Academic Status
College of Science and Engineering
I was awarded a PhD in ecology with Flinders University SA, in April 2017. Following my PhD, I completed a five month summer season position with the Dept of Conservation NZ, working on the conservation of the critically endangered NZ fairy tern, followed by a year in a Natural Resource Management role in Fiji. Since joining BirdLife Australia in July 2019, I have been involved in bird conservation management, strategy and planning. I also have interests in policy, including incorporating genetics and genomics in the conservation of biodiversity.
PhD (ecology) 2017, Flinders University
Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation 2011 (First Class), Flinders University
Degree of Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation 2010 (GPA 6.94/7.00), Flinders University
Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
Grants
PhD: Lirabenda Endowment Fund Research Grant, Sir Mark Mitchell Research Foundation, Linnean Society of NSW Joyce Vickery Scientific Research Fund, Royal Society of SA Small Research Grants Scheme, Nature Foundation SA Scholarship Grant, Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, Biology Society of SA Field Research Grant, Nature Conservation Society of SA Conservation Biology Grant.
Honours: Nature Foundation SA Scholarship Grant, Sir Mark Mitchell Foundation, Biology Society of SA Field Research Grant
Awards
Invitation to Golden Key International Honour Society 2010
University Medal 2010
The Max Clark Prize in Science & Engineering 2010
The Soroptimist International Southern Districts of Adelaide Prize for High Achieving Women in Science 2010
Chancellor's Letter of Commendation 2009 & 2008
Demonstrated for Flinders University of SA School of Biological Sciences undergraduate topics:
2013, 2014 & 2015
Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity (2702)
2014:
Ecology (field trip, BIOL 2711)
2013:
Human Impacts & Biodiversity (BIOD 2701)
Plant & Algal Diversity (BIOL 3711)
Careers in 3 talk at ScienceAlive2015 as part of National Science Week 2015- see YouTube: "Who's who from poo: Fascinating facts from faeces"
Conference talk - Genetics Society of AustralAsia - Annual Conference 2015 - "Finding a good pair of genes: Do lizards choose mates based on immune gene diversity?"
Poster presentation - Society of Conservation Asia 2014 - "Who's who from poo: a reliable method for deriving lizard DNA from their faeces"
Engagement:
Chair, Communication Committee, Conservation Genetics Working Group, Society of Conservation Biology (Nov 2016 - current)
Student Ambassador, Royal Society of South Australia 2013 - 2015
Volunteer member BirdLife Australia beach nesting birds project (monitoring hooded plovers on Yorke Peninsula, South Australia) 2010 - 2015. Coordinator of BirdLife Australia 2008 Yorke Peninsula, South Australia hooded plover count. Count volunteer for Monitoring Yellow Sea Migrants in Australia program 2008.
Secretary, Biology Society of South Australia 2013 & 2014
Member of Society for Conservation Biology, Genetics Society of Australasia, BirdLife Australia