ACT Scientific Committee

The ACT Scientific Committee is a statutory expert body appointed by the Minister for the Environment under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Members of the ACT Scientific Committee have expertise in biodiversity and/or ecology, conservation science and conservation management.

The Committee has a significant role in advising the Minister for the Environment and the Conservator of Flora and Fauna in relation to nature conservation, including making recommendations to the Minister on the listing of threatened species and providing advice to the Conservator during development of draft action plans.

Committee members

The Scientific Committee was established in 2015 on commencement of the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Committee members are appointed by the Minister on a part-time basis for three-year terms.

Distinguished Professor Arthur Georges is committed to sound fundamental science with a keen interest in its application in natural resource management. He has expertise in conservation biology of native Australian species, particularly the ecology and evolution of Australian reptiles and amphibians including temperature-dependent sex determination.
Associate Professor Mark Lintermans has over 35 years' experience in the ecology and management of freshwater ecosystems. His expertise is in the ecology and the management of aquatic systems, fish, crayfish, waterbirds and wetlands, with an emphasis on threatened fish and crayfish.
Honorary Professor Mark Lonsdale has 40 years' experience as an ecologist, specialising in biodiversity; the application of ecological research to conservation issues; and invasive species.
Dr Janet Gardner is an ornithologist/behavioural ecologist with a 30-year background in field ecology specialising in avian responses to habitat loss and fragmentation. Her recent applied climate research focuses on better understanding responses of Australian birds to climate change.
Dr Frank Ingwersen has strong expertise in botany and plant ecology including the assessment of vegetation in relation to mapping, landscape-scale ecological issues, monitoring disturbance, fire ecology, significance for biodiversity conservation, land-use and cultural aspects.
Dr Linda Neaves has over 10 years' experience in scientific research and integration of scientific data (particularly genetic/genomic information and tools) into conservation management and policy including work as a dedicated knowledge broker between academics, practitioners and policy makers.
Ms Penney Wood has 10 years' experience in scientific research and conservation program and policy management, focusing on sustainable population management and species listings. Ms Wood is currently undertaking Doctorate research into human-wildlife conflict management and participatory community conservation.

Committee members

Annual reports