Leesa is currently a Lecturer in Statistics and the Postgraduate Coursework Coordinator in the School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences at UNSW Canberra.

Biography:

• PhD, 2007, University of NSW.
• MEdSt, 1998, University of Queensland.
• DipEd, 1990, University of Queensland.
• BSc (with 1st class Honours in Mathematics), 1989, University of Queensland.
• Employed by UNSW Canberra as Associate Lecturer (Feb 1997 - Jan 2000) and as Lecturer from Feb 2007.
• Employed as High School Mathematics teacher at Bremer State High School, Queensland (Jan 1991 - Jan 1997).

Research Interests: Current projects in my research areas of Statistical Ecology, Mathematical Biology and Education include:-

• Effect of climatic and oceanographic variables on survival of little penguins
• Effect of banding on little penguins
• Bayesian analysis of multiyear tagging and catch-at-age data for southern bluefin tuna
• Modelling food- and water-borne disease outbreaks
• Comparing the performances of first-year engineering students at UNSW Canberra

PhD Opportunities: MPhil, MSc and PhD thesis topics for the above research areas are available.

Honours and Awards:

• UNSW Canberra Rector’s Commendation for Excellence in Classroom Teaching: 2009
• Highly commended for seminar entitled “Little Penguins: to band or not to band?” at the Australian Statistical Conference in Melbourne: 2008
• Ria de Groot Prize for the best female postgraduate research student graduating from UNSW Canberra: 2007