Bushfire is a real risk for Australian communities. Among the factors that influence bushfires (i.e., weather, fuel, and topography), fuel is the main influence that can be altered by fire managers. Vegetation mapping provides a fundamental input to understand fuel characteristics and underpins fire modelling in a variety of applications including urban planning, hazard and risk assessment.

Lulu is an interdisciplinary researcher leading scientific projects to generate accurate and fit-for-purpose vegetation hazard mapping data to support local and state government agencies’ land use planning policies in Queensland. Her work involves fieldwork across Queensland, engagement with local governments, and collaboration with internal and external partners. Lulu is a United Nations recognised researcher. In 2018, she won the PhD Fellowship as a residential researcher at United Nations University in Helsinki, Finland. In 2023, she was selected as a UNDRR Rising Star Finalist.

Lulu graduated with her PhD from University of Queensland in 2020. She has worked at the Natural Hazards Research Group led by Professor Holger Maier at University of Adelaide. In 2023, Lulu joined Queensland Fire Department where she holds a position as Principal Scientist of the Bushfire Resilient Communities (BRC) Unit. She works with Executive Manager Robert Preston in leading Bushfire and Vegetation Hazard Mapping Projects.