The ABS Executive
President - Leroy Gonsalves
Leroy is passionate about all things bats, but has a particular interest in the ecology of echolocating bats. He works as a research scientist in the Forest Science group of the NSW Department of Primary Industries where he undertakes research on threatened species, including bats, in forested and other landscapes to improve ecological outcomes.
Vice-President - Kelly Sheldrick
Kelly returned to Australia from the UK in 2023 where she worked as an ecological consultant, and volunteered as the Events Officer for the Wiltshire Bat Group, and with the Avon Bat Group and Somerset Bat Group. She's been fortunate enough to volunteer as a bat and bird research assistant in Uganda and now works as the Citizen Science Program Manager at the Conservation Council of Western Australia. Kelly has a passion for community education and outreach and co-runs the WA Bat Network, whilst also completing a MSc at Murdoch University.
Second Vice-President - Lindy Lumsden
Lindy has been on the executive of the ABS for longer than she can remember and continues to be passionate about the ABS and the conservation of bats more broadly. She gets great satisfaction and enjoyment out of helping graduate research students and has co-supervised over 20 projects on bats. She also loves talking to community groups about bats and changing attitudes and perceptions. She is employed as a principal research scientist with the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, at the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, undertaking and managing research projects on threatened species, including bats, to improve their management and conservation.
Secretary - Kirsty Myron
Kirsty Myron is a Local Authority Ecologist with a passion for bats. She also runs non-profit New Zealand Bat Conservation where she communicates NZ batty news and activities. Kirsty helped create and is co-leading the Ausbats Instagram page.
Treasurer - Joanna Haddock
Joanna Haddock became the treasurer for the society in 2020, and has a passion Australian bats. She has degrees in Psychology and Environmental Science, and finished her PhD in 2019, investigating the impacts of urban street lighting on insectivorous bats. Joanna now uses her psychology and her love of bats in the world of Science Communication, and is employed as a Community Engagement Officer in the Biodiversity and Conservation Division in the NSW Government.
Membership Secretary - Diana Prada
Diana is a PhD candidate at the School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia. She started studying local microbat communities in 2016. Her current research uses molecular techniques to study bat ecology and the characterization of their viral diversity.
Newsletter Editor - Danielle Eastick
Since completing her PhD on bat ecology and reproduction, Danielle has worked as a consultant at Biosis in Melbourne. Her passion lies around the impacts of human disturbance on bats, however since starting at Biosis she now works on a range of wildlife (but still loves bats the most!). She is also one of the researchers involved in running Melbourne's Bat Box Monitoring Program.
The ABS extended executive
Inquiries Officer - Susan Campbell
Better known amongst the Society for her role editing the Newsletter over the last decade, Susan has been fascinated with bats since completing honours and PhD projects on the little forest bat and large-footed myotis respectively in Victoria. With Lindy as an inspirational mentor, Susan continued to contribute to the ABS whilst relocating to Western Australia to work as an invasive species research officer for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Albany.
Conservation Officer - Michael Pennay
Michael started working with frogs and quolls before graduating to bats about 20 years ago, he has worked with many bat species in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Michael has degrees in history, applied science and environmental law. He served as President of the ABS from 2008-2012, and has continued to help with the extended executive since then.
Bat Night Coordinator - Maree Kerr
Maree is a higher degree candidate at Griffith University studying the role of education in affecting attitudes toward flying-foxes. She is passionate about bat tourism and created the Australasian Bat Night program in 2012 to raise public awareness about bats, and is coordinating development of a national bat tourism trail. She is president of the newly formed Bats and Trees Society of Cairns, the main aim of which is to educate and engage the community with bats.
Flying-Fox Expert Group (FFEG) Co-convenors:
Justin Welbergen
Justin is the Immediate Past President of the ABS (2016-2024) and works as a professor at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) at Western Sydney University. He is director of the HIE Lab of Animal Ecology, home to an international ensemble of students that work on charismatic species of mammals and birds in remote parts of the world. He also co-leads BATsLAB, a primary academic destination for bat research in Australia; and is founding member of the Pacific Bat Conservation Network (PacBat), which aims to promote effective, community-led bat conservation in Oceania. Earlier this century, Justin conducted his PhD (Cantab) on the social organisation of Australian flying-foxes and has been fascinated with these weird and wonderful creatures ever since.
Maree Kerr
In addition to her role as ABS Bat Night Coordinator, Maree is also co-convenor of the FFEG.
Jess Bracks
Jess is a wildlife biologist passionate about ensuring a conservation focus while managing human/wildlife conflict, and is often invited to advise on policy for local, state and federal government. Jess played a key role in facilitating the 2017 and 2018 National Flying-fox Forums, and is working towards a consistent and strategic national approach to flying-fox management and conservation across Australia. She loves all wildlife, but bats (of all sizes!) are obviously the best.
Sarah Curran
Website Manager:
Currently searching for someone to take on this role - please reach out to us if you are interested!
Social Media Officers:
X - Ariana Ananda
Ari's passion for wildlife conservation brought her from the USA to Australia nearly 3 years ago. She has been interested in bats since 2013 and has worked and volunteered with them in Costa Rica, Mexico, and throughout Australia. When she's not volunteering her time as a research assistant, Ari is a freelance photographer and enjoys hiking, writing, playing ultimate frisbee, and being a board game junkie.
Facebook & Instagram - Kirsty Myron
In addition to her role as ABS Secretary, Kirsty is also a social media officer for the ABS Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Facebook, X & Instagram - Serra Clisby
Serra runs a dedicated bat rescue and rehabilitation shelter “Little Wing Bat Haven” on Phillip Island, Victoria. She uses her professional photography and social media skills to promote a positive image of bats to educate and inform.
