Joe grew up in Victoria’s High Country, Australia, in the eucalypt forests bordering the subalpine regions of Kosciuszko National Park, where early exposure to wildlife and natural landscapes helped shape his career direction. Initially drawn to nature documentary filmmaking, he studied digital production in Perth, Western Australia, and combined this with a passion for SCUBA diving through work in underwater videography in Thailand. He later returned to university to complete a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology) at Deakin University and is currently undertaking a Master of Environment, majoring in Policy and Planning.
Joe has worked as a volunteer wildlife rescuer for more than a decade, collaborating with leading wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisations across multiple Australian states. This experience has shaped a career focused on supporting the welfare of wildlife and the people who care for them through advocacy, engagement, and the strengthening of collaborative networks.
He currently works as the International One Health Project Officer at Wildlife Health Australia, supporting international, multi-sectoral initiatives across the Asia–Pacific region. In this role, Joe contributes to the management of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Collaborating Centre for Wildlife Health Risk Management, with a focus on elevating wildlife health within the One Health framework and highlighting the critical role of wildlife rehabilitation at the human–animal–environment interface.