James Clugston's talk will provide an introduction to cycads including their distinguishing characters, taxonomy and relationships. He will also provide some details about his work and the Global Conservation Consortium for Cycads and provide some tips and tricks for selecting cycads and their cultivation.

James is a research fellow with Western Sydney University and Montgomery Botanical Center. He has a PhD in molecular plant sciences, and has worked with cycads for 16 years as a main research focus. His research focuses around using genetic data to understand evolution and genetic diversity of cycads with a strong focus towards conservation. He is a member of the IUCN SSC Cycad Specialist Group and the Regional Chair for the Global Conservation Consortium for Cycads, Oceania.