Dr Renee Piccolo

Renee Piccolo is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Queensland and Wildlife Observatory of Australia (WildObs), where she focuses on ecological data management and analysis, contributing to large-scale biodiversity monitoring and conservation reporting, in partnership with researchers and government agencies.

Her PhD, completed through Griffith University and CSIRO, developed a decision-support framework to assess the feasibility of habitat restoration under complex biophysical, social, and governance constraints, using mangrove ecosystems as a case study. This interdisciplinary research integrated spatial modelling, conservation science, and applied ecology to support restoration decision-making.

Renee’s work spans species distribution modelling, land tenure analysis, and restoration prioritisation, and is published in Restoration Ecology, Ocean & Coastal Management, and Scientific Reports. She has contributed to Queensland’s State of the Environment Report and collaborates closely with academic institutions and government departments on biodiversity outcomes.

Before entering academia, Renee worked extensively in wildlife handling, ecological consultancy, and community engagement for over a decade. She brings practical field experience, strong analytical skills, and a policy-informed perspective to her work on complex environmental challenges.