Dances with Cranes

Dr Tim Nevard has just joined the Cairns Institute as an Adjunct Professor.  His career has encompassed roles in corporate governance, business development, sustainability, policy and communication within the consulting, development, tourism and conservation sectors.  Most recently he has been involved in the inception, development and implementation of sustainable ‘nature-friendly’ supply chains in the agrifood sector. 

Following an early career with the World Bank, he co-founded the RPS group and was founding director of the Centre of Tropical Urban and Regional Planning at James Cook University; executive Director of Conservation Grade farming; and board Advisor to the Jordans & Ryvita Company. Tim has also worked with nature conservation NGOs such as BirdLife International, the RSPB and the International Crane Foundation to help them achieve strategic development and conservation goals. 

Tim’s current research interests encompass the ecological, societal and economic roles of Australasia’s native and naturalised wildlife, particularly Brolgas and Sarus Cranes.  Through the Cairns Institute and in partnership with the Ok Tedi Development Foundation and International Crane Foundation, he is currently working on a large-scale multi-disciplinary project in the Trans Fly region of Papua New Guinea, linking conservation and sustainable development.  The first step in this project has been a survey by local people identifying key waterbird habitat; which, subject to Coronavirus restrictions, will be followed-up with a reconnaissance survey in the first half of 2021 and work to identify robust and culturally-appropriate ecological parameters for forthcoming rural development in the region.