Denis Saunders

Dr Denis Saunders AM, in December 2006 he became the President of WWF-Australia.

"Dr Saunders has worked in nature conservation for close to 40 years. He is a former Chief Research Scientist with the Australian Commonwealth and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and is currently a Member of the Australian Heritage Commission.

"With a strong commitment to communicating landscape ecology and conservation to all members of the community, Dr Saunders has received awards for contributions to conservation biology and for landscape ecology. He was awarded the International Society for Conservation Biology's 1998 Individual in Government award and a joint International Association for Landscape Ecology's 1999 Distinguished Scholarship Award.

"Dr Saunders has been a member of WWF-Australia's Scientific Advisory Committee since 1990. During this time he provided valuable input on the conservation and management of remnant native vegetation and associated fauna...

"Dr Denis Saunders will succeed Robert Purves, who has been WWF-Australia's President for the past 7 years. During this time Robert has seen the organisation grow from just 12 staff to 100 staff working on issues as diverse as illegal fishing in Antarctic waters to advocating Indigenous Protected Areas in the Northern Territory. Robert remains committed to WWF and has become a board member of WWF International."

• Member, Wentworth Group
• Director, Earthwatch Institute (Australia)
• Former Council Member, Birds Australia