NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee

Scientist nominated by a professional body principally involved in ecological or invertebrate research

Professor Gross is Professor Emeritus in Vegetation Management at the University of New England and the President of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation. She is currently working on plant-pollinator systems at the individual plant and community level, seed bank ecology and the population ecology of threatened plant species. She is currently leading a team that has been investigating the impacts of fire in the Howell Shrublands, an endangered ecological community.

The Deputy Chairperson position is currently vacant.

Scientist employed and nominated by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Dr Encinas-Viso is a research scientist at the Centre of Australian National Biodiversity Research, CSIRO. His research focuses on conservation genetics, plant and pollination ecology. He also has a strong interest in the application of ecological and evolutionary modelling to conservation and habitat restoration.

Scientist who is an employee of a NSW tertiary educational institution

Angela Moles is a Professor in the Evolution and Ecology Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. She is also a member of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Advisory Panel, the Australian Research Council College of Experts, the Council of the Australian Flora Foundation, and the board of the Ecological Society of Australia. Angela is a plant ecologist whose research spans many topics relevant to threatened species, including how Australian ecosystems are responding to climate change, invasion biology, and plant–animal interactions such as seed predation, herbivory and pollination.

Scientist employed and nominated by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust

Dr Offord is a conservation biologist at the Australian Institute for Botanical Science, based at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan. She specialises in ex situ conservation and translocation of threatened plant species. Cathy has a particular interest in seed biology, tissue culture and cryogenic storage of germplasm. 

Scientist employed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and nominated by the Environment Agency Head

Michael Pennay is an ecologist working for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Chiroptera specialist group. Michael has more than 20 years’ experience in applied ecology with a focus on survey, identification, and assessment of the distribution and conservation status of numerous species and ecological communities in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Scientist who is an employee of, and nominated by, the Australian Museum Trust

Dr Reid is a systematic entomologist with a particular interest in beetles (Coleoptera), especially leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and scarabs (Scarabaeidae). His research includes evolution, host plant relationships, agricultural pests, biogeography, life history and conservation.

Scientist who is employed by a public authority with expertise in forest ecology, agricultural science or natural resource management

Mr Slade is an ecologist with more than 30 years’ experience in terrestrial ecology and natural resource management within the NSW public sector. He has extensive experience in field survey and management of native fauna species across eastern New South Wales. He is currently the Senior Ecologist in Hardwood Forests of Forestry Corporation, which involves biodiversity management in forests including recently, research on koala habitat use and development of monitoring programs.

Scientist employed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the department) and nominated by the Environment Agency Head

Rob Armstrong is an ecologist working for the department, with a focus on the survey and recovery of threatened entities including plants, ecological communities, reptiles and invertebrates. Rob has a strong background in government and private industry across south-eastern, central and western New South Wales and is currently working as part of the Saving our Species program along with supporting planning, compliance and science matters related to listed entities.

Scientist nominated by a professional body principally involved in ecological or invertebrate research

David is Professor of Botany in the Centre for Ecosystem Science at UNSW and Theme Lead for the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. He researches the dynamics of plant and animal populations and ecosystems in relation to fire regimes, grazing and climatic variation through field and modelling studies in Australia and overseas to inform biodiversity conservation and restoration. He has practical expertise in ecosystem survey, classification and mapping from local to global scales, and is active in the ongoing development and application of listing criteria for threatened species and ecosystems.

One member position is currently vacant.