Noushka Reiter

Dr Noushka Reiter is a Research Scientist with the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, affiliated with the Australian National University. Noushka conducts ecological research on orchid reintroductions, pollination ecology, propagation of difficult to grow threatened species and mycorrhizal associations, with on-ground outcome-focused research for the benefit of threatened species. Noushka leads the Orchid Conservation Program (https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/science/projects/orchid-conservation) now based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, supported by many state government agencies, industry partners and volunteers. The RBGV Orchid Conservation Program is the world’s most successful orchid conservation program as measured by successful rare species introductions. This success has been based on understanding the suitability of habitat prior to reintroduction (including pollinator and mycorrhizal ecology), and unprecedented success at large-scale symbiotic propagation. Following the successful propagation of over 30 species of endangered orchid and reintroductions for over 12 species of endangered orchid comprising over 20 sites of threatened orchid in Victoria, the program now works across Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.