Gavin Phillips
Seedbank Officer
Gavin Phillips is a Seedbank Officer at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and is based at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan but he spends a significant amount of time in the field collecting seeds.
Gavin has travelled extensively since 2015, covering so many kilometres collecting seeds for the Gardens that he could have circumnavigated New South Wales 48 times!
Influenced by his parents' love for nature and their enthusiasm for exploring national parks, Gavin developed a deep connection with the environment from an early age. Now with a wealth of expertise in ex situ conservation, seed collection, plant identification, and taxonomy, Gavin plays a crucial role in organising and executing fieldwork for the state-wide conservation seed collection programs at the Australian PlantBank at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.
A typical day for Gavin involves venturing into the wilderness in search of rare plants. Whether scaling mountains, exploring rainforests, or traversing desert plains, he tirelessly endeavours to discover and preserve obscure species within the seedbank at the Australian PlantBank.
He is also an active member of the Species Technical Group – Flora, assisting in program planning for threatened species under the NSW Government's Saving Our Species initiative. Additionally, Gavin contributes his knowledge to the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee, aiding in determining appropriate levels of conservation protection for plants and animals of concern. With a Diploma in Conservation and Land Management and nearing completion of a degree in Biological Sciences, his qualifications are aligning with his vast experience.
One of Gavin's best memories from work was finding a new species of Leionema in Southeast Forest National Park. Despite the drought, the dry swamps allowed access to unexplored areas where he stumbled upon shrubs adorned with vibrant yellow flowers. These specimens turned out to be a new taxon, which Gavin is currently in the process of describing – an exhilarating find that filled him with elation.
Gavin's dedication and achievements have been recognised, with his team winning the BGCI Global Seed Challenge Award for "greatest progress in seed conservation”. He takes pride in having collected over 1,600 seed and specimen collections for the Gardens, including newly discovered species and rarely seen taxa.
Top 5 research articles
- Bell SAJ, Phillips GP, Nicolle D (2022). Resolution of a 35-year taxonomic dilemma: Eucalyptus sp. Howes Swamp Creek (Myrtaceae) from eastern Wollemi National Park, New South Wales. Telopea 25: 151-163.
- Fensham RJ, Laffineur B, Collingwood TD, Beech E, Bell S, Hopper SD, Phillips G, Rivers MC, Walsh N, White M (2020). Rarity or decline: Key concepts for the Red List of Australian eucalypts. Biological Con-servation, 243: 108455.
- Sommerville KD, Cuneo P, Errington G, Makinson RO, Pederson S, Phillips G, Rollason A, Viler V, Offord CA (2019). Conservation in the wake of myrtle rust – a case study on two critically endangered Australi-an rainforest plants. Pacific Conservation Biology, 26(3): 218-229.
- Phillips GP, Zimmer H (2022). Conservation assessment of Eucalyptus canobolensis (L.A.S.Johnson & K.D.Hill) J.T.Hunter (Myrtaceae). A report to the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
- Phillips GP (2022). Conservation assessment of Boronia hapalophylla Duretto, F.J.Edwards & P.G.Edwards (Rutaceae). A report to the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee.