Wendy Wright

Prof. Wendy Wright is a Professor of Conservation Biology and Dean of the Graduate School at Federation University. She holds a PhD in Zoology from the University of Reading (UK) and has expertise in wildlife conservation, disturbance ecology, and ecological anthropology. Her research bridges human-environment interactions, focusing on policy-relevant conservation in Australia and globally.

Her work includes collaborations with the Victorian Government on forest wildlife management, studies on species like the Strzelecki Gum and Sambar Deer in Australia, and international projects in Nepal (human-tiger conflict, traditional knowledge), China (biodiversity in reconstructed forests), and Indonesia (rattan agroforestry). She has supervised over 20 PhD/Masters students and secured major grants, including a $230,000 project on Strzelecki Ranges conservation.

Publications highlight themes like pangolin conservation in Nepal, post-bushfire community resilience, and ethical research challenges. She actively promotes gender equity in forestry governance and integrates traditional ecological knowledge into modern conservation frameworks.

Her teaching spans environmental science and veterinary wildlife studies. Professional affiliations include the Ecological Society of Australia and BirdLife Australia. She leads interdisciplinary teams and fosters intra-university collaborations to address complex environmental challenges.