Scientific Advisory Committee

Convenor - Dr Michelle Casanova – Principal, Charophyte Services

Michelle has a PhD in Botany and is Principal at Charophyte Services, a consultancy aimed at providing best practice, scientific research, information and assessment concerning water plants and wetlands. Michelle lives and works on a fine-wool merino and cropping farm near Lake Bolac. Michelle is recognised as an international expert in the algal family Characeae, and maintains her research interest through formal associations with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, the New York Botanic Garden and The Natural History Museum, London. Michelle was appointed to the Committee in 2018 and appointed as Convenor in 2020.

Professor David Cantrill – Executive Director Science, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

David is a terrestrial botanist whose research interest is in the evolutionary history of the Southern Hemisphere flora. He has extensive field experience in Antarctica, South America, southern Africa, New Zealand and Australia. He has previously been senior research scientist with the British Antarctic Survey (Cambridge, UK) and senior curator in the Department of Palaeobotany Swedish Museum of Natural History (Stockholm, Sweden). He is Chief Botanist and Director of the National Herbarium of Victoria at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and holds an honorary professorship at the University of Melbourne in the School of BioScience. Professor Cantrill is appointed as a member with expertise in the areas of vascular flora or communities of flora in terrestrial environments, and potentially threatening processes. David was appointed to the Committee in 2008.

Dr Matt Dell – Independent Senior Consultant Botanist

Matt is an experienced botanist with expertise in the ecology and management of southeast Australia’s flora. His experience and research interests include bryophyte ecology, plant physiology and biodiversity policy. Matt has undertaken surveys widely across Victoria and elsewhere, including numerous assessments of impacts to threatened plants and ecological communities. His previous roles have included principal at leading consultancies, science panel member for a water authority, research supervisor, expert witness and technical reviewer for major projects in Victoria. Matt contributes his expertise on non-vascular plants, vascular plants, ecological communities and threatening processes. Matt was appointed to the Committee in 2018.

Dr Pete Green – Associate Professor in Ecology, La Trobe University

Pete is an ecologist with a broad range of interests in forest ecology, plant-animal interactions, invasion biology and ecological management and restoration.  He has particular expertise in the ecology of rainforests, and maintains long-term research programs in Victoria, Queensland and Christmas Island.  He is a former Head of Department, and he coordinates the Bachelor of Wildlife and Conservation Biology degree at La Trobe University.  Pete was appointed to the Committee in 2022.

Professor David Guest AM - Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Sydney

David is the Professor of Plant Pathology in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at The University of Sydney. He teaches undergraduate courses at all levels and supervises PhD and Research Masters students. His current research focuses on the constraints faced by smallholder farmers in tropical horticulture that limit adoption of improved crop management and improved livelihoods, and the management of Phytophthora diseases in Australian environments. He has extensive partnerships with national and international research institutes and farming communities, serves on the Sydney Institute of Agriculture, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, Scientists Australia for Gender Equity, Sydney ID, the Sydney Vietnam Centre, the MARS Chocolate Research Advisory Board, Scientific Advisory Committee for the Victorian Minister for Environment, and is an Honorary Associate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. He is Past-President and Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society and Past President of the Asian Association of Societies of Plant Pathology. He is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and was awarded a Career Medal for Agriculture and Rural Development by the Government of Vietnam. David was appointed to the Committee in 2022.

Dr Susanna Venn – Senior Lecturer in Environmental Botany, Deakin University

Susanna is a plant ecologist with a wealth of research experience in the processes that shape alpine ecosystems. Her research focusses on how snow influences plant community patterns, (re)assembly and ecological processes. Susanna works at Deakin University as a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Botany and leads the eXtreme Plant Ecology Research Team in the Centre for Integrative Ecology. Susanna was appointed to the Committee in 2018.

Lance Lloyd – Principal Ecologist & Director of Lloyd Environmental Pty Ltd

Lance currently holds several key roles including: Principal Ecologist & Director of Lloyd Environmental; Honorary Research Fellow at Federation University Australia; Restoration Scientist (Aquatic Ecology) for Winton Wetlands Committee of Management, and Water Stewardship Adviser for the Western Port Biosphere Foundation. Lance has almost 40 years practical experience across Australia and the Pacific, in freshwater, estuarine, coastal and inland environments in ecology (fish and aquatic fauna ecology and management). Lance’s key expertise lies in relating the ecology of aquatic systems to management needs. In 1998, Lance established his consulting practice, Lloyd Environmental Pty Ltd, to provide quality services to the water and environment industries. Lance holds both a Master and a Bachelor of Science degree. Lance is currently the Chair of the Great Australian Bight Resource Assessment Group for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority as well as the Board Chair of Aquaculture without Frontiers (Australia). Lance was previously a member of the Victorian Catchment Management Council. Lance was appointed to the Committee in late 2024.

Dr Sali Bache – Adjunct A/Professor, Monash Sustainable Development Institute

Sali is adjunct Associate Professor at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute with expertise in the interface of science and policy in a marine context. Sali has a background in fisheries and marine conservation biology, a PhD in Public Policy and currently works as a consultant, providing intergovernmental expertise, scientific and policy advice in ocean governance and climate change across Asia-Pacific. Sali’s range of appointments include the board of Psychology for a Safe Climate, the editorial board of Sustainable Earth Reviews, the Scientific Advisory Committee for UNEP’s Convention on Migratory Species Indian ocean sea turtle agreement and UNEP Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-7) open-ended working group. Sali was appointed to the Committee in late 2024.

Dr David Cheal – Honorary Research Fellow, Federation University

David has extensive experience in vegetation survey, assessment and environmental management, particularly in semi-arid environments.  His primary specialisation is in the vegetation of north-western Victoria, yet his professional experience spans across Victoria, parts of New South Wales and the Northern Territory.  David has a long-standing interest in the interactions of fires, weeds and grazing in these environments, dating back to before his PhD research (on fire and soil processes of the Big Desert in the Mallee).  David’s recent publications have been on the recovery of rare plant species following exceptional seasons, closer grazing management, and the impacts of fire and the management of grazing in semi-arid vegetation. Additionally, he has explored the impacts of European settlement and concomitant demise of Aboriginal land management on the mammal fauna.  David is the sole author of the major report that underpins all Victorian fire management in native vegetation: “Growth Stages & Tolerable Fire Intervals for Victoria’s Native Vegetation”.  David is currently an Honorary Research Fellow with Federation University. David was appointed to the Committee in late 2024.

For further information on any recommendations of the SAC, please contact the SAC as follows:

Email:

SAC.secretariat@deeca.vic.gov.au

Post:

Secretary, Scientific Advisory Committee

Biodiversity Division

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

PO Box 500  EAST MELBOURNE VIC 8002