Conservation Crossroads Lab
Conservation science for working landscapes
We work at the intersection of wildlife, people, and productive landscapes: from private land conservation to biodiversity friendly on-farm food production, partnering with landholders, NGOs, industries, and policymakers to conserve biodiversity in a changing climate.
Did you know?
An estimated 60% of Australia’s iconic and threatened wildlife live on private land.
On farms, pastoral leases, and family properties, not inside national parks.
Closing that gap, one farm and one landholder at a time, is where our research lives.
Lab Members
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Dr Carla Archibald
LECTURER & ARC INDUSTRY FELLOW
Carla is a conservation scientist who researches how farming, food systems, and climate change affect wildlife, and what we can do about it. Her work develops practical tools for farmers, industries, and governments to make better decisions for nature. She leads the Conservation Crossroads Lab at Deakin University and holds an ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship with WWF-Australia. -
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Clara Orford
GRADUATE PHD RESEARCHER
Clara's PhD research explores how bird communities respond to farming practices, using acoustic monitoring across Victorian vineyards to understand how sustainable management can support both healthy ecosystems and productive farms.
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Madi May
MASTER STUDENT RESEARCHER
Madi's Masters research is focused on sustainable finance for private land conservation, using spatial mapping and social surveys to identify opportunities to introduce sustainable finance initiatives to support the achievement of conservation goals within Australia. -
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Moth Osborne
HONOURS STUDENT RESEARCHER
Moth's Honours research uses spatial analysis to explore how climate risk should be incorporated into species-specific credit design. Using the Greater Glider as a case study, their work aims to inform more climate-resilient biodiversity finance in Australia. -
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Rajvidya Wadalkar
GRADUATE PHD RESEARCHER
Rajvidya’s PhD investigates how corporate responsibility reporting and private finance can be better directed toward biodiversity conservation and climate resilience across India's agricultural landscapes. Before starting her PhD, she worked in ESG assurance, biodiversity impact assessment, and sustainability reporting in India, these experiences directly inform her research questions.
Making conservation work outside the protected area fence
The Conservation Crossroads Lab at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, focuses on how we protect biodiversity on private and productive landscapes, through interdisciplinary collaborations and the application of principles from ecology, spatial modelling, and social science.
Let's talk
Whether you're weighing a conservation or sustainability question on your land or in your supply chain, or considering where to apply for your PhD, we'd like to hear from you.
Industry & landholders
Our strongest work comes from testing ideas on real farms and operations, not just the field station. Tell us what you're working on and where conservation fits into it.
Prospective students
Have a look through our Research and Meet the Team pages first, and mention which project or area interests you most, as it helps us give you a useful answer faster.
Everyone else
Media, collaborators, and curious readers, feel free to reach out.