ESA2025 ECE Mentor Booth – Meet the Mentors

(Listed alphabetically, by surname and includes the mentoring session day and time)

Prof Andrew Bennett – Tuesday 25 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Andrew Bennett has wide research interests in landscape ecology, conservation biology and wildlife conservation; and serves on the editorial board of several journals.

Prof Don Driscoll – Monday 24 November – 1.30pm-2.00pm

Don Driscoll is Professor of Terrestrial Ecology at Deakin University. His research in conservation biology and ecology has an emphasis on fire, habitat loss and movement.

Dr Graeme Finlayson – Thursday 27 November – 12.30pm-1.00pm

Dr Graeme Finlayson is Bush Heritage Australia’s Healthy Landscape Manager for South Australia, overseeing three major reserves and a team of land managers and ecologists. With over 20 years’ experience across research, government, and industry, he applies evidence-based conservation to restore ecosystems and support emerging ecologists across Australia’s arid landscapes.

Dr Patt Finnerty – Tuesday 25 November – 12.30pm-1.00pm

Patt Finnerty is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at USYD. Patt’s research spans species reintroduction and ‘rewilding’, sensory ecology and conservation, and understanding carrion / scavenger dynamics.

Dr Caitlyn Forster – Wednesday 26 November – 12.30pm-1.00pm

Dr Caitlyn Forster teaches entomology at USyd. Her research focuses on any invertebrate she happens to like at the time, and is interested in creating outreach activities for diverse communities.

Dr Geoff Heard – Wednesday 26 November – 7.45am-8.15am

Geoff is a Research Fellow at ANU, an Affiliated Researcher at the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science at UQ and Science Advisor for the Threatened Species Index.

Prof Dieter Hochuli – Tuesday 25 November – 7.45am-8.15am

Dieter leads the University of Sydney’s Integrative Ecology group. His research focuses on urban biodiversity, plants, animals, and human–nature interactions, developing evidence-based strategies for conserving wildlife in cities.

Dr Jacinta Humphrey – Thursday 27 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Photo credit – Adam Purcell

Jacinta Humphrey is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at ICON Science, RMIT University. She is interested in urban wildlife, landscape ecology and habitat restoration in cities.

Dr Holly Kirk – Thursday 27 November – 12.30pm-1.00pm

Holly Kirk is a spatial ecologist collaborating with industry and government to integrate ecology into urban planning and design, aspiring to create nature positive cities.

Dr Manuel Lequerica Tamara – Wednesday 26 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Moved from Andean forests to Australian cities in 2013. Focus on urban pollinators but love collaborating across diverse taxa. Advocate for multidisciplinary teamwork and international collaboration. Now teaching-focused.

Dr Sam Lloyd – Tuesday 25 November – 12.30pm-1.00pm

Dr Sam Lloyd is an award-winning Principal Scientist with Healthy Land and Water, educator, and childrens book author. With over 20 years’ experience in ecology, bushfire, entomology, and NRM, she recently published Alight: A Story of Fire and Nature.

A/Prof John Morgan – Thursday 27 November – 8.15am-8.45am

John is a plant ecologist and Co-Chair of the ESA Policy Working Group who is passionate about translating great science into practical outcomes.

Prof Katherine Moseby – Tuesday 25 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Katherine Moseby is a Conservation Biologist with the University of New South Wales who focusses on applied conservation research that can lead to policy change and on ground action. She is interested in ecosystem restoration and rewilding and works mainly in Australia’s arid and semi-arid zones. Her research interests include ecosystem restoration, predator-prey interactions and improving reintroduction success of threatened species. Katherine has co-founded four conservation research partnerships including Arid Recovery and Middleback Alliance in SA, Wild Deserts in NSW, and Tetepare Island in the Solomon Islands. She has previously worked for universities, governments, industry groups and NGOs and has a strong focus on collaboration.

Thomas Munro – Thursday 27 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Thomas is a Principal Project Officer at NSW DCCEEW undertaking a part time PhD in restoration ecology at Federation University with experience leading biodiversity stewardship, conservation management and restoration projects

Dr Heather Neilly – Wednesday 26 November – 12.30pm-1.00pm

Heather is an arid zone restoration ecologist at Federation University, doing applied research under an ARC ECR Industry Fellowship.

Dr Sheryn Pitman – Monday 24 November – 1.30pm-2.00pm

With a multidisciplinary background in both arts and science, and a PhD in Ecological Literacy, Dr Sheryn Pitman works with Green Adelaide in making cities richer with nature.

Prof Euan Ritchie – Monday 24 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Professor Euan Ritchie leads the Applied Ecology and Conservation Research Group at Deakin University, is President of the Australian Mammal Society, a Councillor within the Biodiversity Council, and a passionate and prolific science communicator.

Dr Pep Turner – Wednesday 26 November – 7.45am-8.15am

Perpetua (Pep) Turner is A/Asst.Dir. Bushfire Risk Mitigation Tasmania Fire Service and the president of ESA. Pep’s areas of interest are forest and fire ecology and delivering science to practice for strong biodiversity conservation and land management outcomes.

Dr Lily van Eeden – Wednesday 26 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Lily’s career has spanned the private sector, government, and now academia. These experiences inspired her career transition from ecology to social sciences.

A/Prof Susanna Venn – Wednesday 26 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Susanna investigates high elevation shrub encroachment dynamics, plant recruitment and regeneration, alpine treeline dynamics, long-term vegetation change on alpine summits and how alpine plants will respond to future climates.

Dr Georgia Ward-Fear – Monday 24 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Georgia is a conservation ecologist who works across northern Australia with a range of industry and First nations partners. She is a superstar of STEM, a young Tall Poppy, mother to a 3 year old, and a current Vice President (Science and Applications) of ESA.

Prof David Watson – Tuesday 25 November – 7.45am-8.15am

Dave Watson is Professor Ecology at Charles Sturt University. Research programme spans evolutionary and community ecology, connectivity conservation, wildlife monitoring methods and parasitic plants.

Dr Eamonn Wooster – Tuesday 25 November – 1.00pm-1.30pm

Dr. Eamonn Wooster holds an independent fellowship at Charles Sturt University and was awarded the 2025 Ecological Society of Australia’s “Next Generation Ecologist Award”. He studies predator-prey interactions through time and space.