Professor Kevin Kenneally AM is an Adjunct Professor in the University of Western Australia School of Agriculture and Environment. He graduated in science from the University of Western Australia, where he initially worked as a research assistant in the Department of Microbiology. After completing two years of National Service in the Australian Army Medical Corps, including roles as pathology instructor and in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare training, he returned to UWA as a tutor-demonstrator in the Botany Department. In 1973, he was appointed research botanist at the Western Australian Herbarium. Kenneally has served as a guest lecturer and visiting scientist at institutions worldwide, including the University of Texas at Austin, University of California Santa Barbara, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, and Singapore Botanic Gardens. From 1992 to 2009, he was scientific director of the LANDSCOPE research expeditions program, leading biological surveys in Kimberley conservation areas and promoting citizen science. He contributed to environmental assessments for projects such as Inpex-Maret Island (2007), the Northern Development Taskforce (2008), and the Kimberley gas hub at James Price Point (2009).

Kenneally's research specializations include plant taxonomy and anatomy, ethno-botany and ethno-archaeology, floristics, biodiversity, and conservation of the Kimberley region; tropical monsoon rainforests and their biogeographical links with Southeast Asia; taxonomy of Triggerplants (Stylidium); ecology of mangroves; Kimberley wetlands; anatomy of resurrection plants; natural history of Ashmore Reef; and origins of the Kimberley Boab. He has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications, including Kimberley monsoon rainforests: Islands in a sea of savanna (2023, UWA Publishing) and Ashmore Reef Marine Park Terrestrial Ecosystem Characterisation and Restoration Plan (2023). Awards include Member of the Order of Australia (2005) for environmental education and botanical advancement, Churchill Fellowship (1979), Australian Natural History Medallion (1994), CSIRO External Medal (1996), DRV International Environmental Award (2003), Pride of Australia Medal (2009), Serventy Conservation Award (2020), and UWA Honorary Doctorate of Science (2025) for 40 years of Kimberley research. He has been Scientific Editor of Nuytsia, The Western Australian Naturalist, and Conservation Science, and held leadership roles including president of the WA Naturalists’ Club and WA Gould League, and member of the Western Australian Biological Surveys Committee (1984-2000).

Professional Email: kevin.kenneally@uwa.edu.au