2024 Industry Laureate Profile: Professor David Keith

Professor David Keith

Administering Organisation: The University of New South Wales

Fellowship Project Summary 

IL240100030 – Foundations for leading the nature positive ecosystem conservation agenda

Australian ecosystems are under increasing pressure, causing declines in biodiversity and natural capital. These assets are vital to Australia’s culture and economy. According to Australia’s new Nature Positive Plan, failure to prevent ongoing decline stems from inadequate whole-ecosystem management which is linked to a lack of fit-for-purpose national ecosystem inventory. This project will work with Commonwealth, state and international partners to overcome this gap and build capacity for nature-positive ecosystem management. This new research will be translated and adopted through transformational improvements in the National Reserve System, statutory protection of threatened ecosystems, ecologically sustainable development, investments in ecosystem restoration, and climate change adaptation. This groundbreaking research will help sustain healthy ecosystems, with benefits to the health, social, economic and cultural wellbeing of all Australians.

Australian Research Council funding: $2,550,000

Industry Partners: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Department of Energy, Environment and Water, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Department of Planning and Environment NSW, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. 

To find out more about Professor Keith, please visit his profile page here.

For further information about this funding scheme, please visit the Industry Laureate Fellowships page.