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ABSTRACT
The Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s National Science Program supports large-scale conservation through monitoring, research, threat management and species reintroductions. This talk provides an overview of the program’s national-scale approach, including standardised biodiversity monitoring, targeted research to resolve key knowledge gaps, and science-guided reintroductions across a network of AWC properties and partnership areas. I will highlight two priority areas – climate change adaptation and genetic management. Climate vulnerability assessments are being developed to identify at-risk species and systems, quantify exposure and sensitivity, and inform adaptation pathways under uncertain futures. Concurrently, genetic approaches are being embedded in management to guide founder selection, optimise translocations, and maintain adaptive potential in threatened populations. I will provide case studies from AWC's reintroduction programs that demonstrate how these approaches have been combined to support long-term population persistence.

BIOGRAPHY
Jennifer Pierson is Australian Wildlife Conservancy's National Science Team Manager, and leads their Climate Change Adaptation program. She specialises in conservation genetics, participating in several international working groups to improve the application of genetics in conservation. She has over 50 scientific publications as well as an edited book, book chapters, agency reports, and presentations to industry, agencies, and scientific meetings. Her goal is to bridge the gap between research and management through applying scientific principles to the conservation and management of threatened species.