Rebecca Pirzl
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Dr Rebecca Pirzl

Branch Head, Science and Australian National Botanic Gardens, Parks Australia

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Rebecca has experience in a variety of science and organisational leadership roles across research, government and business. In her current Branch Head role she has responsibility for strategic science for Commonwealth protected areas, the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research joint venture with CSIRO, the Office of the Chief Remote Pilot, and the Australian National Botanic Gardens. She joined DCCEEW in 2023 after 10 years at CSIRO, where she most recently led an interdisciplinary research group in sustainability science. Her prior experience includes private consulting, green technology commercialisation and roles in government in oceans policy and joint management of protected areas.

Rebecca has a background in ecology, systems thinking and Indigenous partnerships and is committed to facilitating scientific research for real world outcomes. Her other governance roles include member of the Advisory Board of the Atlas of Living Australia and the Steering Committee for Bush Blitz.

Register of interests:

• Member, Atlas of Living Australia Advisory Board
• Member, Bush Blitz Steering Committee
• Affiliate, CSIRO (for CANBR joint venture role; National Collections and Marine Infrastructure Business Unit)
• Shareholder, Skadia Technologies Pty Ltd (a private company commercialising seabird bycatch technology; my husband is a Director and also a shareholder; the company has a grant (May 2023-Jan 2025) under the federal government’s Threatened and Migratory Species Fisheries Bycatch Mitigation grant round)