Michelle is a Botanist and Evolutionary Biologist engaged in interdisciplinary research and the application of scientific evidence to inform the policy and management of natural systems, currently focussed in Australia. Since 2011 Michelle has been the Chief Botanist, Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium and jointly Professor, School of Biological Sciences, The Univeristy of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia (joint SA Government Scientist – University Academic appointment). Previously (2003-2011) Associate Professor Tropical Plant Sciences (Head of Discipline Tropical Plant Sciences and Agriculture), School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville. Postdoctoral positions (1997-2003)—ARC Postdoctoral Fellowship, School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University; James Cook University Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, Panama. Michelle's research program has a focus on understanding plants (and sometimes animals and microbes) in their environments including their origins (evolution and landscape change), current distribution (identification, taxonomy and trajectory of changing presence in space and time) and adaptations (population dynamics, ecological thresholds of survivorship under extreme conditions, climate adaptation and origins) and applying the knowledge generated to actioning and improving management and policy and raising awareness and recognition of our biodiversity. Michelle's work uses diverse scientific tools, including molecular, evolutionary, ecological, analytical and natural history collections based evidence to the development of data informed and hypothesis driven work with a focus on natural systems. Although there is a strong focus of her published work on seagrasses and coastal marine ecosystems her research has included the application of molecular systematics, molecular ecology, population genetics and ecological adaptations to diverse native plant (and animal) systems. In her current role as Chief Botanist in the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium she has a mandate to explore ways to enhance community understanding and engagement in the botanical world and to understand the importance and value of plants.