Dr Simon Ferrier

Chief Research Scientist

https://people.csiro.au/F/S/Simon-Ferrier

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GPO BOX 1700
CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA

Biography

Dr Simon Ferrier is a Chief Research Scientist with CSIRO Land and Water, based in Canberra, Australia. He is also recognised as an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, and an Honorary Fellow at the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).

Before joining CSIRO in 2008, Simon spent more than 20 years working with state-government agencies in New South Wales. During this time he was an early pioneer in the development of species- and community-level biodiversity modelling, and of techniques for applying such models to real-world conservation prioritisation, land-use planning, and natural resource management.

More recently Simon and his CSIRO colleagues have been developing a new generation of macroecological approaches to biodiversity modelling and scenario analysis, and applying these techniques at local, national and global scales, working in collaboration with scientists and practitioners across multiple disciplines and sectors. Applications have focused on assessing past-to-present change in the status of biodiversity, projecting impacts of future scenarios of climate and land-use change, and evaluating the potential effectiveness of alternative policy and management options in ameliorating these impacts.

Simon also engages extensively with international initiatives promoting and guiding efforts in biodiversity modelling and assessment globally, including recently co-chairing the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Methodological Assessment of Scenarios and Models.

Publications

For a list of Simon’s publications see his profile at Google Scholar and ResearcherID

Professional Areas

Fields of Research

Current

Academic Qualifications

1978

BSc (First Class Honours)
University of Queensland
1984

PhD
University of New England
1987

Postgrad. Dip. Computing Science
University of New England

Professional Experiences

2008- 2019

Senior Principal Research Scientist
CSIRO
2005-2007

Principal Research Scientist
NSW Dept of Environment & Climate Change
1994-2004

Principal GIS Research Officer
NSW Dept of Environment & Conservation
1987-1993

Project Officer
NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
1984-1986

Consultant
NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service

Achievements and Awards

2013-2017

OCE Science Leader Award
CSIRO
2011-2012

OCE Newton-Turner Award
CSIRO