Doug’s Story

"Wildlife images are one of the most powerful ways we have of engaging people in the natural world" - Sir David Attenborough.

Initially trained as a zoologist, I later completed a Masters of Environment and then a Masters of Bioethics. Together, these two qualifications really helped shape my thinking as what type of issues I should be focusing on and why.

After many years in senior healthcare marketing roles, being on the board of Environment Victoria, and a governor of WWF Australia (2011-2019), in addition to conservation and wildlife photography, I now run a science/environmentally focused communication consultancy called The Framing Effect, whose aim is to help people influence more effectively, both with words and with images.

I’ve had the privilege of chairing the Victorian Alliance for Platypus-Safe Yabby Traps (2018-2019) - a collective established to prevent the indiscriminate cruel drowning deaths of platypuses in Victoria that occurred via the (often illegal) use of enclosed yabby traps which was successful in 2019, as well as chasing in the international League of Conservation Photographers ethics committee.

My hope is that the images and information I share will inspire people to stop, think, and treat the world a little more kindly.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science (zoology and microbiology), Grad. Cert. Health Economics, Diploma of Education, Graduate Diploma of Bioethics, Master of Bioethics, Master of Environment (Governance, policy and comms).

Certified drone pilot (RePL) <25Kg (Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Australia)

Current memberships

Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP)

Member of the Ecology Society of Australia Media and Communications Working Group

Clients

My clients include National Geographic, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Audubon, the Australian Conservation Foundation, Environment Victoria, Animals Australia, Fairfax media, NewsCorp, New York Times and Australian Geographic.

Conservation/Animal Welfare Policy Achievements

2018-19: Facilitated the banning of platypus-drowning fishing (Opera House) nets in the state Victoria.

2021-22: Co-chair iLCP ethics committee in the re-writing of their Ethics principles