Tom holds a BSc and MWaterRM degrees from the University of Canterbury and a PhD in Ecology from James Cook University.
Prior to joining the University of Sydney in 2023, Tom worked in industry (Mining Rehabilitation Specialist for GEMCO on Groote Eylandt, NT), the not-for-profit sector (Research Assistant for the World Mosquito Program, Monash University) and taught for a global education/conservation research program (Lecturer for Operation Wallacea in the Amazon Jungle, Peru). These experiences and others provided Tom with a first-hand understanding of the opportunities and constraints of research, education and best management practices in both developing and developed countries.
Currently he is appointed as a Research Fellow at the University of Sydney. His Fellowship is supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). He is part of a team involved in developing scientifically robust and actionable advice on sustainable site-specific soil management strategies for smallholder cocoa farmers in PNG.