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About the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research

Research Themes | Seminar Series | Staff

The Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI) is a leading centre for applied ecological research, with an emphasis on flora, fauna and biodiversity issues. ARI's main focus is on providing strategic research and management advice to answer key questions affecting ecologically sustainable land or water management and resource use policies. The Institute has over 80 research staff with expertise in the ecology and taxonomy of flora, fauna and freshwater species and an excellent knowledge of ecosystem processes and interactions. See our Research Strategy and Research Themes for more information on the Institute and our research priorities, direction and capacity.

Arthur Rylah Institute Management Committee The Management Committee at ARI comprises the ARI Director (Dr Kim Lowe), two senior cross-Institute leadership roles (Dr John Koehn & Fern Hames), and the Research Section Managers (Dr David Duncan, Dr Lindy Lumsden, Tim O'Brien & Jarod Lyon).
Director Arthur Rylah Institute Dr Kim Lowe Kim leads ARI to undertake world-class, strategic research to support and guide sustainable ecosystem management. Kim has worked in State and Commonwealth environment departments since 1984 in a variety of research, planning and policy roles. This has covered many fields including native vegetation policy, landcare, salinity, pest plants and animals, threatened species recovery, deer/duck/quail hunting, and international, national and State biodiversity legal conventions. He has had experience with biodiversity research conducted through various models including the Cooperative Research Centres, private consulting firms, universities, and non-government organisations. Kim has a PhD from the University of Melbourne on the ecology and socio-biology of large wading birds.
Science Leadership and Capability Dr John Koehn John has an institute-wide role in providing scientific leadership through building strategic capability, highlighting emerging directions and approaches and enhancing the quality of scientific research. John is one of Australia’s leading fish biologists and with over 170 scientific publications has published and provided advice on most of Victoria’s freshwater species and their threats. He provides advice on a range of committees, and is a ministerially appointed member of the Victorian Scientific Advisory Committee for the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988).
Science Manager – Collaboration and Communication (Acting) Fern Hames Fern has responsibility for building links between the research programs and sections at ARI as well as with key stakeholders and research partners. This enabling role is designed to increase the capacity of ARI to work together in strategic alliances to conduct quality applied ecological research to underpin policy decisions. Fern has extensive experience in freshwater fish and aquaculture research, stakeholder and community engagement, policy development and environmental education, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin. She is currently a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.
Community Ecology (Acting) Dr David Duncan David is providing interim leadership to research programs in forest and fire ecology, vegetation monitoring, ecological analysis and synthesis, and wetlands and waterbirds. David's research experience includes landscape ecology, plant ecology, pollination biology and comparative evolutionary ecology. He has published broadly in applied ecology with specialist skills in ecological evaluation, native vegetation and habitat change, sustainable land use and conservation planning. David collaborates across disciplines and institutions to apply field-based, interview and modelling approaches to applied ecological questions.
Wildlife Ecology Dr Lindy Lumsden Lindy leads a team that conducts applied research on threatened and introduced vertebrate fauna, and wildlife management issues, to inform policy and management decisions. Lindy is internationally recognised as an expert on the ecology and conservation of insectivorous bats. She is a member of the IUCN Chiropteran Specialist Group and sits on the editorial board of the international journal Acta Chiropterologica.
Aquatic Ecology Tim O’Brien Tim’s team conducts research to increase the effectiveness of management and policy outcomes for aquatic environments. Current research is focused on condition assessments for wetlands and rivers, threatened species recovery and amelioration of threatening processes such as fire, altered stream flows and incursions of pest fish. Tim’s expertise is in providing for the migratory requirements of freshwater fish.
Waterway Management and Restoration (Acting) Jarod Lyon Jarod leads a team of dedicated researchers examining various aspects of restoration ecology ecological management plans intervention based research that helps inform management and policy decisions. The current team has strong links across a range of organisations, including government departments, Catchment Management Authorities, and Universities. Jarod has many years experience as a freshwater scientist, including planning for, undertaking and monitoring the restoration of woody habitat into rivers and streams, understanding the impact of bushfires on aquatic systems, threatened species management, angler liaison and developing ecological management plans.