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).

Certifications
Certified drone pilot (RePL) <25Kg (Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Australia)
Advanced PADI diver
Provide advanced first aid, resuscitation and oxygen therapy

Current training
Community Ambulance Officer (i.e. first responder) with Ambulance Victoria

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

Clients
My clients include National Geographic, BBC Wildlife Magazine, The Guardian,, Environment Victoria, Cool Australia, 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.
2108-20: Applied and facilitated that platypus be listed as a threatened species in the state of Victoria, raising awareness and an action plan.
2021: Facilitated that barbed wire be banned and proactively eliminated in my local council area.
2021: Facilitated eBAY to stop selling wildlife unfriendly fruit-tree netting across all of Australia Sept 2021-22: Co-chair of the iLCP ethics committee in the re-writing of their Ethics principles.
2024: Removed 17km of barbed wire from rural property.