WA scientists honoured for dedication to conservation and stewardship
Professor Kingsley Dixon AO, WA Senior of the Year 2025
The WA Parks Foundation has pleasure in congratulating internationally renowned botanist Professor Kingsley Dixon AO, who has been named the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for Western Australia.
Warmest congratulations are due also to distinguished biodiversity and environmental scientist Professor Stephen van Leeuwen for his recognition in the Premier’s Science Awards 2025.
Professor Dixon, School of Biological Science, The University of Western Australia, specialises in the ecology, restoration and conservation biology of Australian native plants and ecosystems. With over 40 years’ experience leading research teams in partnership with industry, he has transformed restoration and conservation outcomes across the country.
Professor Dixon was Foundation Director of Science at Perth’s Kings Park and Botanic Garden, and one of his most notable achievements is the 1992 discovery of smoke as a cause for Australian plants to germinate after bushfires.
Commenting on his award, Professor Dixon said the recognition in the Australian of the Year Awards had come as a total surprise but showed that the community cares for nature and wants positive change.
“This award is about a new journey, shared with nature and the environment, not conquering the 30 percent of bush and forest fragments that remain in the southwest Hotspot.
“It is time now to pause, reflect and respect what is now seen as the world’s most exquisite, rare and unique of all environments,” he said.
“Professor Dixon’s scientific achievements and environmental stewardship are outstanding and inspirational’’ said WA Parks Foundation Chair the Hon Kerry Sandrson AC CVO.
Professor Stephen van Leewen, joint winner of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist of the Year in the 2025 Premier’s Science Awards. Image credits: Curtin University
Professor van Leeuwen, a Wardandi Noongar leader and Curtin BHP Indigenous Chair of Biodiversity and Environmental Science at Curtin University, is the joint winner of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist of the Year in the 2025 Premier’s Science Awards.
Informed by his deep cultural heritage, Professor van Leeuwen, who is a WA Parks Ambassador, has a lifelong dedication to biodiversity conservation and Indigenous stewardship of Country.
With 40 plus years of experience in biodiversity research, natural resource management, environmental policy, and stakeholder engagement, he has been instrumental in integrating Western science with Indigenous Knowledge to foster holistic approaches to biodiversity conservation, ensuring sustainable and culturally respectful stewardship of Country.
“Our Park Ambassadors are a passionate group of people with a deep love of WA’s Parks, inspiring in others an appreciation of these natural treasures, their uniqueness and value,” Kerry Sanderson said.
“The Foundation admires Professor van Leeuwen for his outstanding contribution and we were delighted to see his recent recognition in the Premier’s Science Awards.”
Professor van Leeuwen shares this honour with Professor Rhonda Marriott AM, who is a nationally and internationally recognised leader in Aboriginal health research. She is Inaugural Pro Vice Chancellor of the Ngangk Yira Institute for Change at Murdoch University.
