Dr Jenna Wraith

In her new role as Senior Data Scientist, Dr. Jenna Wraith focuses on developing cutting-edge digital research infrastructure capabilities in conservation, climate, and biodiversity as part of QCIF’s Sustainable Futures portfolio. She works on the EcoCommons and the Wildlife Observatory of Australia, bringing a wealth of experience in ecological modelling and conservation planning.

Before joining QCIF, Jenna was a Research Fellow at the Australian Rivers Institute, where she collaborated with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and CSIRO on conservation prioritisation for the Murray-Darling Basin. Her efforts were important in shaping strategies to preserve the basin’s biodiversity.

Jenna's expertise includes developing species distribution models, assessing threatened species, and using biodiversity data to inform policy and decision-making. She is passionate about applying ecological modelling to support biodiversity conservation and on-ground management.

In her previous roles, she managed science outreach and training for the Atlas of Living Australia at CSIRO and led the scientific efforts for the EcoCommons platform. Jenna earned her PhD in Conservation Ecology from Griffith University’s School of Environment and Science.

At QCIF, Jenna continues to advance ecological modelling tools and contribute to important environmental research and conservation efforts. She is driven by a commitment to protecting Australia’s diverse biodiversity through innovative and practical solutions. 

Research interests 

• Biodiversity and threatened species management

• Species and Ecological Modelling

• Conservation prioritisation

• Developing Research infrastructure for environmental science

Qualifications

• The Carpentries Instructor Training Program (Carpentries 2021)

• PhD in Conservation Science (Griffith University 2020)

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Wildlife Biology (Deakin University 2016)

• Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology (Griffith University 2014)