Vanessa Adams is an accomplished academic with extensive experience in ecology and conservation. Currently serving as an Associate Professor at the University of Tasmania since June 2018, Vanessa has held various academic positions including Lecturer at Macquarie University and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at both The University of Queensland and Charles Darwin University. Vanessa began their career at AIMS@JCU as Office Manager, overseeing the website and media relations and later worked as an Actuarial Analyst at Mercer, where Vanessa completed the first four actuarial exams with the Society of Actuaries. A Fulbright Fellow, Vanessa conducted ecological research focused on ecosystem-based management and metacommunity dynamics. Vanessa earned a PhD in Conservation Planning and Economics from James Cook University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Washington and Lee University.