Dr Courtney Morgans

Courtney is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow who specialises in the evaluation of land use policies and conservation programs. She is particularly interested in understanding the synergies and trade-offs between environmental conservation and socioeconomic development as well as the use of interdisciplinary approaches to identify how conservation programs can meet the needs of wildlife and people.

As part of the Sustainable Landscapes Group, Courtney works in collaboration with partners from Griffith University and the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment to understand the drivers behind koala habitat loss and identify opportunities for species recovery.

Courtney completed her PhD with the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science at The University of Queensland. Using Bornean orangutan as a case study, her research investigated where conservation funding should be allocated to maximise returns on investment, as well as the environmental, social, and economic impacts of certification programs. She has contributed her expertise to non-profit and intergovernmental programs focused on improving the sustainability of oil palm production and has worked with local conservation initiatives to establish and promote citizen science projects in south-east Queensland.