Duncan Westbury

Professor Duncan Westbury serves as the Dean of Land and Property Management at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), where he has been since September 2023. Previously, he held roles at the University of Worcester (12 years) and the University of Reading (9 years). His research focuses on applying ecological principles to habitat creation and management, particularly in agroecosystems to balance biodiversity preservation and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes.

Education: PhD from the University of Sheffield and BSc (Hons) from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His research keywords include ecosystem services, sustainable food production, and nature-based solutions. He maintains an ORCID profile (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7094-0362).

Professor Westbury has supervised numerous PhD students, including current advisee Joe Leaper (2023–2026) and completed students such as Alice Mockford (Enhancing pest control in Spanish orange orchards) and Zeus Mateos-Fierro (Sustainable production of sweet cherry). He has also examined PhD theses at multiple institutions, including the University of East Anglia (2024) and the University of Sussex (2023).

His scientific contributions include over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with a focus on wildflower strips, pest regulation, and pollination services in orchard systems. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), reflecting his commitment to academic excellence and pedagogy.

Teaching and external engagement involve advancing agricultural education and collaborating on projects to enhance ecological sustainability in farming practices. His work bridges ecological science with practical agricultural challenges, emphasizing the integration of biodiversity into agroecosystems.