As a key member of the Botanical Identification Service, Andrew serves as the bridge between the public and the scientific research conducted at the herbarium. His responsibilities include addressing inquiries related to plant identification, distribution, and threatened species conservation, as well as updating the Flora of NSW (PlantNet) database with the latest information.
As a generalist identification and field botanist, Andrew receives plant specimens from various sources – mostly from government agencies, ecological consultants, law enforcement and members of the public. He identifies their specimens and prepares many of them for incorporation in to the herbarium collection. His workday typically includes examining specimens, updating PlantNet, and responding to client inquiries. He is also actively involved in fieldwork, collecting plant material for the herbarium and other projects, and participating in flora surveys – such as those for the Saving our Species program and Bush Blitz.
Andrew has been involved in significant discoveries and conservation efforts, contributing directly to conservation outcomes in seedbanking, species discovery through to publication. His research interests include Dilleniaceae (Hibbertia), Solanaceae (Solanum), Myrtaceae (eucalypts), Rutaceae (Asterolasia), and Fabaceae-Faboideae (Pultenaea) reflecting his broad appreciation for the Australian flora.
Driven by a love for natural world and a desire to contribute to its documentation and conservation, Andrew embarked on a career dedicated to understanding and preserving biodiversity. Through his work, he aims to continue making valuable contributions to the scientific community and disseminating knowledge to the community, ensuring the protection of Australia's rich plant heritage for future generations.
