Our Patron - Professor Hugh Possingham
Our Patron, Professor Hugh Possingham (FAA, BS, D. Phil) grew up in South Australia, with a close connection to Victor Harbor. He is a globally renowned conservation biologist, mathematician, and applied ecologist who has made transformative contributions to biodiversity preservation. Best known as the co-creator of Marxan, a conservation planning software used to design protected areas covering 5% of the Earth’s surface, including the Great Barrier Reef, Hugh has published over 650 scientific papers and mentored 135 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. He has held prestigious roles such as Queensland Chief Scientist, Chief Scientist of The Nature Conservancy, and Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions. A Rhodes Scholar with a D.Phil. from Oxford University, Hugh has received numerous accolades, including the Eureka Prizes and election to the Australian Academy of Science. His visionary work continues to inspire and shape global efforts to safeguard our natural world.