Maree Wright is the Centre’s Research and Development Coordinator, where she oversees a wide range of projects, with a particular focus on vertebrate and invertebrate pest management.
She brings a strong background in community engagement, science, and communications, and previously served as Project and Communications Manager at Landcare ACT.
Maree holds a Master’s degree in Health Science and is passionate about environmental restoration, regularly volunteering in her local community.
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.
Rani Lal is the part-time Finance and Administration Assistant for the Centre. In her role she is responsible for smooth day-to-day running of financial and administrative processes for the office.
She provides a mix of finance support, research team support, office coordination, and administration support for the wider office and remote team members.
Rani has previously worked for ACT Health and is currently studying a Bachelor’s in Business Administration at the Australian National University specialising in Management.
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.
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 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:
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:
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:
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:
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.