Animals Journalists - Australia

As Head of Communications at FOUR PAWS Australia, Elise Burgess shapes national conversations about animal protection through evidence-based storytelling. Her 15-year career combines nonprofit leadership with innovative donor engagement strategies.

Key Focus Areas

• Animal welfare policy analysis
• Philanthropic narrative development
• Crisis communications planning

Pitching Insights

Burgess prioritizes proposals that:

• Demonstrate systemic solutions to animal exploitation
• Include verifiable impact metrics
• Feature cross-sector collaboration models

"Effective advocacy requires marrying compassion with operational excellence." - Burgess, 2024 Animal Welfare Summit Keynote

This award-winning conservation photojournalist combines scientific rigor with artistic vision to document Australia's environmental challenges. Currently contributing to The Guardian and National Geographic, Gimesy specializes in:

• Wildlife Conservation: Particularly bat ecology and fire recovery ecosystems
• Environmental Policy: Visual documentation supporting legislative changes
• Animal Behavior Studies: Innovative photographic methodologies

Pitching Insights

• Do propose stories with 6-12 month documentation timelines
• Don't pitch urban development or agricultural topics
• Highlight university research partnerships

Recent Recognition

• 2025 Shortlist: Nature and Humans Photo Competition
• 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Finalist
• 2021 Ranger Rick Photographer of the Year

Esther Beaton is Australia’s foremost environmental photojournalist, currently writing for Australian Geographic. Her work focuses on three core areas:

• Indigenous Land Stewardship: Documents collaborative conservation projects between First Nations communities and scientists
• Wildlife Photography Innovation: Develops field techniques for capturing nocturnal and elusive species
• Cultural Botany: Investigates plants with dual ecological and heritage significance

Pitching Insights

Successful story ideas often include:

• Technical photography challenges solved through engineering
• Climate resilience strategies rooted in traditional knowledge
• Understudied species with cultural heritage value

Achievements

• 2024 Australian Geographic Society Fellowship
• 12 featured covers for Australian Geographic
• Mentored 47 early-career photographers through masterclasses

As a senior reporter for Racing Queensland, Jordan Gerrans has become the definitive voice for the state’s harness and thoroughbred racing scenes. His work combines technical expertise with narrative flair, making complex industry dynamics accessible to diverse audiences.

Key Coverage Areas

• Event Analysis: Previews and recaps of major cups, including economic and cultural impacts
• Athlete Development: Profiles of emerging jockeys and veteran trainers
• Equine Management: Innovations in racehorse training, retirement programs, and welfare policies

Pitching Insights

Successful story angles often include:

• Cross-border collaborations between Australian and international racing circuits
• Data-driven explorations of breeding program outcomes
• Human-interest stories about behind-the-scenes track staff

“Gerrans’s reporting turns starting gates into storytelling platforms, revealing the intricate relationships between humans and horses.”

Justin Gilligan is an award-winning conservation photojournalist specializing in ecosystem-based stories across Australia. His work for Australian Geographic and collaborations with institutions like the Natural History Museum, London, have driven global conversations on plastic pollution and invasive species management.

Pitching Insights

• Do Pitch: Field-based conservation projects with visual potential (e.g., species reintroductions, habitat restoration).
• Avoid: Urban environmental policies or climate modeling without on-the-ground reporting.

Achievements

• 7-time winner at Wildlife Photographer of the Year
• 35 finalist entries in Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

As lead science writer for The Nature Conservancy's Cool Green Science, Justine Hausheer specializes in stories where rigorous field research meets existential stakes for threatened ecosystems. Based in Australia but reporting globally, her work bridges scientific detail and human narrative.

Key Coverage Areas

• Endangered Species Conservation: From Tasmanian swift parrots to Pacific leatherbacks, she documents species recovery efforts
• Indigenous Ecological Knowledge: Collaborative reporting with First Nations communities on fire management and species tracking
• Conservation Technology: Ground-level accounts of satellite tagging, bioacoustics monitoring, and other field tech applications

Pitching Priorities

• Stories revealing unexpected species interdependencies
• Ethical dilemmas in conservation resource allocation
• Field-based innovations in ecological monitoring

Achievements: SEJ Award finalist, Eureka Prize nominee, and author of the forthcoming book Last Stands: The Fight for Australia's Threatened Species (NewSouth 2026).

As owner-editor of Australia’s Travel Monitor and columnist for Asian Journeys Magazine, Webster shapes industry conversations around sustainable tourism. Her work consistently demonstrates three core principles:

• Ecosystem-First Storytelling: Prioritizes destinations implementing IUCN Red List species protection measures
• Community-Centric Models: Highlights tourism initiatives where ≥60% of profits fund local education/habitat restoration
• Luxury with Purpose: Covers high-end properties only if they hold EarthCheck certification or equivalent

Pitching Preferences

• ✅ Wildlife corridors created through tourism partnerships
• ✅ Indigenous-led conservation experiences
• ❌ Cruise industry developments
• ❌ Urban hotel openings without green certifications

“The best pitches combine hard conservation data with human stories—show me both the science and the smiles.”

Tanya Loos is Australia's preeminent science communicator specializing in human-wildlife coexistence strategies. Currently writing for Cosmos Magazine, her work combines ecological research with practical conservation guidance. With 26 articles published annually and two influential books, Loos has redefined public understanding of urban biodiversity.

Key Coverage Areas

• Wildlife Conflict Resolution: Developed evidence-based protocols adopted by municipal councils nationwide
• Climate Adaptation Ecology: Pioneered assisted migration frameworks for temperature-sensitive species
• Community Science Initiatives: Designed citizen participation models with verified data validation

Pitching Priorities

• Innovative biodiversity metrics for urban planning
• Cross-cultural land management partnerships
• Behavioral ecology in human-modified habitats

Recent Recognition: 2024 Eureka Prize finalist, 2023 Whitley Medal recipient. Profile: tanyaloos.com