ATC ‘22 ARBORPALOOZA: EXPLORING THE WIDE WORLD OF TREES
Currently, I serve as Executive Director/Founder of TREE Foundation in Saraso - ta, FL, established in 2000 as a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to link local underserved children to nature, and promote tree research, education, and ex - ploration. I am also launching Mission Green, to build 10 canopy walkways in the world’s highest bio-diverse forests over the next 5 years. This project partners with renowned oceanographer, Sylvia Earle, who founded Mission Blue to save ocean “Hope Spots,” whereas I am focused on conserving rain forest biodiversity “Hot Spots.” My memoir, “T HE ARBORNAUT. A Life Discovering the Eighth Continent in the Trees Above Us” aims to inspire girls to seek careers in field biology. I current - ly serve as a visiting professor for the National University of Singapore; research professor for the University of Sains Malaysia; adjunct professor at Arizona State University; and National Geographic Explorer in Ethiopia to save their last 4% for - est fragments. After completing a Ph.D. program in Sydney in 1983, I remained in Australia for eight years demystifying rural eucalypt dieback epidemics and serving as the co-manager of a fifth-generation family-owned Merino sheep and cattle business. Returning to the U.S. in 1991, I became CEO of Selby Botanical Gardens in Sara - sota, FL, growing its operation to profitability and then ranked as one of America’s Top Ten Botanical Gardens. Following this, I was recruited into three academic/ leadership positions: New College of Florida as their inaugural director of environ - mental initiatives; North Carolina State University to direct the construction and launch of the Nature Research Center; and the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco as Inaugural Chief of Science and Sustainability to “reinvent muse - um science.” I returned to Florida in 2019 to launch Mission Green and focus on global forest conservation with TREE Foundation. Over the past 40 years, my work in forest canopy science involved groundbreaking work in 46 countries and all seven continents; co-chaired five international cano - py conferences; and authored over 150 scientific publications and nine books on forest science and sustainability. My first book, “Life in the Treetops,” received a cover review in the NY Times Sunday Book Review. Championing an awareness about how forest conservation is critical to the survival of humankind also led me to serve as a sustainability consultant for green business initiatives
ATC ‘22 EXPLORATION GUIDE
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