Sydney Rewilding Initiative

Sydney Rewilding Initiative is a multidisciplinary collaborative project with a focus on restoring biodiversity to urban areas using rewilding. Meet our team below:

Research students

PhD Candidate researching translocation tactics in urban rewilding contexts. Over 9 years of experience as a field ecologist, with prior work experience in threatened species translocations and conservation management. Mareshell has experience with translocations of small mammals in both urban and remote contexts.

With a background in environmental sociology within the Science, Technology and Society (STS) field, Valentina Miriam is interested in issues related to conservation, exploring relationships between humans and wildlife, and between humans and landscapes in the urban environment. In the past, as a junior researcher she has analysed the relationships between local communities and renewable energy technologies in rural landscapes.

Bonita’s work focuses on how we can improve translocation planning to conserve wildlife population genetic health. Her research lies in applied conservation genetics, utilising techniques such as population viability analysis, meta-analysis and population genetic analysis. Previously, she has worked in quantitative genetics investigating disease mutations in fruit flies (but she much prefers working with wildlife!).

Patrick studies the reintroduction of eastern quolls (Dasyurus viverrinus) in a feral predator free area. He is interested in understanding the various factors that impact the success of reintroductions. His goal is to develop management practices that will support future reintroductions outside of fenced areas. 

Academics

Head of Global Ecology Lab, USYD. Tom’s research addresses how humans modify the patterns of animal ecology and diversity that we witness today and possible solutions for improving ecological outcomes. He has >20 years’ experience in ecology and has supervised multiple students (PhD/Honours) on the reintroductions of bush rats and eastern quolls.

Phil is a Professor of Urban and Environmental Geography at the University of Sydney. He is a human geographer with interests in sustainable cities, Chinese tourism, environmental issues, climate change and human/animal relations.

Donna is an urban and cultural geographer whose work sits at the intersection of urban and environmental humanities. Her research explores how storytelling and creative methods can respond to the social and ecological challenges of climate change.

Alex is a wildlife conservation researcher developing novel multidisciplinary approaches to tackle introduced species and disturbed ecosystems.

Catherine’s work reveals how evolutionary and demographic processes influence the individual- and population-level genetic diversity and resilience of natural populations. Working with conservation practitioners, she aims to develop and test new techniques for measuring, monitoring, and protecting biodiversity at local, national and global scales.

Peter has >25 years experience researching the ecology of small mammals, primarily rodents. His key research aims are to develop humane, ecologically based solutions for the impact of invasive species, including black rats.

Patt’s work examines how species reintroduction, rewilding, and sensory ecology shape the persistence of native fauna in predator-occupied and human-modified landscapes. Working closely with conservation practitioners, Patt develops and tests applied, non-lethal tools and management strategies that support biodiversity recovery beyond fenced reserves across Australia, southern Africa, and the United States.

Research assistants

Hannah holds a degree in Wildlife Conservation and is passionate about conserving Australia’s native mammals. Her Honours research explored the social and scavenging behaviour of wild dingoes in New South Wales. She is currently involved in the reintroduction and monitoring of native bush rats through the Urban Rewilding Project, and hopes to pursue a PhD in applied conservation research.

Laura is completing her PhD on invasive rodents, investigating how these species respond to management efforts such as trapping and baiting, and studying the behaviour of individuals that survive control. She is involved with the Urban Rewilding project, working on the reintroduction of the bush rat.

Industry partners

Toni leads the wildlife and ecological monitoring program at North Head Sanctuary in Manly, NSW. Recent interests include experimenting with different camera trap techniques to better understand mammal behaviour through less invasive methods. She also enjoys building relationships with researchers and universities, exploring exciting partnerships and projects at this well-studied site.

Dr John Martin is a Principal Ecologist at BIOSIS, an environmental consultancy, and one of the authors of A Guide To The Creatures In Your Neighbourhood. This book combines natural history, art, and ecology and aims to inspire greater connection with nature. Humanity has a key role in conservation – let’s work together to protect and enhance biodiversity.

Dr Ben Pitcher is a behavioural and sensory ecologist whose research focuses on the evolution of animal cognition and how animals use multiple sensory systems for foraging, communication and recognition in complex and changing environments.

Alumni

Nicholas Kennedy (Honours 2024, University of Sydney)

Understanding species assemblages in northern Sydney to inform future rewilding efforts.

Daniel Antoniak (Honours 2024, University of Sydney)

Using modelling to predict the optimal management actions for urban reintroductions.

Sam Johnson (Honours 2024, University of Sydney)

Bolstering what’s left: how landscape factors influence Northern Sydney’s urban bushland mammal assemblages.

Martin Boer-Cueva (Honours 2023, University of Sydney)

Life in the big smoke: terrestrial vertebrate assemblages and their drivers in Sydney, Australia.