I have had a wide-ranging career at different times as researcher, planner, adviser, manager and academic. My work has included research examining the roles of natural variability, and human impact, on the planet, and the effects of expected future climates on important environmental and socio-economic issues for Australia and the Earth. I am a recognised expert in ecology, sustainability, climate change science and the effects of expected future climates on important environmental and socio-economic issues for Australia, and policy formulation including market-based policy responses I am CEO of the Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association (WA SEA) Inc. I also run a consultancy called Future Smart Strategies providing strategic research and advice to businesses and organisations interested in sustainability, specialising in advice on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. I am a member of a number of policy groups including the Federal Government's Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism Energy Efficiency Consultative Committee, the Board of the Stlirling City Centre Alliance, and the Australian Institute of Energy's WA Branch Committee. Formerly I was a member of the WA Government's High Level Stakeholder Group on Greenhouse, the WA Land Information System's (WALIS) Advisory Committee I am also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Earth and Geographical Sciences, The University of Western Australia. My course in Environmental Change (EART3320) examines the roles of natural variability and human impact on environmental change, and discusses economics, international law and politics. See also Climate politics in action. And Information on climate change. Disturbingly, many other grave problems are being experienced as a consequence of environmental change including COs release, such as ocean acidification, global food security, fisheries depletion, deforestation (irrespective of the greenhouse issue), habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss, overpopulation are a few - we are doing a fine job on the planet, and ironically the suite of problems are all often precursors to the overall problem and solutions to global warming will in large part address the other issues (and I can add obesity and diabetes and a range of other modern human ailments...)   I do a whole range of different talks for professional and community audiences on environmental change and climate change, and on the science and economics of global warming (see here), but also on a range of other subjects - including conservation, natural resource management - another example is here.   Contact Details Email: rwills@segs.uwa.edu.au Email: ceo@wasea.com.au Ph: +61 9481 3169 Snail: WA SEA Office, Home Ideas Centre, City West, West Perth 6000

Between 2006 and 2007 I was Manager of Sustainability Services with SMEC - the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation – a global company with almost 3000 employees in 14 countries that in 2006 was listed at 70 in 'The Top 200 International Design Firms'. Based in Perth but national in outlook, I led and managed the three Sustainablity Services teams within SMEC’s Environment and Planning group - Ecological Survey, Environmental Audit, and Renewable Energy and Greenhouse While at SMEC I was a member of several policy committees with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including Deputy Chair of the CCIs Climate Change Committee.

In 2003 I worked in Kabul, Afghanistan, as a Researcher and Adviser (volunteer) with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) - an independent Foundation supported by 18 governments undertaking research, operational assistance and contributions to the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. I was invited to assist Dr Ian McLean, an internationally recognised expert on dog behaviour who provides scientific input to studies initiated by GICHD. From left to right is Inayatadullah, me, Ian, Rebecca, Asif and Mohammed.

Beween March 1996 and April 2001, I was Senior Ecologist with the Science Division of the Botanic Garden and Parks Authority. I was directing and conducting research to provide information for the ecologically-based management of urban bushland managed by Kings Park. I led a team of researchers in ecology, including postgraduate students, to work with the Botanic Garden and Parks Authority. My work included close collaboration with researchers from universities (eg. Geography and Botany, UWA), government and private industry. I participated (as a representative of Botanic Garden and Parks Authority) in Revegetation for the Future, a collaborative team of government agencies, non-government organisations, private industry and community groups interested in bringing back the bush, and facilitated by Greening Western Australia. The loss of the bush, in both cultural and biological senses, cannot be left as a legacy for the next generation. Bringing back the bush is as much about people, both individuals and communities, as it is about vegetation management. It is as much a concern for people in the city and regional centres as it is for rural land owners. It is in particular about a viable environmental future for our children - that (in a global sense) is perhaps the most important. The picture was taken in 1999 in tuart forest in the Yalgorup National Park south of Mandurah

I have spent some time with the Sail Training Association of Western Australia - on board the Leeuwin II This picture was taken in Lucky Bay in 1999.

Follow these hypertext links if you would like to know about: my previous work in GIS with CALM my work on plant diseases, and what I did to start along a career in ecology. And for more information on dieback, check out Giles Hardy's Murdoch University web site.

You may be interested to know about: the talks I've given (including arranging the seminar How to sell yourself for Science (NOT)), and what I've published along the way. All this and more is summarised in my Curriculum Vitae.

I belong to the Ecological Society of Australia and active in various roles including Vice President (2000 - 2003), Hon Secretary (1998 - 1999), ESA Bulletin editor (1994-1997), co-convenor of the Symposia "Plant Diseases In Ecosystems" held in April 1994 in Western Australia, "Ecology for Everyone - communicating ecology to scientists, the public and the politicians" which was held as part of the 1996 ESA Meeting in Townsville, Queensland, and one of the organisers of ESA99,held in Fremantle in September 1999.

I also belong to the Wildflower Society of Western Australia (WFSWA) and the Society for Growing Australian Plants. I have been helping Coolbinia Primary School explore the value of their bushland.

I prefer to do my computing on an Apple Macintosh. A long time ago I helped with NetDay WA - volunteers bringing the Internet to schools for free!

I captured these images of the McNaught comet in Harvey, Western Australia on the evening of 20 January 2006.