Lesley is a Professor in Biological Sciences at Macquarie University. Her research interests include; Impacts of current and future climate change on species and communities and Implications of climate change for conservation policy.


Research Interests
  • Impacts of current and future climate change on species and communities
  • Implications of climate change for conservation policy
  • Evolutionary ecology of plant-insect interactions

 Recent Scientific Service and Appointments

  • Director, Macquarie University Concentration in Research Excellence on Climate Risk
  • Co-convenor and Biological Impacts node leader, ARC Network for Earth System Science
  • Member, Management Committee, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (2008-)
  • Member, Science Advisory Committee, World Wildlife Fund, Australia (2008-)
  • Member, Climate Change Advisory Panel, NSW Dept of Environment and Climate Change (2008-)
  • Reviewer, NSW State of the Environment Report 2006
  • Member, Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Authority Advisory Board (2006-)
  • Reviewer, Dept. of Environment and Conservation Climate Change Adaptation Policy 2006
  • Lead Author, Working Group II, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2004-2007), Chapt. 11 Australia and New Zealand
  • Contributing Author, Working Group II, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2004-2007), Chapt. 4 Ecosystems
  • Expert Reviewer, Working Group II, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2004-2007)
  • Chair, NSW Scientific Committee (2005-), Deputy Chair (2003-2004)
  • Co-convenor of workshop on Climate Change and Biodiversity, Canberra, October 2002, sponsored by the Biological Diversity Advisory Committee. Co-author and editor of workshop report (2003)
  • Australian representative: Working party to draft guidelines on response of Red List species to climate change, IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), London, Feb 2003
  • Scientific Editor 2004: National Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan(2003-2007)
  • Appointed member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (2005-2008).