Dr Lavery has recently retired as Executive Counsel of Australian Environment International, a private sector service that provided worldwide advice on corporate environmental strategies and solutions. His long-term clients included Australia’s largest corporate landholder (AMP), Malaysia’s Perak State, and the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium and Kitakyushu City Government in Japan.

Previously, Hugh was founding Director of Research and Planning in Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service.

He has been a Member of the Council of National Trust of Queensland, Director of Greening Australia (Queensland), Executive Producer in the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Member of the Editorial Panel of Landscape and Urban Planning (Netherlands), and Chief Consultant to National Geographic Society.

Hugh was Adjunct Professor of Land Development & Environmental Planning, Texas A & M University (1990-2003) and Training Supervisor for France’s prestigious l’Ecole Polytechnique (1993-2007). He continues as Adjunct Professor of Environmental Systems, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology.

Dr Lavery has travelled widely on major field projects in Asia, Europe and North America, and has written and produced a large range of scientific papers, technical books and documentary films (‘Exploration North: Australia’s Wildlife from Desert to Reef’; ‘The Kangaroo Keepers’; ‘Cranes – The Eyes of Heaven’; ‘Kangaroos: A Long-term Population Study’; ‘Messengers of the Gods’). His book ‘The Use of Ecological Design to Achieve Sustainable Development in Australia’ introduces a paradigm shift in the landscape management process. His most recent book – ‘Conserving Nature: Fewer Laws, More Science’ – is a comprehensive review of field observations and studies covering more than six decades of environmental practice across Queensland.

Hugh chaired the initial Certified Environmental Practitioner Assessment Panels for Accreditation. He was selected as the inaugural Certified Environmental Practitioner of the Year for Australia and New Zealand in 2007. He continues to work on establishing an appropriate archive methodology for practitioners.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2013, Dr Lavery was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia 'for significant services to the environment and conservation'.

Reference: Who’s Who in Australia 2015, p.1347.