Welcoming our first international member
The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS) welcomes the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited (Bioeconomy Science Institute) as its newest member – marking a significant milestone as CISS expands beyond Australia.
The development represents a landmark in CISS’s journey from its earliest days as the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre and reflects CISS’s commitment to building strong international partnerships to tackle the growing challenges posed by invasive species.
CISS Chief Executive Officer, Shauna Chadlowe, says the membership represents an exciting milestone for CISS.
“We are proud to welcome New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science Institute as our first international member,” Ms Chadlowe says. “Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and agricultural productivity on both sides of the Tasman. Many of the challenges are shared, so the solutions should be too.
“By working together, we can accelerate research, share expertise, attract investment and deliver practical solutions that protect the natural environments, economies and communities of both Australia and New Zealand. This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for CISS and reflects the growing importance of international collaboration in tackling invasive species.”
The Institute brings deep expertise in biosecurity, environmental research, and sustainable land and resource management both for productive and natural environments. Its membership will enhance collaboration opportunities and foster shared solutions to common invasive species challenges across the region.
Mark Piper, Bioeconomy Science Institute Transition Chief Executive Officer, says the organisation looks forward to contributing to CISS’s work and deploying technologies and approaches developed by CISS to address New Zealand’s invasive species challenges.
“We are excited to join the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions and collaborate with leading researchers and organisations across Australia,” Mr Piper says. “There is a strong alignment in the challenges we face in managing invasive species, and we look forward to sharing expertise and capability to impactful, science-based solutions that benefit all members.”
The announcement comes as CISS continues to deliver national impact by amplifying invasive species management efforts across its network of members and partners while reinforcing its place as a trusted leader in coordinating collaborative research and innovation.
The partnership also adds momentum to ongoing regional engagement, with CISS preparing to host the 20th Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference (AVPC) in 2027. The event will mark the 70th anniversary of the first AVPC, held in Perth in 1957, an increasingly vital international forum for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working in pest management.
With expanded international membership, the 2027 conference is expected to be the most impactful CISS has led yet, providing a platform to showcase collaborative efforts, share cutting-edge research, and strengthen partnerships across Australasia and beyond.
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Dr Adrian Zammit, Chair, Centre for Invasive Species Solutions:
“On behalf of the CISS Board, I warmly welcome our newest member, the New Zealand Bioeconomy Science Institute.” Dr Zammit said. “BSI NZ brings significant expertise and capability, and its membership further strengthens our ability to connect people, organisations and ideas across Australasia. The more we collaborate, the better equipped we are to address the complex biosecurity and environmental challenges facing both our countries.”
About the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao
The Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao brings AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and Scion together into a single organisation, conducting research to advance innovation in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, biotechnology and manufacturing, protect and enhance ecosystems from biosecurity threats and climate risks and develop new bio-based technologies and products. For more information, visit www.bioeconomyscience.co.nz/about-us