I have long been fascinated by patterns in biological diversity and in the factors that affect it. My work focuses mostly on mammals and other vertebrates, and encompasses wide-ranging projects in applied conservation and management, in particular seeking to understand and manage the impacts of introduced predators and other disturbance factors on native fauna. Lateral thinking and innovation are needed to meet the conservation challenges posed by these threats. This is the promise offered by Thylation, and why I am enthusiastic in support of the Thylation mission.

I am Professor Emeritus in Ecology at the University of Sydney, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. I am the recipient of several national and international awards, including New South Wales Plant and Animal Scientist of the Year in 2010 and an Ecological Society of Australia Gold Medal in 2018.