By Chelise Robinson
MALENY conservation leader Dr Rebecca Spindler has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours, recognition of a career dedicated to protecting wildlife and landscapes across Australia and around the world.
Someone whose career has spanned continents and decades of conservation, the honour seems fitting to many who know her work. Yet the Maleny resident remains characteristically humble, describing the recognition as both overwhelming and deeply touching.
“I was absolutely staggered,” she said.
“There are so many people in the queue ahead of me.
“It’s a really lovely opportunity to highlight science and conservation, but honestly, I’m the last person that expected to be nominated.”
“It’s just absolutely so lovely.
“The messages I received were a little overwhelming, but also incredibly kind.”
Dr Spindler recently concluded an eight-year tenure as Executive Manager of Science and Conservation at Bush Heritage Australia, where she helped guide the organisation through a period of extraordinary growth.
During her leadership, Bush Heritage expanded its conservation work from 6.2 million hectares to 21.6 million hectares across Australia, protecting landscapes that support more than 9,300 native species.
Working with Giant Pandas throughout China, Jaguars in Brazil and leading conservation groups at Toronto Zoo in Canada, her work takes her all over the planet to assist in conservation science.
Despite her impressive achievements, Dr Spindler says her proudest accomplishment has always been the people she has worked alongside.
“If I’ve achieved anything, it’s building and supporting exceptional teams focused on real-world outcomes for conservation,” she said.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with amazing organisations, wonderful mentors and extraordinary people.”
Her passion for conservation began early.
Spending part of her childhood in Alice Springs, she developed a deep appreciation for the natural world and humanity’s place within it. “It was really clear to me that we are part of the ecosystem,” she said.
“We’re not separate from it,” she said.
“It’s both our responsibility and our privilege to look after it.”
That belief continues to drive her work today. While climate change remains one of the greatest challenges facing conservation, Dr Spindler believes meaningful change begins with individuals making conscious choices in their daily lives.
“You can conserve nature and live sustainably without reducing your quality of life,” she said. “In many ways, it can improve your quality of life.”
Following nearly a year travelling overseas with her husband, Dr Spindler has recently returned home to Maleny, a place she describes as rich in both natural beauty and community spirit.
“Maleny is such a gorgeous spot and full of amazing people,” she said.
“From the beach to the mountains, rainforest to grasslands, it’s all right here.”
On the day after news of her honour became public, she chose to celebrate in a way that reflects her lifelong connection to nature: birdwatching in Victoria’s Lower Plenty Gorge.
“Yesterday was a little overwhelming,” she laughed.
“Today I’m out watching birds because that’s my way of grounding myself again.”
It is perhaps that enduring sense of wonder, coupled with a commitment to helping others protect the natural world, that has defined Dr Spindler’s remarkable career and earned her one of Australia’s highest honours.