We are delighted to announce that Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Scientific Director Dr Susan M. Cheyne has been elected as a Fellow of the British Ecological Society (BES), in recognition of her outstanding contributions to ecology, conservation science and the protection of tropical forest biodiversity.
Dr Cheyne is among 27 ecologists elected as Fellows this year, joining a distinguished global community recognised for advancing ecological science and its application to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. The British Ecological Society described this year’s cohort as pioneers and leaders in ecology, bringing together experts working across research, policy, conservation practice and education.
For more than two decades, Susan has dedicated her career to understanding and protecting the extraordinary biodiversity of Borneo’s threatened tropical forests. Since beginning her work in Indonesia in 2002, she has established internationally recognised long-term research programmes on southern Bornean gibbons, clouded leopards and other mammals. Her research has improved understanding of species distributions, population trends and habitat requirements, helping to inform conservation policy and evidence-based action across the region.
As Scientific Director, Susan combines research with conservation leadership, supporting collaborative science, mentoring early-career researchers and helping train the next generation of Indonesian and international conservationists. Alongside her work here at BNF, she is a university lecturer and serves in leadership roles within the IUCN Species Survival Commission, championing global efforts to conserve small apes and other threatened wildlife.
Speaking about the honour, Dr Cheyne said:
“Becoming a BES Fellow symbolises every one of my 4am starts in the swamp forest, every student I have had the privilege to teach, and every colleague who’s slogged through the forests and the rain because they believe, like I do, that these species and these places and the people who depend on them, are worth fighting for. I’m so honoured to be a BES Fellow. There is so much still to do for wildlife conservation, and we need to do it together.”
Everyone at Borneo Nature Foundation warmly congratulates Susan on this well-deserved recognition. Her election as a Fellow reflects not only her exceptional scientific achievements, but also her longstanding commitment to collaborative conservation, capacity building and ensuring that rigorous ecological research delivers lasting benefits for wildlife, forests and the communities that depend on them.
Congratulations, Susan, on this fantastic achievement!
