Who is behind Savurua?

Savurua’s founder is Dr Lex Thomson, a dual Fijian and Australian citizen who has dedicated much of his life to researching and conserving tree species and genetic resources in more than forty countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands. Lex was Team Leader of the Australian Government’s CSIRO South Pacific Forest Genetic Resources Initiative (SPRIG), which developed conservation strategies and action plans for Pacific Island’s tree species. He has also worked extensively in Rome on FAO’s Forest Genetic Resources programs, including as co-author on the First State of the World Report of Forest Genetic Resources and initiated Bioversity International’s Forest Biodiversity Research Program. Lex currently holds Associate Professorships in Agroforestry and Pacific Islands Agribusiness from the University of Sunshine Coast.