Impact, failure, and the case for Theory of Change

Hugh Possingham is a conservation scientist and applied mathematician dedicated to saving as much biodiversity as possible. He is the Co-chief Councillor of the Biodiversity Council and a Professor of Mathematics and Ecology at The University of Queensland. Hugh was the founding Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and the NESP Threatened Species Hub. He serves as Chief Scientist of Accounting for Nature, is Vice President of BirdLife Australia, and has held ARC Federation, Laureate, and Professorial Fellowships. Hugh’s research integrates mathematics, decision science, and ecology to guide conservation worldwide. He co-developed Marxan, the most widely used conservation planning software, applied in more than 180 countries to design marine and terrestrial protected area systems — including the rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef. Alongside Dr Barry Traill, he co-authored the Brigalow Declaration, which helped halt broadscale land clearing in Queensland, saving an area the size of Portugal and cutting 10% of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. He has published over 740 peer-reviewed papers (including >35 in Science and Nature), mentored more than 200 research students, and has an h-index exceeding 175.