Vanessa Adams

Dr. Vanessa Adams is a Professor in Conservation and Planning and ARC Future Fellow at the University of Tasmania's School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences. Her research focuses on modelling dynamic social-ecological systems to inform conservation decisions that improve ecosystems and communities. She holds a PhD from James Cook University and BSc/BA degrees from Washington and Lee University.

Research interests span three themes:

• Ecological modelling of dynamic ecosystems
• Socio-economic aspects of conservation
• Conservation decision theory

Her work integrates mathematics, spatial planning, economics, and social sciences, often collaborating with government agencies and NGOs to ensure policy relevance.

Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on protected area effectiveness, restoration ecology, and marine conservation. Awards include the Tasmania Tall Poppy (2021) and Fulbright Fellowship (2004). She leads multiple ARC and NESP projects on landscape resilience and biodiversity conservation.

As President of the Society for Conservation Biology and Board Member of Tasmanian Land Conservancy, she maintains extensive collaborations with researchers globally. She mentors PhD students through the Midlands Conservation Partnership and supervises projects on threatened ecological communities.