Susan Hester

Dr. Susan Hester is an Associate Professor at the University of New England Business School and Chief Investigator at the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA). With a PhD in Agricultural Economics, she specializes in optimizing resource allocation for invasive species management. Her research integrates bioeconomic modelling, surveillance design, and incentive-based policy frameworks.

Key research areas include passive surveillance systems, eradication feasibility, and socio-economic assessments of biocontrol methods. She has developed tools like WaspSim for simulating pest management and contributed to Australia's biosecurity policies.

• Awards: Best Journal Paper (AJARE 2008), CRC Weed Management Scientific Project Award (2008).
• Leadership roles: Editorial Board Member for Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

Her interdisciplinary collaborations span mathematics, ecology, and veterinary science, focusing on maximizing biosecurity budget efficiency through innovative policy design.