Justin Welbergen is an Associate Professor at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (Western Sydney University), where he leads the “Lab of Animal Ecology”. He is also President of the Australasian Bat Society, a nonprofit organisation whose aim is to promote the conservation and study of bats in Australasia. In addition, he is co-founder of ‘BATsLAB’, a primary academic destination for bat research in Australia. Justin’s research covers a range of subjects in whole-organism biology, but focuses on the evolutionary ecology of bats and birds. He has parallel interests in conservation and climate change biology, and particularly in the areas of endangered species biology, human-wildlife conflict, extreme events, and conservation planning. Justin and his students have worked on flying-foxes for over 20 years, starting with his study on the social organisation of the grey-headed flying-fox for his PhD from the University of Cambridge. Further info: https://www.animalecologylab.org/justin-welbergen.html

Doug is a professional conservation and wildlife photojournalist who focuses on Australian issues. A Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP) and co-chair of chair of their ethics committee, his clients include National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, bioGraphic, Australian Geographic, as well various mastheads like The Guardian. Initially trained as a zoologist and microbiologist, he later completed a Masters of Environment and a Masters of Bioethics. Together, these two qualifications helped shape his thinking as what type of issues he should be focusing on and why – conservation and animal welfare issues

Keren Cox-Witton is the Program Manager for Surveillance at Wildlife Health Australia. She is a veterinarian with an interest in wildlife health and epidemiology and has worked at WHA since 2010. Keren coordinates the WHA Bat Health Focus Group, which has a broad membership and considers bat health issues in the context of biosecurity, public health, domestic animal health and environmental impacts in Australia. Keren’s role at WHA also includes co-ordination of wildlife disease surveillance programs involving zoo-based hospitals and sentinel veterinary clinics, administering a national database of wildlife health information, and maintaining a national dataset for Australian bat lyssavirus.

Rodney is the Principal Officer Wildlife Emergencies for the Victorian Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP). In this role he develops policy, response plans and training programs for the declared wildlife emergencies within Victoria and provides strategic leadership and advice to the State during incidents. Rodney represents DELWP on Victorian and national committees to ensure that wildlife emergency response plans are developed in line with industry best practice and that synergies between response agencies are developed. He has undertaken a range of roles that has given him experience in extension, regulation and enforcement, vocational training and development, emergency management and program and project management at senior levels. The development of response plans and training programs is a key strength.

Lindsay is the Director of Northern Wildlife Operations, where he is responsible for: public and stakeholder engagement, delivery of cassowary, crocodile and flying-fox management programs, development of wildlife management policies such as flying-fox codes of practice and roost management guidelines, and investigations and compliance under Queensland’s Nature Conservation laws. His previous roles include Director of Environmental Impact Assessment (DEH), Director of Regional Service Delivery (DERM), Director of Sustainable Industries (Environmental Protection Agency), and Regional Director for the far northern region of Queensland (QPWS).

Sera holds a degree in Biology and Psychology with an Ethology focus and is currently working on her masters in  zoology and Ecology including research on crocodiles and blossom-bats. Sera has been
in the zoo industry for 12 years working in both Australia and the United States as a zookeeper, animal trainer and wildlife presenter. Her main focus is birds and reptiles, but bats have been an interest of
hers since she was a child. Sera is promoting bats and tourism using a model developed by Bat Conservation International in her home state of Texas.