Our Community

Bruce Christie

Bruce has over 30 years of experience working in biosecurity, initially as a veterinarian dealing with animal health and production issues, and then across the broader biosecurity spectrum of animal and plant pests, diseases and weeds.

His most recent role was as the Deputy Director General Biosecurity and Food Safety with the NSW Department of Primary Industries where he was responsible for biosecurity and food safety strategy and policy development and implementation within NSW. Prior to that he was the NSW Chief Veterinary Officer where he led responses to a number of exotic disease incursions, including the successful eradication of Equine Influenza (EI) from NSW and Australia.

Since 2004, when he was appointed to the position of Director Animal and Plant Biosecurity, Bruce has driven a cross-sectoral agenda aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of biosecurity systems for animals and plants in NSW and across Australia. He also represented NSW on the National Biosecurity Committee, chaired the Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC) for a number of years, and has been a key driver in the development of the national Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) and the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA).

Robbie Davis

Robbie has business experience in both the private and public sectors domestically and internationally, at Board level as a Non-Executive Director, and in reporting to a Board in the capacity of CEO.

With a strong understanding of whole-of-industry value chains, she also has a grazing property in the Upper SE of South Australia.  Following ten years living and working in SE Asia (Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei), she was self-employed as an agribusiness consultant until her appointment as CEO, Potatoes South Australia in 2012. She continues to consult privately.

Robbie believes that the reduction and transformation of food waste is critical to productivity gains, and to the sustainability and reputation of Australian agriculture. She also believes that R&D programs across agricultural sectors and value chains are vital to Australia attaining its $100b production target by 2030.

Her involvement in biosecurity has been extensive including as a representative on Primary Industries & Regions SA (PIRSA) Biosecurity SA’s Plant Health Technical Reference Panel, Market Access Program Working Group, and Stakeholder Reference Group in the development of the new Biosecurity Act for South Australia.  She presented at the 2018-19 National Roundtable Forum and has been a witness at Federal Senate Inquiries concerning importation of plant material.  She is also a member of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board which has a statutory function for the prevention and management of declared pest animals and weeds.

Robbie was profiled under PIRSA’s Women Influencing Agriculture and Regions in 2015, is the AgriFutures 2016 SA Rural Woman of the Year and is a graduate of the NFF’s Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program 2019.

She holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)

 Additional Board Positions include:

• Non-executive Director,  Chair Research & Commercialisation Committee and Member Industry Impact Committee for the Fight Food Waste (FFW) Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)
• Member Rural Bank Agribusiness Advisory Board
• Member Governing Board Research Consortium-Agricultural Product Development (University of Adelaide)
• Member Limestone Coast Landscape Board (LCLB)
• Company Secretary/Shareholder Puree Australia Pty Ltd

Justin Bellanger

Justin has extensive director, senior consulting and executive leadership experience in natural resource management, aquaculture and fish management, spanning the non-government and government sectors.

Based in Denmark, Western Australia, Justin works as an Executive and Governance Services Consultant providing specialist services to businesses within the natural resource management sector.

Justin is the Independent Chair of the Aquaculture Council of Western Australia, a member of Biosecurity Council of Western Australia, a member of the National Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group, and the Co-convenor/Governance Group Member of the National Biosecurity General Surveillance Community of Practice.

Justin is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds an Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management from the Australian Institute of Management, and has Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Aquaculture from James Cook University.

Dr Adrian Zammit

BSc.Agr (Hons 1), PhD (agriculture), MBA, GAICD

With over 30 years of experience in environmental and agricultural sustainability, Adrian is co-founder of GreenSmart, serves on the boards of multiple companies and was previously the Deputy Director General of Infrastructure, Investment and Business Excellence at NSW Department of Primary Industries. Adrian was also the CEO of Landcare NSW from 2018 to 2021.

Specialising in water quality, biodiversity, and agriculture, he advocates for proactive sustainability solutions that turn environmental risks into opportunities, driving organisations toward sustainable growth.

As a C-suite executive and an Institute of Company Directors’ certified director, Adrian has successfully led, built, and transformed organisations both domestically and internationally, with a focus on corporate sustainability and ESG issues.

Adrian has a proven track record of identifying and capitalising on emerging opportunities, driving results, and delivering outcomes, and fostering open and effective communication with stakeholders.

Adrian is a lifelong learner and an innovative thinker, who seeks to leverage environmental and social responsibilities as a competitive advantage in today’s world.

Dr Roslyn Hendriks

Roslyn is an experienced Board and Advisory Board member, CEO and entrepreneur, with lifelong success in founding and growing life sciences companies and who has a strong background in coaching executives and corporations.

As a big-picture thinker, strategist and enterprise builder, Roslyn brings decades of experience in angel, seed, venture and high-net-worth backed start-ups across the health sector – from women’s health to global and animal health – as well as translating and commercialising technologies such as therapeutics, diagnostics and devices.

A natural entrepreneur, Roslyn leads and inspires others and communicates her understanding of the funding and development pathways required to translate innovative technologies into products that deliver economic and societal impact.

Roslyn is a Member of the Australian Institute for Company Directors, the Managing Director of C-Suite Corporate Pty Ltd, Honorary Chair of the University of Queensland Founders’ Pledge and serves as Chair or Non-Executive Director on multiple local and international Boards. As a noted innovator in early disease detection, she has co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed papers or posters and is a highly regarded speaker the world over.

Shauna Chadlowe

Ms Chadlowe brings extensive commercial, legal and entrepreneurial experience to the Centre. She joins after nearly two decades with Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), most recently on the Executive Team as Chief Conservation Alliance Officer. AWC is one of Australia’s largest private (non-profit) conservation organisations, operating across millions of hectares of iconic Australian landscapes. Among Shauna’s achievements at AWC was negotiating an historic agreement among key partners and landholders to protect critically endangered Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats.

Shauna demonstrates innovation, creativity and collaboration to achieve strategic priorities and is known for her ability to communicate complex issues clearly while developing positive and open relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Teamed with an extensive knowledge of conversation issues and practices, Shauna is passionate about Australia’s biodiversity and the role of science in improving biodiversity outcomes. Her leadership is characterised by positive transformations and motivating teams while emphasising the importance of philanthropy, community engagement, education and making a positive impact.

Lucie Hassall

Lucie Hassall is the General Manager and Company Secretary of the Centre for invasive Species Solutions. In her role she is responsible for the operations of the company including our finances, contracts, governance arrangements, audit and risk analysis and other major activities.

Lucie is a Chartered Accountant who has over 25 years’ experience in the finance industry, including 9 years in the KPMG chartered accounting practice as an auditor and manager and 18+ years in Commercial Business, primarily at Lendlease Corporation. She has held Senior Finance Manager and Head Office accounting positions over the last 18 years focused on Financial Control, Cost Reporting, Risk Management, Office administration, Financial Systems, Management and Statutory Reporting.

Lucie is a member of the Instituted of Chartered Accountants in Australia and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Management) from the University of Technology Sydney

Dr Tony Buckmaster

Dr Tony Buckmaster comes from an agricultural background having grown up and worked on the family farm but also has extensive experience in wildlife ecology and strategic pest management as well as 12 years of teaching and research experience.

He currently manages our Centre R&D program and leads our Balanced Research Program. He is also actively involved in several on-going research projects and convenes a Masters level unit in Vertebrate Pest Management for the University of Sydney.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science, The University of Canberra
• Honours in Applied Science, The University of Canberra
• PhD in Ecology, The University of Sydney

Dr Baxter Massey

As the Senior Research & Development Coordinator, Baxter’s main responsibilities include managing current and emerging projects, such as weed RD&E projects. This includes assisting with the commercialisation of CISS outputs, managing data, and supporting the administration of contracts and projects.

With a strong interest in controlling invasive species, Baxter brings over four years’ experience in conducting molecular biology research on fungal and viral biocontrol agents at Landcare Research Ltd, New Zealand. His work on using Araujia mosaic virus (ArjMV) as a biocontrol agent on Moth plant has been published in Archives of Virology (2007) and the Australasian Plant Pathology Society (2009).

He spent nearly a decade at the Australian National University, contributing to plant molecular biology research projects, particularly cloning plant lines with the goal of improving photosynthesis in crop plants.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences), The University of Auckland
• Master of Science (Molecular Microbiology), The University of Auckland
• Doctor of Philosophy (Plant Molecular Biology), The University of Queensland

Shan Southwell

Shan Southwell is the Finance and Office Manager of the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions and is responsible for the day to day finance and administration operations of the centre.

Shan has previously worked for organisations such as CARE Australia, The Australian Gas Association and Deloittes.  Shan is a member of the Instituted of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand and has Bachelor of Accounting from the Canberra College of Advance Education and a Graduate Diploma in Management Sciences from the University of Canberra.

Darren Marshall

Lead Researcher, Feral Animal Projects

Bringing over 20 years’ experience in natural resource management, Darren Marshall heads up the Centre’s on-ground feral animal projects, specialising in feral pigs.

Darren has developed extensive experience in workshop facilitation to bring awareness of emerging risks, projects, legislation, and best practices control measures.

Using biophysical research to gain new insights into feral animal behaviour and humane control methods, Darren focuses management practices to safeguard both environmental values and agricultural productivity at landscape scale.

Darren is at the leading edge of this work as he completes a PhD (through a collaboration with the University of New England and the USA’s Penn State University) using biophysical research as a vehicle to motivate land managers to take collective action to address the feral pig issue in Australia.

Sean Freney

Business Development Manager

Sean Freney is the Business Development Manager for the Centre of Invasive Species Solutions. This role focuses on the promotion of the Landsmart portfolio and WeedRemeed™ technology.

Sean brings 6 years of experience in the biosecurity sector. During this time Sean has worked on a variety of research and on-ground projects across a multitude of pest animals. He is experienced in developing, adapting, and promoting strategic pest animal management plans.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor of Science (Biological Honours)
• Bachelor of Science (Biology Major, Wildlife Biology Minor & Applied Ecology Extension Minor)

Karen Gregory

Karen brings a firsthand appreciation of invasive species including blackberries, rabbits and foxes from her earliest days growing up on a dairy farm. Today, she’s an active Bushcare volunteer in her homebase of Wollongong, where she’s gained insights into the impact of both feral deer and environmental weeds.

She has a BA in Journalism from RMIT University and a Master of Business (Marketing) from The University of Wollongong.

Sreshti Nair

Sreshti has experience in the social and education development sector in a fundraising, marketing and communications capacity. She is responsible for providing operational support and the delivery of CISS Communication and Marketing Plans.

Sreshti holds the following qualifications:

• BA (Hons) in Economics, The University of Manchester
• Master of Business Administration (Marketing), Macquarie Business School

Gillian Basnett

Gillian Basnett has been in the role of National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordinator since its inception in early 2021. She has a background in community engagement, science communication, Landcare and natural resource management with extensive experience in wildlife ecology and management, and fire ecology. She has spent much of her career in positions that improve environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture through research, hands-on field work, education, engagement and empowerment of the community. Throughout, the management of cats and foxes have been a common theme.

Gill has extensive experience rolling out programs and projects focused on improving habitat, native vegetation regeneration and feral animal and weed control, by partnering with the community and local stakeholders. She has worked across several Australian States in a range of roles for government and non-government organisations as well as a private consultant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science (Resource and Environmental Management) – Australian National University
• Master of Environmental Science – University of Wollongong
• Master of Environmental Science (Research) – University of Wollongong

Dr Thomas Nelson

Tom is a nature enthusiast with a keen interest in invasive species control. He supports Gillian Basnett — the Centre’s National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordinator — working on project communications and the development of extension materials for land managers, community groups, pest control professionals and biosecurity organisations.

Tom recently graduated from The University of Adelaide’s doctoral program where his research focused on investigating the relationship between brain blood flow and metabolism in birds and mammals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology and Zoology, The University of Adelaide
• Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Environmental Biology, The University of Adelaide
• Doctorate of Philosophy in Biological Science, The University of Adelaide

Heidi Kleinert

Heidi brings over 20 years of experience in the NRM industry, specialising in engagement and collaboration. She has extensive expertise in  invasive species management, environmental water and project management, having worked across not-for-profit, private, local, and state government sectors.

Heidi served as the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) Executive Officer at Agriculture Victoria from 2016 to 2023, where she led a participatory engagement process to enhance community capacity for managing rabbits across Victoria. In 2024, Heidi worked as a consultant, focusing on communications, partnership and stakeholder management. In addition to her work with CISS, Heidi is a member of Rabbit Free Australia and actively participates in the Australian Rabbit Managers Network. Her passion lies in fostering meaningful connections between people and the environment to achieve sustainable outcomes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Science)

Greg Mifsud

Greg Mifsud is the National Wild Dog Management Coordinator funded through the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions via a co-investment model that includes Wool Producers Australia, Australian Wool Innovation Ltd, Meat and Livestock Australia, Animal Health Australia, Sheep Producers Australia and the Cattle Council of Australia.

Lachlan Marshall

Senior Technical Officer

As a key member of the Centre’s Feral Animal Projects team, Lachlan Marshall brings significant natural resource management experience, with particular expertise in feral animal research and management.

With experience in managing and monitoring feral species at both property and regional level, Lachlan is a natural communicator able to engage and connect with stakeholders and landowners on the challenges of feral animal management to protect and build healthy ecosystems.

Qualification:

• Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology and Conservation Biology, Griffith University

Dave Worsley

As the NE NSW Wild Dog Coordinator, Dave Worsley works to coordinate management of wild dogs in the region alongside wool and other livestock producers, public land managers, industry bodies, government departments and other stakeholders to reduce the impact of wild dog predation on livestock.

Dr Cathy Frazer

Professional Writer Consultant

Dr Cathy Frazer supports the Centre as a Professional Writer to help us sharpen our messaging.

Cathy brings a wealth of experience and a communications skillset honed over more than 30 years, including seven years working at Plant Health Australia.

She has a PhD in Science Communication from the Australian National University and a strong background in agri-business, health and sustainability.