Executive Director – Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University

Professor Treena Burgess is Executive Director of the Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University and a forest health researcher with expertise in plant pathology, mycology, biosecurity science, invasive species ecology and forest ecosystem health. Her research has focused strongly on Phytophthora biology, diversity, detection, movement and impact in natural ecosystems, plantation forestry and horticulture, including long-standing work on Phytophthora cinnamomi in Western Australia.

Treena has had a long association with the Dieback Working Group and with Murdoch University’s Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management, which has played a major role in advancing Phytophthora research, diagnostics, management and industry engagement in Australia. Her work spans beneficial and detrimental microorganisms, emerging forest diseases, invasive pathogens, biosecurity risk and the science needed to support practical management of forest and ecosystem health. At DIG 2026, she will reflect on DWG’s past, present and future, and on the long links between DWG, Murdoch University and Phytophthora research in Western Australia.

Presentation Summary:

30 years of Phytophthora Dieback research and management – the present state of play and the future direction.

Laboratory Scientist – Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)

Nick has worked in plant pathology since 2013. He began working at CSIRO with a team identifying Rhizoctonia solani effector genes. He also worked on the development of a biocontrol for sclerotinia stem rot on canola from initial plate assays to field trials. In 2018 Nick spent a year working as a plant pathologist in Lao PDR with Australian Volunteers International. Alongside the local government and with support from the Crawford fund, Nick worked with small-holder farmers carrying out surveillance and diagnostics in rice and horticultural crops. Since joining DPIRD WA in 2021, Nick has worked in the plant diagnostics team where he enjoys testing the wide variety of samples that arrive in the laboratory and developing new diagnostic assays.

Presentation Summary:

Combining the old and the new: Incorporating LAMP into Phytophthora soil testing.

Current soil testing for Phytophthora involves flooding soil and baiting with various host leaves for 7-10 days followed by plating onto selective media to isolate Phytophthora species. This is a time consuming process and requires significant morphological expertise. The use of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in diagnostics is on the rise as a quick and robust technique with high sensitivity. Following the recent publication of various Phytophthora genus and species specific LAMP primers, we began to investigate how we could incorporate LAMP into our routine soil testing process.

Research Fellow – Murdoch University

Sarah is a research fellow at the Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University, and her research focuses on the effects of disturbances such as disease, fragmentation and invasive species, on ecosystems. Sarah has an interest in both fungal pathogens and mutualists. Specifically, she strives to understand interactions among plant hosts, beneficial fungi such as mycorrhizal fungi and plant pathogens, and how disturbances may alter these interactions. Sarah uses molecular techniques such as high-throughput sequencing to examine fungal communities.

Presentation Summary:

Phytophthora cinnamomi interacts with fire and drought to shape soil carbon and fungal functional guilds across a Mediterranean forest.

Forest soils are increasingly exposed to interacting disturbances including drought, fire and pathogen invasion, yet the role of soil fungi in mediating ecosystem responses remains poorly understood. By integrating a landscape-scale study with localised experimental work, we have been able to examine how interacting disturbances shape soil carbon, fungal diversity and plant-soil feedback processes. Preliminary results show that both fungal richness and soil carbon pools are influenced by disturbance interactions rather than single stressors.

Senior Lecturer, HBI, Murdoch University, WA

Dr Bob Du is a Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University and an ARC Industry Fellow whose research focuses on fumigant resistance and practical solutions for biosecurity risk mitigation. He has extensive experience in biosecurity, fumigation science, analytical chemistry, and treatment validation, with expertise spanning fumigant chemistry, gas monitoring, residue analysis, and industrial applications. Dr Du has worked closely with the international fumigation research community on technologies for managing insects, fungi, bacteria, and other biosecurity pests across agricultural and environmental systems. He is a Chartered Chemist with the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and a member of Engineers Australia.

Presentation Summary:

From Monitoring to Implementation: New Insights for Metham Sodium Treatment of Basic Raw Materials to Mitigate Phytophthora Dieback Risk

This presentation provides new insights into the practical implementation of Metham sodium treatment for managing Phytophthora dieback risk associated with basic raw materials, such as gravel. By integrating monitoring data with operational validation, the study evaluated treatment efficacy, chemical distribution, and implementation feasibility under industry conditions. Results demonstrated that Metham sodium can effectively reduce biosecurity risk when applied under optimised treatment parameters. The findings support evidence-based risk management, improve treatment protocols, and provide guidance for industry adoption and future research to strengthen plant biosecurity.

Director – EcoPath Solutions, Botanic Gardens of Sydney PlantClinic

Sarah Dunstan is the co-founder and Director of EcoPath Solutions, a company dedicated to halting the spread of Phytophthora. Drawing on more than twenty years in plant pathology Sarah built her diagnostic foundations at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and the University of Sydney and performed the field and technical work underpinning regional Phytophthora cinnamomi management guidelines in NSW. Sarah has contributed to Phytophthora surveillance across sensitive sites including Blue Mountains, Lord Howe Island and Barrington Tops. Collaborating with the Botanic Gardens of Sydney PlantClinic her defining achievement is the development of PhytoGuard®, a cost-effective, highly sensitive system for batch and individual testing of plants, soil, mulch, and water samples.

Presentation summary:

PhytoGuard-A Scalable and Cost-Effective Solution for the Detection of Phytophthora

PhytoGuard® is a non-destructive, field-deployable leachate detection system that offers cost-effective, high-throughput detection of infective Phytophthorapropagules. Samples of potted plants, soil, mulch, potting mixes, and water can be tested individually or in batches. This capacity makes PhytoGuard® particularly valuable for large-scale operations and biosecurity checkpoints, addressing critical gaps in current surveillance and management.

We present how the system works, including validation data; limit of detection, performance compared with conventional baiting techniques and Phytophthoraspecies detected to date. PhytoGuard’s® role across different industries including restoration projects, working through the detection bottleneck, why viability matters, applications, the clean-plant supply chain, and management implications.

 

Principal laboratory scientist – Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Dr Dominie Wright is a diagnostician with Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.  Like most plant pathologists in Western Australia she started working on Phytophthora with Alcoa back in the 1980’s before becoming a pathologist with QLD Department of Agriculture specialising in vegetable diseases for 7 years.  In 1997, Dominie joined what was known as the Department of Agriculture (now DPIRD), and set up the plant diagnostic service in 1998.  Dominie specialist interests include mycology and bacteriology, and seed health testing.  During this time she also provided training courses for growers and agronomists in plant disease identification.  This course is now provided every year for agronomists by the Department.  She is an active member of Sub-Committee of Plant Health Diagnostics, and is the National Co-ordinator for the National Plant Health Proficiency Testing Program.

Presentation Summary:

PSHB – A complex diagnostic and biosecurity concern for all

Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer and Fusarium sp. [AF-18] were detected in Perth metro in 2021. The diagnostics and workflow to identify the beetle and associated fungal pathogens were highly complex and is explained in the talk.  This talk will discuss the biosecurity implications including possible future proofing and post transition to management strategies as we learn to live with PSHB and how to reduce the risk to our valuable agricultural industries.

Chief Executive Officer, Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute

Joel Dalberger is the Chief Executive Officer of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, where he leads the organisation’s strategic programs, research partnerships and collaborative initiatives supporting the conservation and resilience of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Joel has a technical background and broad experience spanning environmental management, engineering, water management, conservation and sustainable urban development. His work has included leading multidisciplinary teams and complex environmental projects, developing applied research programs and building partnerships across government, universities, land managers, Traditional Custodians, industry and community organisations.

Presentation Summary

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area: Biosecurity Threats and Landscape-Scale Resilience

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area is an internationally significant landscape containing exceptional biodiversity, ecological communities and cultural values. Its scale, varied land tenures and extensive interfaces with urban areas, transport corridors, visitor destinations and adjoining lands also create complex environmental biosecurity risks.

This presentation will introduce the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and examine the increasing threats posed by invasive pathogens and other biosecurity pressures, with a particular focus on Phytophthora and associated vegetation dieback. It will consider the current level of knowledge and awareness within the region, including emerging observations, information gaps and the challenges of detecting, monitoring and managing a soil-borne pathogen across a large, rugged and interconnected landscape.

Flora Research Scientist – Alcoa

Panel discussion host

Tom is a passionate ecologist who has been involved with DWG and Phytophthora dieback research since 2020. Tom is a flora research scientist at Alcoa and specialises in jarrah forest plant ecology.’

Panel discussion overview

Help shape the future of dieback management in this interactive panel session designed to spark discussion, share ideas and inspire action. You’ll join fellow delegates in table discussions to explore the most pressing issues in dieback management, what the risk areas are, and what action is required. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute your ideas, with the panel drawing on expert insights to explore practical solutions, future priorities and collaborative actions. Whether you’re a researcher, land manager, practitioner or policymaker, this is your chance to be part of the conversation and help influence the future direction of dieback management.