Local man who won’t let the bustards get him down in new role

John’s a past pupil of the Model Primary School and Foyle Prep and Foyle and Londonderry College.

He studied at Imperial College, London, where he gained his BSc before undertaking an MSc in Conservation Biology at the University of Cape Town. Earlier this year he was awarded a PhD from the University of Bath for his work on the reintroduction of the Great Bustard to the UK.

Dr Burnside has engaged in close collaboration with a number of NGOs and international collaborators in Russia, Hungary and Spain. He has worked in Australia, South America and in Africa where he has developed extensive experience in independent conservation research management. His new post will involve developing approaches to sustainably managing the Asian Houbara Bustard in Uzbekistan.