Researcher biography
James grew up in North Canterbury, New Zealand, where he spent much of his time fishing, tramping and volunteering on various conservation projects.
He completed a BSc at the University of Otago from 2013–15 before beginning his MSc in the School of Geography there in 2016. It was during this time that James discovered a passion for studying the ecology and conservation of insect biodiversity.
After working as an ecologist for an environmental consultancy for three years, James moved to Brisbane in 2021 to begin a PhD studying the insect fauna of Norfolk Island. His research relates to various aspects of the conservation, ecology, and taxonomy of Norfolk’s insects with a general aim to improve our understanding of this fascinating island’s insect fauna. James is working with Professor Salit Kark, Emeritus Professor Myron Zalucki, and Parks Australia.