Helen Wallace

Professor Helen Wallace is a renowned academic and leader in the field of agriculture and environmental science. She currently serves as Head of School for the School of Biology & Environmental Science at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), within the Faculty of Science. Previously, she held senior leadership roles such as Dean of Graduate Studies at Griffith University and played a foundational role in building the University of the Sunshine Coast’s academic profile. Her career spans over 35 years, combining research, teaching, and industry collaboration.

Wallace earned her PhD in 1994 from the University of Queensland. She has held positions at Central Queensland University, Latrobe University, and Griffith University before joining QUT. Her research focuses on enhancing food production while improving environmental outcomes, particularly in subtropical and tropical tree industries and the Pacific region. She has secured over $50 million in external funding and supervised 22 PhD, 5 MSc, and 22 Honours students.

Her research interests include agriculture-ecology intersections, pollination biology, bee conservation, and sustainable crop management. Notably, she has empowered Pacific communities—especially women—through microenterprises leveraging rainforest fruits and nuts. She chairs the ARC ERA Research Evaluation Committee and serves as Specialty Chief Editor for Frontiers in Bee Science.

Wallace leads transdisciplinary teams collaborating with industries and farmers to address challenges like food waste reduction, nutrient management, and sustainable tree crop practices. Her work in the Pacific has improved livelihoods for thousands of smallholder farmers. Recent projects include using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning to assess crop quality and nutrition, reflecting her integration of cutting-edge technology with agricultural solutions.