William Laurance

Director, Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University

William Laurance is the Director of the Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. He also founded and directs ALERT—the Alliance of Leading Environmental Researchers & Thinkers. Mr. Laurance is a Distinguished Research Professor and Australian Laureate at James Cook University. A tropical conservation biologist, he has written eight books and over 400 scientific and popular articles. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences and has received many professional honors, including the Heineken Environment Prize, BBVA Frontiers Award, SCB Distinguished Service Award, and ZSL Outstanding Conservation Achievement Award.