Professor Richard Kingsford AO
University of New South Wales
Professor Richard Kingsford is the Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at the University of New South Wales.
He is a conservation biologist, with expertise in restoration of ecosystems. He has worked extensively across the wetlands and rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin and Lake Eyre Basin. He worked for the NSW Government Environment agency from 1986-2004. He also worked with many different communities and governments.
Richard has made a significant contribution to understanding the impact of water resource developments on rivers and wetlands and their dependent ecosystem services around the world. A major part of Richard's career has focused on waterbirds and their dynamics in wetlands, including tracking changes over time in different wetland ecosystems and linking this to drivers of natural and human disturbances to river flows and flooding patterns. He leads a major reintroduction program called Wild Deserts, working in Sturt National Park (NSW) with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, is a collaborator of the Platypus Conservation Initiative, and contributes to global management of ecosystems.
Richard's research has influenced conservation policy and management through involvement on state and federal advisory committees. He is also a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.
“I joined the Biodiversity Council because influencing policy and management is critical to effective conservation and restoration of our ecosystems and their species.” “We know how to stop biodiversity loss but it depends on the collective actions of governments and communities, and the Biodiversity Council providing an incredible range of expertise on tap." - Richard Kingsford
In 2025, Richard was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to conservation biology, environmental sustainability research, freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems governance.
