Graeme Gillespie
Director Wildlife Conservation & Science
Tel: +61-3 9285 9422
Email
As Director Wildlife Conservation and Science, Graeme is responsible for the development of strategies, strategic partnerships and priorities, and providing specialist support, for linking and integrating scientifically sound animal collection development and management at the three properties with field-based wildlife care, conservation and science programs.
Graeme has a PhD in ecology and conservation biology with a proven track record in ecological and wildlife research. Graeme is also known through his work at ARIER, in particular his expertise in amphibian and reptile management. Graeme has worked on various research and management programs, linked to gaining improved conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity, principally within Australia, and also internationally.
Graeme also played a lead role in establishing a biodiversity research and conservation program in Sulawesi, Indonesia, using education and engagement and participation of local communities.
Chris Banks
Coordinator Conservation Partnerships
Tel: +61-3 9285 9491
Email
With a zoo career spanning more than 38 years, Chris Banks has made, and continues to make, a significant contribution to the professionalism and strategic direction of the zoo industry. With extensive experience as a zoo animal manager in Australia, the UK and USA, Chris is a recognised expert with reptiles and frogs.
One of the key aspects of Chris’s career is his contribution to the development and delivery of wildlife conservation programs, particularly within South-East Asia. Through establishing and extending extensive global networks with zoos, conservation bodies, governments and communities, Chris has facilitated conservation outcomes for a number of key species.
Chris is recognised nationally and internationally for his expertise and is Chair of the Tenkile Conservation Alliance, the Australian Coordinator for the Turtle Survival Alliance, International Coordinator on the Philippine Crocodile National Recovery Team and a member of the Advisory Board for the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre in Vietnam. He is also the Convenor of the South-East Asian Conservation Action Group for the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks & Aquaria. In this role Chris is responsible for developing and implementing Zoos Victoria's participation in international in situ conservation programs.
Tim Jessop
Ecologist
Tel: +61-3 9285 9387
Email
For the past 13 years Tim has been mainly working on large field/lab projects that attempt to understand both pure and applied aspects of wildlife ecology (particularly marine turtles and more recently Komodo dragons and their mammalian prey). Tim's particular interest is to combine physiological and ecological information to provide an integrative approach to understanding how physiological processes influence individuals and in turn the ecology of populations.
In his position as an ecologist at Zoos Victoria’s Department of Wildlife Conservation and Science, Tim is particularly interested in developing integrated projects that combine physiological and ecological information to address pressing conservation issues. These include rapidly identifying threats to wildlife, measuring the ecological health of native populations and communities, and developing research to help measure the efficacy of management strategies adopted to recover native wildlife.
Natasha Schedvin
Zoologist
Tel: +61-3 5957 2843
Email
Natasha brings a pragmatic approach to conservation management of threatened species in Australia. Her experience working on threatened species recovery programs from a research and management perspective enables her to understand both elements of a successful recovery program. Natasha’s past research has primarily investigated habitat use by species (i.e. Barking Owl, Regent Honeyeater, Noisy and Black-eared Miners, and Microchiropteran Bats) with the purpose of developing more effective conservation management strategies.
Working as a Zoologist for Zoos Victoria’s Department of Wildlife Conservation and Science, Natasha is focused on enhancing the value of the captive breeding programs to management of wild populations of threatened species. Research projects will be targeted at improving the quality and number of individuals bred for reintroductions to the wild.