Dr Allie Nance

Allie was a PhD student in the REC Group at Monash University. She explored the challenges to and opportunities for conservation management on small inhabited islands, using the management of Norfolk Island's endemic passerines as a case study. Throughout her PhD candidature under the supervision of Dr Rohan Clarke and Dr Carly Cook, Allie identified and measured the threats facing five endemic perching bird species of Norfolk Island. Concurrently, she investigated conservation management of small islands with substantial human populations. By combining ecological and theoretical research, and employing sociological methods, Allie contributed to conservation of inhabited island ecosystems. 

Allie has gone on to become a Natural Resources Manager Ranger with Norfolk Island National Park. 

Dr William Mitchell

Will completed an honours degree with the REC Lab assessing the effectiveness of handheld infrared cameras as a tool for surveying night-roosting birds. He was then a PhD candidate with the REC lab, focusing on the science underpinning translocation of threatened birds. Using the translocation of the endangered Mallee Emu-wren as a model system, his research assisting in improving conservation outcomes and provided translocation practitioners with a comprehensive framework encompassing the planning, implementation and post release monitoring of conservation translocations.

Will has since gone on to work for BirdLife Australia.

Dr Luke Halpin

As a member of the REC lab, Luke studied the foraging ecology of pterodroma petrels (Black-winged Petrels and White-necked Petrels) on the Norfolk Island Group.  This research investigated several topics of seabird ecology including modelling the species’ distributions, dietary analyses, stable isotope analyses and exploring the effects of different bio-logging devices. 

Website: halpinwildife.com

Ben Viola

Ben started in the REC Lab during his 3rd year of undergraduate study (BSc). During this time, he studied the distribution of cetaceans in Australia’s North West, and generated species distribution models for the region. Ben then completed his Honours Degree with the lab, where he examined how seabird communities interact with the Bonney Upwelling. He also determined how seabird communities, and upwelling activity have changed over time. Following working in the REC group for a couple of years, Ben has gone on to undertake a PhD on Snow Petrels with UTAS and the Australian Antarctic Division. 

Dr Rowan Mott

Rowan completed his PhD in 2017 as a member of the REC group. The PhD focussed on the movements and foraging ecology of frigatebirds breeding at Ashmore Reef and Adele Island. He investigated the spatial ecology of boobies and delivered a better understanding of the ways the seabirds in this region interact with their environment.

More about Rowan's postdoc

Rowan has since gone into a career working with NGOs

Dr Joanne Bennett

Jo completed her PhD under the supervision of Ralph Mac Nally and Rohan Clarke. Her PhD focused on how the additive effects of climate change and land-use changes have influenced the outcomes of competitive interactions by facilitating the invasion and overabundance of a highly competitive species. Her research focuses on the interacting and additive effects of global change drivers, such as climate, human land use and species expansions. She is interested in teasing apart the relative importance of direct (land-use change), indirect (climate change) and derived (altered species interactions) factors on distributions as core components of modern spatial ecology. Jo is now based at the German Centre for Innovative Biodiversity Research in Leipzig, Germany.

Dr Anders Goncalves Da silva

Anders studied avian malaria at Monash University under the supervision of Dr. Rohan Clarke and in collaboration with Dr. Paul Sunnucks, seeing avian malaria as an excellent model to study what happens when a species (malaria) is introduced to a completely new environment (bird). After his graduation, Anders took postdoctoral positions at the University of British Columbia and at the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research. 

Anders tragically passed away in 2022

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Ashley Herrod

Ash completed an honours degree investigating the effects of a major freeway on the gene flow and dispersal of Yellow-footed Antechinus in north central Victoria, through Monash University. Ash then served as the REC Lab Research Assistant, primarily supporting the lab's research into marine resource use by tropical seabirds in the Browse Basin. His roles included planning, leading and participating in field work; data collection and management; report and scientific manuscript writing; GIS mapping; research and ethics permit applications, and; lab management. He has since gone on to work as the Avian Threatened Species Program Coordinator for Moonlit Sanctuary.

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Dr Kate Stevens

Throughout her PhD Candidature with the REC lab, Kare conducted comparative analysis of Grey-crowned Babbler habitat use within Victoria, incorporating different vegetation types. She determined habitat needs across the extent of their southern range. She also examined potential differences in the population’s genetic structure in relation to family group distribution and isolation, which may influence biological processes responsible for local distribution patterns. Her investigations of brood-nest site patterns also revealed critical aspects of their breeding ecology. Kate has since gone on to work for an NGO in Alice Springs.  

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Dr Stephanie Rog

Stephanie's PhD research focussed on mangrove conservation and their importance for terrestrial vertebrates. Concerns about the rapid decline of mangrove forests have focused on their value as marine environments. Meanwhile, their value as terrestrial habitat for vertebrates remains one of the most poorly studied aspects of this ecosystem. Using literature reviews, spatial analyses, management evaluations and rapid field assessments Stephanie revealed insights into the conservation and management of these forests and their terrestrial biodiversity. Stephanie has since gone on to work for an NGO in the Caribbean.

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Dr Shane Baylis

Shane shared membership in the Clarke and Sunnucks Labs. He has a BSc and an MSc in Biological Sciences from the When he wasn't researching nest predation by rats, he spent his MSc researching the biases in widely-used estimates of different species' maximum longevities. throughout his PhD candidature, Shane studied terns and noddies. He has since gone on to work with CSIRO in Hobart. He blogs here.

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Dr Katherine Selwood

Katherine investigated the effects of long-term drought on woodland bird assemblages in the Murray-Darling Basin. She explored the relative importance of floodplains for terrestrial birds, including their potential as climate refugia and their contribution to regional bird assemblages. Katherine was supervised by Rohan Clarke, Melodie McGeoch and Ralph Mac Nally. Katherine has since gone on to work as a Conservation Manager with Zoo's Victoria. 

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Zarah Wessels

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Zarah was an Honours student in the REC Group in 2025, for which she studied the conservation of the endemic reptiles of Norfolk Island. She aimed to understand the ecology and threats to the threatened Lord Howe Island Skink and Lord Howe Island Gecko, and the ways such risks can be mitigated. She graduated from a Bachelor of Science and Biomedical Science in 2024, and maintains a strong interest in threatened species conservation and island restoration. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Zarah was privileged to work on a variety of research projects including Little Penguin reproductive success, anuran surveys, invasive sea star mitigation techniques, and improving sea turtle hatching success. She enjoys the challenge of fieldwork across mainland Australia, on offshore islands, and internationally, complemented by a variety of lab and desktop techniques.

 

Zarah has since commenced an internship with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and continues to share her research experiences with others, hoping to inspire the next generation of scientists.

Issy Overhill

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​Issy joined the REC Group for her Honours project in 2025, for which she worked with Bush Heritage Australia observing kangaroo populations using traditional ground monitoring techniques and drone flights. During her undergraduate studies, Issy majored in Zoology and was involved in many field work experiences in conservation. During a semester-long exchange in Malaysia, she was able to explore the unique tropical flora and fauna of the area as well as volunteer at the National Zoo, and with the Gibbon Conservation Society. These opportunities helped her develop skills in animal husbandry and seeing how dedicated the staff of both ventures were to their cause, deepened her passion for conservation management. In her free time, she enjoys going on long hikes, attempting to sketch wildlife she spots along the way.