Abi Smith
Chief executive officer
Founder, Abi Smith (she/her) is a fauna ecologist who has over twenty years experience in threatened species recovery, animal husbandry and wildlife management.
Abi has worked for federal and state government, not-for-profit organisations as well as zoos and museums. In these positions she has managed large teams of environmental professionals, developed recovery strategies, undertook ecological research and managed large scale habitat rehabilitation projects. Abi has expertise in faunal ecology including ornithology and herpetology, with a special interest in island conservation and
translocation ecology. Abi holds a Masters of Environment, Bachelor of Science in Ecology, a Diploma of Leadership and Management and a Diploma of Governance for not-for-profits.
Dr. Christine Allen
Senior THreatened flora Ecologist (advisor)
Christine (She/her) is flora ecologist with a background in managing complex projects combining conservation, land management and community engagement. Christine completed a PhD in threatened flora translocations in the Stirling Range National Park, South-west Western Australia in 2014.
Since then, she has worked for the Western Australian Government as a threatened flora officer in the Wheatbelt with a jurisdiction equivalent to the size of Turkey.
Christine also worked with not-for-profit Greening Australia in Perth and ACT, where she managed large-scale land revegetation programs in collaboration with landholders, community, local and state Governments. Christine enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for the natural world with all walks of life and finding solutions to benefit people and biodiversity.
Dr. Matt West
Senior THreatened Species Ecologist (Fauna)
Matt West (He/him) is a fauna ecologist with extensive experience in threatened species management that includes wildlife population monitoring, conservation translocations, recovery planning, and breeding of species for captive conservation programs.
Matt gained this experience as an academic researcher, as a zookeeper and zoo researcher, as a private wildlife consultant and by assisting environmental not-for-profit organizations.
Whilst broadly interested in all taxa and particularly native Australian vertebrates, Matt's has dedicated most of his career to understanding and preventing the decline of threatened amphibians. He is an advocate for strengthening relationships with communities and Traditional Owners in recognition that effective partnerships with these groups and other stakeholders are crucial for conservation success.
Currently Matt works part-time for the Threatened Species Conservancy, and maintains an academic research role at the University of Melbourne. Matt holds qualifications in Zookeeping, a Bachelor of Science, Masters of Reproductive Science and a PhD in Amphibian Ecology.
Georgie Custance
THREATENED SPECIES ECOLOGIST (Flora and fauna)
Georgie (She/her) is an experienced ecologist with a passion for biodiversity and conservation. Having worked in the not-for-profit conservation sector with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, she loves getting out in the natural world birdwatching and being hands-on in the field.
Georgie has broad experience in a diversity of areas such as wildlife translocations, bioacoustics, flora and fauna surveys, research and data management. She has worked across several locations in Australia from tropical Christmas Island and the north-west Kimberley to the semi-arid mallee of NSW and the wet forests of the southern Otways, where she currently resides.
Georgie enjoys sharing her passion and excitement for ecology to help people appreciate the intricacies of biodiversity. She hopes by encouraging others to experience the beauty of the natural world, our communities will feel a greater connection and responsibility to conserve the environment.
Molly Fisher
Graduate botanist
Molly (She/her) is in her final year of a Bachelor of Science at Monash University, majoring in Ecology and Conservation Biology and Plant Biology. Molly began volunteering with TSC in 2022 and has undertaken our internship program.
Throughout her internship, Molly has been involved in coastal butterfly surveys, community engagement and applying for grants to support future projects. Molly is especially interested in Australian native plants and the intimate connections they form with the land and other species.
She is passionate about improving her plant identification skills and expanding her knowledge onto others to engage people’s interest for the natural world.
Louisa Bartels
graduate ecologist
Louisa (she/her) is a graduate of Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience majoring in wildlife conservation and management. Her studies helped cultivate an interest in entomology with her final year honours project focused on the reproductive behaviour of native stingless bees.
Residing in the Otways, she also currently works as a nature guide at the ecotourism venture of the Conservation Ecology Centre Wildlife Wonders.
Louisa is excited to be involved with the Threatened Species Conservancy, particularly to contribute to the conservation of invertebrates which often go unnoticed and are under appreciated.
Lucy Gilchrist
Graduate ecologist
Lucy (she/they) has completed a Master of Environment at the University of Melbourne and an ecology internship with the Threatened Species Conservancy. She is interested in a broad range of fauna ecology but is a bit of a bird-nerd and did her master's research on woodland birds. She is also really passionate about environmental education, engaging local communities with conservation and helping connect people with nature.
Lucy is beginning her PhD looking at refuges for maintaining biodiversity after wildfires in the Mallee Country.
Kirsten Boehm
Trainee entomologist
Kirsten (She/her) is an entomologist in training, currently studying a Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology. She has worked at the Melbourne Museum sorting the insect collections and pitfall samples.
She has also taken part in surveys of the Mallacoota area in-order to search for 7 of the endangered species in the area, after the fires. She is currently undertaking a project to search species of ant known as coconut ants, to aid in the search for ant-blue butterflies in Victoria and research their life cycle and ecology.
Kirsten has a deep passion for all insect life and loves to share her excitement and knowledge with all.
Ruby Martin
Trainee Ecologist
Ruby (she/they) is in her final year of a Bachelor of Science at University of Melbourne, majoring in ecology. Ruby first volunteered for TSC in the Multi-species Butterfly Recovery Project in Mallacoota and has completed her internship with TSC to become an Ecologist. Ruby will be pursuing butterfly surveys in Warrandyte State Park and contributing her findings to our statewide technical advisory team. She has a keen interest in ecology and entomology, and is pursuing a career in conservation ecology.
Eleanor Fox
Flora Ecologist
Elle (She/her) has been working in the field of ecology and environmental management for over 13 years. Elle has her Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Management, Honours in arid ecosystem ecology and herpetology. She is currently completing her PhD at Federation University Australia, investigating the genetic structure of two critically endangered Victorian Eucalyptus species.
Elle has worked previously as a Landcare coordinator, thoroughly enjoying her time working with local communities to carry out ecological rehabilitation work and revegetation projects on their properties. Elle has worked with native small mammals, reptiles and birds of prey, but is always drawn back to her passion for botany and discovering what underpins the structure of Australian ecosystems. Elle supports the TSC through communications and the development of online resources.
Vickie Wong
Tranee ecologist / social media
Vickie (she/her) is currently studying a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Ecology & Conservation Biology and Earth Science.
After finishing her internship with TSC, Vickie is continuing to help out as a volunteer. Throughout her time at TSC, she has been involved with Black Gum conservation in Woodend, drafted progress reports for the recovery of the Pink-Tailed Worm-Lizard, and has assisted with social media posts.
Vickie has always been fascinated by the natural world, with a particular interest in all things reptiles. She is keen to continue fuelling her passion for conservation science, particularly in the conservation of threatened reptile species
Derek Smith
Occupational Health and Safety Advisor
Following an extensive career in engineering and operations management in the manufacturing and construction industries, Derek Smith (He/him) spent 14 years as an occupational health & safety professional.
Derek has extensive expertise in the areas of workplace health and safety; safety management; emergency response; environmental management as well as fire prevention and control.
In 2006, Derek completed a Masters degree in Safety, Health and Environment has a wide range of additional qualifications in the area of workplace safety.