Dr Debbie Saunders is a Conservation Ecologist & Nature-Tech Innovation Dr Debbie Saunders has a PhD in Conservation Ecology from the Australian National University and over 20 years experience translating biodiversity conservation research into innovative nature-tech and large-scale ecosystem restoration projects. Dr Saunders is the co-founder and CEO of two innovative conservation technology companies (NatureHelm and Wildlife Drones) with a focus on scaling up biodiversity conservation and monitoring wildlife and ecosystems globally in ways that were not previously possible.  She has experience across the environment sector, working as a private environmental consultant, government threatened species manager and a researcher and conservation project manager within academia, as well as collaborating extensively with environmental NGOs.  Her extensive research has focused on improving conservation of migratory species and their habitats across vast landscapes, providing the inspiration for establishing innovative technology to help address knowledge and capability gaps.  Over the past nine years she has led the development and deployment of some of the world’s most advanced conservation technologies for enhancing the monitoring and management of ecosystems and species across 15 countries.  She has also led her business to win multiple business sustainability and innovation awards for her creative solutions for challenging ecosystem conservation problems, including Australia’s National Telstra Best of Business Award for Promoting Sustainability.Welcome to Nature Magic It is lovely to kick off 2026 with this fascinating conversation with Dr Debbie Saunders showing how tech can create solutions for solving complex questions in nature conservation. Debbie is is co founder of Nature Helm and Wild life drones used globally to assess ecosystems over vast habitats and down to the smallest species. Her innovations have won many major awards including Australias National Telstra best of business award for Sustainability. She explains how tech is the answer to reversing the biodiversity emergency by visualising the reality in a way that humans can understand instantly to release funds to create actual positive change.
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