ESA Gold Medal 2025 – Dr Suzanne Prober Honoured for a Lifetime of Ecological Leadership

The Ecological Society of Australia (ESA) is delighted to announce Dr Suzanne Prober, Senior Principal Research Scientist with CSIRO Environment (Canberra), as the recipient of the 2025 ESA Gold Medal – the Society’s most prestigious award recognising a lifetime of exceptional achievement and contribution to Australian ecology.

The ESA Gold Medal is awarded annually to an ecologist who has made a substantial contribution to ecological science and its application in Australia. For Dr Prober, the award represents both a personal milestone and recognition of the collaborative nature of ecology itself.

“To tell the truth, I’m a bit overwhelmed. So many people I admire have received this medal, including two of my PhD supervisors [Prof Ralph Slatyer and Dr Mike Austin], and to receive it myself is something I never would have imagined.”

Dr Prober emphasised that the honour acknowledges far more than individual research achievement.

“I particularly want to emphasise that the award not only acknowledges my own research and passion for ecology, but reflects the creativity, energy and collegiality of many collaborators who I’ve worked closely with and who have inspired me over many years.”

A respected leader in Australian ecology, Dr Prober’s research with CSIRO Environment spans biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and the integration of Indigenous ecological knowledge and values into landscape management. Her work has helped shape national approaches to ecosystem resilience, climate adaptation, and collaborative conservation science.

Looking ahead, Dr Prober said the ESA Gold Medal will further inspire her to continue fostering collaboration and mentoring the next generation of ecologists.

“The award will motivate me to continue working passionately to generate knowledge and solutions that help us conserve the astonishing biodiversity and beautiful ecosystems of our continent,” she said.

“It will inspire me to continue to grow strong collaborations, mentor emerging ecologists along this challenging but rewarding journey, and to engage more and more with Indigenous knowledge- and rights-holders, as it’s only together that we can make a difference.”

Through her leadership, commitment to inclusion, and long-standing impact across research and policy, Dr Prober exemplifies the purpose and values of the Ecological Society of Australia.

The ESA warmly congratulates Dr Suzanne Prober on receiving the 2025 ESA Gold Medal and thanks her for her enduring contribution to the advancement of ecological science and practice in Australia.