About Me

I’m a conservation ecologist with 20 years of diverse experience working in the field, both as a practitioner and a scientist. I have developed applied conservation research and used this to deliver conservation impact on the ground yielding tangible results to address real-world issues. Prior to embarking on a conservation career I served as a government officer, archaeologist and curator under the Department of Museums and Antiquities (now the Department of National Heritage), Malaysia.

My most recent research has investigated bat-plant interactions and bat-human interactions, and my past work focused on the conservation ecology of Old World fruit bats (Pteropodidae), particularly flying foxes (Pteropus spp.). However, my practical conservation experience also includes general bat conservation, ecosystem services, wildlife population ecology, tropical forest and protected area management, poaching and wildlife trade, local communities, indigenous rights, and conservation communication.

CONSERVATION IMPACT/ACHIEVEMENTS

My conservation interests have been multi-disciplinary and this is also reflected in the successes and results of my work:

• Co-led and coordinated an IUCN Red List assessment for the Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus) that successfully resulted in this species being uplisted to Endangered.
• Production of a preliminary roadmap document detailing specific guidelines for the conservation of flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Peninsular Malaysia.
• Successfully lobbied the Terengganu state government in Malaysia (via Rimba) to protect threatened flying foxes (P. vampyrus, P. hypomelanus) from hunting, resulting in a moratorium on the issuance of licences to hunt flying foxes, and a directive to protect flying fox habitat in the state.
• The production of a preliminary management plan for a protected area (Royal Belum State Park) in Malaysia through stakeholder consultation provided a blueprint for managing authorities to identify and address issues and threats effectively, and improve collaboration in natural resource management.
• Initiated, organised and coordinated the first effort to ensure indigenous peoples’ participation in the policy and management of a protected area (Royal Belum State Park) in Peninsular Malaysia, successfully incorporating local community input to inform management considerations in the area.
• Engaged big players in the timber industry, as well as NGOs and experts in environmental and social issues to collectively agree on a national interpretation of High Conservation Value Forests in Malaysia (including Sabah and Sarawak).