Xiang Zhao (Zhao) joined QCIF in 2024 as a Software Developer and R Specialist, where he maintains and develops ecological algorithms for the EcoCommons Platform.

Before this, he completed an MPhil at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), applying spatial mapping, modelling, statistics, and optimisation techniques to analyse historical biodiversity survey patterns in terrestrial Antarctica and propose an optimal design for future research. Alongside his research, he tutored in GIS and Environmental Planning units at QUT, sharing his expertise in GIS and cartography.

He is passionate about advancing ecological research through programming, reproducible workflows, and scalable infrastructure. Zhao specialises in R, but also enjoys working with Python and other tools that support data science and geospatial analysis. He is particularly interested in developing open-source software to enable researchers and conservation practitioners to run species distribution models and make evidence-based decisions for biodiversity conservation.

Beyond his professional work, Zhao once spent two years travelling across Australia as a backpacker, which deepened his appreciation for the country’s diverse landscapes and wildlife. Earlier in his career, he contributed to a conservation project in Southwest China that focused on protecting giant panda habitats from livestock impacts—a project that earned him the BirdLife International Young Conservation Leaders Award. When not coding or working in conservation, he enjoys hiking and birdwatching.