Professor Kerrie Wilson is one of Australia’s leading researchers into the science, strategy and policy of environmental conservation and management. Named the Prime Minister’s Life Scientist of the Year in 2016, she was most recently Executive Director of QUT’s Institute for Future Environments and is a member of QUT’s Centre for the Environment.

‘As the global population continues to grow and the climate becomes hotter and drier, we have the dual challenge of providing food and water security and reversing environmental damage.’

Professor Barry Marshall

Ambassador for Life Sciences, WA State Government

Professor Barry Marshall, Nobel Laureate is the Ambassador for Life Sciences for the WA State Government. He is also Clinical Professor and Brand Ambassador at The University of Western Australia.

Professor Marshall has kindly donated the prize for the most innovative presentation award, which he will present at the Conference Dinner.

Professor Matthew Tonts

Chair, Environmental Protection Authority

Prof. Tonts has extensive professional experience spanning Western Australia’s environmental, regional, higher education and research sectors. Between 2017 and 2020 he was Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of The University of Western Australia’s Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Education. Prior to this he was Head of UWA’s School of Earth and Environment and Director of the Institute for Regional Development.

Dr Mark Harvey

Head, Terrestrial Zoology; Curator of Arachnids & Myriapods, Western Australian Museum

Dr Mark Harvey is an expert in Arachnids & Myriapods, studying creatures like spiders, scorpions and centipedes. He has named over 725 new species, including the Draculoides bramstokeri and Tyrannochthonius rex.

Dr Adam Cross

Research Fellow, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University

Adam is an ecologist with a strong research background and a passion for the natural world. He has authored nearly 60 scientific papers, books and book chapters, and has studied plants and ecosystems on every continent except Antarctica. His current studies focus on the ecological restoration of degraded landscapes, including landscapes disturbed by mining activities with research interests also including carnivorous plants and the drivers of community resilience to environmental change.

Professor Owen Nevin

CEO, The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute

Owen is the CEO of WABSI,  an experienced conservation biologist and research leader.  As a population and behavioural ecologist with more than 20 years’ experience in the conservation and management of large carnivores globally, Owen has extensive experience in senior leadership in higher education and research.

Previous positions include Head of the National School of Forestry (UK), Dean of Graduate Research, and, most recently, Associate Vice-Chancellor at CQUniversity Australia. Much of Owen’s research work has been focused around advancing the conservation of threatened species and their habitats through developing better management and understanding of behaviour and ecosystem function, and human impacts including ecotourism and resource exploitation.

Ms Kerryl Bradshaw

Director of Resources Industry, Microsoft

Kerryl is an experienced senior executive and business leader of over 20 years, who has led multiple significant value creating business transformations within the resources and services industries.

She has been involved in the ongoing digital, cultural, people and economic transformation in mining, oil & gas, infrastructure and agriculture. She is also a consultant to industry within the digital and technology industry.

Dr Nicola Mitchell

Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia

Nicki Mitchell is a conservation biologist and an award-winning tertiary teacher focused on anticipating and mitigating the impacts of climate change on threatened species. She has studied amphibians and reptiles for the past 25 years, in locations as diverse as sub-alpine Tasmania, the Kimberley, Christmas Island and New Zealand.

She now leads an active research group at the University of Western Australia, who integrate skills in physiological ecology, genetics and modelling to aid the conservation of vertebrate species. Nicki has advisory roles in government, and recently co-led research on fauna translocations for the NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub.

Dr Tom Hatton

Adjunct Professor, The University of Western Australia

Dr Hatton holds BSc and MSc degrees from Humboldt State University, and a doctorate from Utah State University. Following post-doctoral studies in mathematics at the UNSW, he enjoyed 25 years with CSIRO as an environmental scientist and executive with national leadership of their water, marine and energy research.

Tom was awarded the CSIRO Chairman’s Medal and the Australian Public Service Medal for his contributions to the management of Australia’s water resources and was made a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering in 2017. He has served on the WA Conservation Commission and as Chair of the WA Marine  Parks Authority.  He chaired the Australian State of the Environment 2011 Committee and served on the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development and the National Sustainability Council.

Tom chaired the 2018 Independent Scientific Panel Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in Western Australia and recently completed long terms on the boards of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research and the WA Parks Foundation. Tom was appointed to the EPA in 2014 and served as its Chairman 2015 -2020.