Dr Fiona Fraser
Threatened SpeciesCommissioner, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Government
Fiona will be giving the opening address at the conference, and officially opening it for us.
As the Threatened Species Commissioner Fiona’s role is to lead the implementation of Australia’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 along with other initiatives to recover our most imperilled plants and animals. Using the principles of science, action and partnership, Fiona works with First Nations people, conservation organisations, governments, communities, scientists and the private sector. Fiona has a PhD in threatened species and fire ecology in northern Australia. She has worked for the Australian Government for over a decade playing lead roles in Indigenous caring for country and biodiversity conservation initiatives, international environment policy and emergency preparedness and response. Fiona is supported in her role by a small team that is equally committed to and passionate about threatened species recovery.
Dr Georgia Gerrard.
Zoos Victoria’s General Manager of Animal Welfare and Conservation Ethics
Presentation: “The role of different species in fighting extinction and conservation”
“Zoos Victoria is a zoo-based conservation organisation driven by a bold mission: Fighting Extinction to secure a future rich in wildlife. This session will explore how that mission comes to life- from targeted conservation programs and campaigns, to the purposeful care of animals within our zoos. Join Dr Georgia Garrard as she unpacks the often unseen ways species in Zoos Victoria’s care contribute to biodiversity conservation, and how every zoo visit can become part of something much bigger – delivering on a shared moral responsibility to protect the natural world.“
Georgia is an interdisciplinary conservation scientist who has been working on biodiversity conservation research and policy since 2005. An ecologist by training, her research draw on the fields of conservation science, conservation psychology, strategic communications and decision science to find solutions to complex environmental challenges, particularly those related to engagement of people with nature and conservation of threatened species in cities. At Zoos Victoria, Georgia works with a team of experts to integrate the Zoos’ animal welfare, social science and conservation work, ensuring it is underpinned by science.
Emily McLeod, BSc, MSc
Zoos Victoria’s Senior Social Scientist
Presentation: “Fostering Responsible Wildlife Tourists: understanding welfare knowledge and values to inform communication strategies”
Responsible wildlife tourism seeks to promote experiences that support animal welfare and conservation outcomes. However, less is known about the factors that shape engagement with wildlife tourism. We surveyed 4,690 Australians to explore the cognitive and emotional factors related to animal welfare, identifying four distinct audience segments with varying levels of welfare knowledge, values, and beliefs around captive wildlife tourism. This presentation will discuss the demographics and social profiles, and how these groups differ in their willingness to commit to be a responsible wildlife tourist and seek further information. These insights can inform targeted communication and behaviour change strategies, helping organisations increase engagement in responsible wildlife tourism, and ultimately drive more positive outcomes for people and wildlife.
Emily is a conservation social scientist with an interdisciplinary background in psychology and zoology, holding a Bachelor of Science (Psychology/Psychophysiology), Bachelor of Science (Zoology), and Master of Science (Zoology).. She leads the social science research program at Zoos Victoria and is a doctoral candidate at the University of Queensland. Her research explores how to connect people with wildlife and nature, with the goal of fostering pro-biodiversity behaviours in the broader community. Her current research focuses on a range of topics including cat containment behaviours, drivers of sustainable coffee consumption and human-wildlife co-existence. Emily’s PhD explores the factors influencing wildlife tourism behaviour, with a focus on promoting responsible tourism that supports positive conservation and animal welfare outcomes.
Prof David Newsome
Emeritus Professor, Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth WA
Presentation: “International examples of nature-based tourism operations with positive outcomes for conservation”.
David’s interests focus on nature-based tourism with a particular emphasis on the environmental impacts of recreation and tourism, the sustainability of tourism in national parks and nature reserves, evaluation of the quality of ecotourism operations, geological tourism and wildlife tourism. David is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and Shark Bay World Heritage Advisory Committee. He has a particular interest in undertaking projects that will aid in the development of sustainable tourism in the Asian region. His publications include more than 200 journal articles, book chapters and reports. Substantial contributions include the books Natural Area Tourism: ecology, impacts and management and Wildlife Tourism. David is also co-editor of four books covering tourism where the focus is on geology and landscape.
Also see https://www.sukau.com/conservation-fellow/prof-dr-david-newsome/
David will speak on conservation efforts of ecolodges and tour companies to aid biodiversity conservation, thus fighting extinction.
David (on the left) during the ceremony to initiate both him and WTA chair Ronda Green as Conservation Fellows ar Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Sabah. He is wearing a ceremonial sigal hat made by the Rungus people of northern Sabah. With him is Albert Teo, founder and owner of Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Borneo Eco Tours, a company that takes the “Eco” very seriously.