President
Chapters Coordinator
Contact Officer

Courtney is an ecological researcher for Bush Heritage Australia, working within their national science programme. Her research project explores opportunities to measure the health of woodland bird communities remotely by taking an ecological approach to analysing acoustic data. Courtney is particularly interested in facilitating species monitoring opportunities that enable us to assess the effectiveness of our current management approach and inform future action.

Past-President

Micha is a researcher at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Her research interests are in applied ecology with a focus on waterbirds, wetlands and threatened species. Micha is most interested in achieving improved environmental outcomes through evidence-based research.

Secretary
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer
Contact Officer

Natalie is a researcher at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research in association with Genomics Aotearoa in New Zealand. Her research focuses on using genomic data to inform conservation management for a range of taxa, in partnership with the New Zealand Department of Conservation and Indigenous communities.

Erica is currently a PhD candidate at Queensland University of Technology. Her research analyses the social and environmental impacts of conservation initiatives in private lands, aiming to understand how to foster ongoing engagement and support people involved in conservation.

John is a researcher with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Papua New Guinea program. His research interest is in population ecology and traditional sustainable and conservation management systems. John aims to apply modern scientific knowledge and techniques to enhance the effectiveness of traditional conservation and management systems.

Andrew currently works as a conservation biologist for Pennsylvania State University-Altoona. His research has spanned many topics, but with an emphasis on birds, especially cassowaries, and tropical rainforest ecology, especially in Papua New Guinea. He built a field research station in PNG where he studied cassowaries and expanded to many topics collaborating with his PNG students.  He now lives in Pennsylvania, USA where he also manages an 85-acre property and serves on the board of the Westmoreland Land Trust.

Aimee Sato is a hula dancer who grew up in Wailua, Kauaʻi, and now calls Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu, her place. She graduated with a MS degree in Botany at UH Mānoa, with a focus in biocultural conservation. Aimee works at the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR) in Hawaiʻi to assist in supporting biocultural research and partnerships among federal, state, and community-based entities, all committed to a vision of resilient estuaries and coastal watersheds where human and natural communities thrive.

Laura is a conservation biologist and wildlife researcher based in the Gold Coast and Auckland. She is a keen advocate for educating and inspiring young minds to care for the planet. Currently, Laura is a Visiting Scholar at Griffith University, researching newborn
humpback whale calves occurrence and habitat usage in an area not considered a
breeding ground.

Rebecca works as a consultant for Sea Country Solutions, based in Western Australia. Her current work focuses on providing scientific and policy advice to support the establishment of marine parks and community-led fisheries management in Australia's Indian Ocean Territories.

Rebecca previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher for James Cook University and the Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji Program.

Specialist Director

Shannon is a conservation social scientist and consultant based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. She is largely focused on the importance of intersections within international conservation practice including under-prioritized areas of wildlife crime, gender-sensitive strategies, and innovative M&E approaches for conservation effectiveness. Shannon helped established SCB’s Hawaiʻi Chapter (HISCB) in 2016, which has grown into an active base of members in the Pacific.

Specialist Director

Owen is currently CEO of the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute where he works with researcher, industry, government and conservation practitioners to enhance biodiversity science and conservation outcomes across the state.

Owen has had a long association with Society Conservation Biology having served on the SCB Europe Section Board of Directors from 2003 to 2009. In addition, he served on the SCB Global Board of Directors from 2010 to 2013.

Courtney Melton and Natalie Forsdick are our contact officers.

Contact Officers serve as the first point of contact for any concerns relating to diversity, discrimination, bullying, or harassment. Any individual who has witnessed or believes they have been subject to unacceptable behaviour are encouraged to contact the SCBO Contact Officers by email.