The National Institute of Entomology is a Not for Profit Trust established on the 28th of June 2024. It is responsible for the administration of several important programs including Entomological Collections and their management, Conservation Projects, Research, Training,  Entomological Surveys and the delivery of Educational Programs and Certificate Courses. It is also responsible for maintaining a permanent Student Registrar for all Certificate Course Graduates.

The Institute also administers the National Institute of Entomology Foundation which is used for providing support of course fees to students undergoing financial difficulties or to assist students with the acquisition of required equipment or supplies.

The Institute is administered by a Board of Trustees and includes a dedicated team of appointed officers and many volunteers.

Current Entomological Collections held in Trust by the Institute include the Central Victorian Regional Insect Collection, The Dr Russell G Wilkinson Collection and several other donated entomological assets. Please see our Collections Page for further details and descriptions regarding these valuable entomological collections.

COURSES AND EDUCATION

The Institute conducts extensive and specialised courses for students and the general public in order to promote and enhance entomological education and training as well as promoting the conservation values that these animals represent. The Institute is also responsible for conducting the ON-LINE National Junior Entomology (Insect) Club for young childeren and students with an interest in studying insects. More detailed information regarding these programs are available on our Courses Page.

NATIONAL INSECT EXPO ©

Each year, the National Institute of Entomology is responsible for the running of the National Entomology Insect Expo©, the largest event of its kind held in Australia. This is the main fundraising event for the Institute and greatly assists in the Institutes programs and activities including its collections upkeep and expansion.

Our first event held in July 2022 at the Buffalo Stadium in Woodend saw over 6000 visitors attend over the three days of the expo and 32 national exhibitors helped to highlight the entire science of entomology to the general public. In 2023, the National Insect Expo© doubled the amount of exhibitors to 60 and the event even managed to attract international exhibitors from Wellington, New Zealand. The 2024 saw greater members of the public experience the event and over 100 exhibitors attended. The Expo will again be held at the Buffalo Indoor Sports Stadium in Woodend, Victoria on October 3 - 5 and is expected to attract close to 7000 visitors over the three days of this important event.

For more information regarding the National Entomology Insect Expo, how to book tickets or become an exhibitor, visit our National Insect Expo Website or contact our office on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENTOMOLOGY BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF

  Dr Bert Candusio
(Board Chairman)

 Dr Bert Candusio holds the positions of National Institute of Entomology Board Chairman, Managing Director of the C.V.R.I.C and the Institutes Collections Curator.
Bert has been describing, studying and documenting the insect and invertebrate fauna of Central Victoria for close to 40 years and is recognised for his extensive knowledge on the subject. Formally Trained at the C.S.I.R.O Division of Entomology in Canberra in 1992, he held the position of Assistant Curator of the National Museum of Victoria Entomology Department and was later granted an Honorary Research Ass ociate tenure at La Trobe University Bendigo. He has been associated with La Trobe University as a Lecturer for many years and has consulted for numerous organisations including Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Tokyo's Tama Park Insectarium. He has authored submissions towards the establishment of the Box-Ironbark National Park Systems within the State of Victoria and also served with the City of Greater Bendigo Environmental Advisory Committee and the Macedon Ranges Hanging Rock Reserve Committee of Management.

Ms Jesseca Bree
(Board Vice Chair)
 
 Jesseca is the National Institute of Entomology Vice Chairperson and Assistant Director / Floor Manager of the National Insect Expo. She brings with her experience in event promotions and administration as well as numerous computing and software skills that assist our organisation greatly. She has always shared a vision of the importance of insect conservation and continues to promote the valuable role that insects provide to the environment. 

Ms Amanda Jane Aish
(Board Treasurer)
 
 Amanda Jane holds the important position of National Institute of Entomology Treasurer and is responsible for all the financial activities of the Institute. She is also the Controlling Officer for the National Institute of Entomology Foundation that provides for the assistance of students in the form of Scholarships to assist in the participation of Courses and Training or for the purchase of required equipment for students. 

Ms Kylie McGenniskin
(Board Secretary)

 Kylie is the National Institute of Entomology Secretary and C.V.R.I.C National Course Marketing Manager. She is responsible for all documentation of Board Meetings, Controller of the Institutes Student Registrar and registers course enrolments for students and members of the public. Kylie has extensive experience in entomological methodology, specimen preparation, exhibition interpretation and sales. She holds a Bachelor of Conservation Biology and Ecology Degree from La-Trobe University, has studied Natural History Illustration at the University of Newcastle and holds numerous other Certificates including First Aid (Cert II Equivalent), and has extensive Customer Service experience working with the La-Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Dr Jenny Shield
(Board Member)
 
 Dr Jenny Shield is a National Institute of Entomology Honorary Member of the Board as well as the C.V.R.I.C Chief Research Biologist. She is also an Honorary Research Associate of Latrobe University Bendigo. She has held the position as La Trobe University, Pharmacy and Applied Science Adjunct Lecturer from 1997 to the present. Jenny has been documenting the Invertebrate Fauna of the region since the early 1990's and has a particular interest in the Arachnid Fauna of the region. She has published extensively on the Spiders of Central Victoria and in particular the fauna of the Box Ironbark Ecosystem. She is currently documenting and describing the Zodariidae (Ant Mimicking Spiders) of the region and how they relate to the Formicidae (Ant) fauna represented and held in the C.V.R.I.C collections.

  Ms Aimee Leatham
(Board Member)
 
 Ms Aimee Leatham is a Board Member and the Central Victorian Regional Insect Collections Media Manager. She is responsible for all the C.V.R.I.C websites and extensive Invertebrates Forum pages. She is also our News Liason Officer responsible for all Media requests. Aimee holds a Double Major Degree in Applied Science - Biomedical and Environmental Science La Trobe University and also holds Diplomas in Psycology and Ornithology. She also has qualifications in Workplace Safety and Health, Sustainable Development and Captive Animal Management. In 2013, she worked on the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect captive breeding program in order to help save this species from extinction.

Ms Erin Collins
(Board Member)
 
 Erin has had a keen fascination for insects for many years and is a Board Member offering support and input towards its overall goals. She holds qualifications in several biological disciplines including Conservation and Ecosystem Management as well as Certificate Qualifications in Veterinary Nursing. She has conducted extensive field work with Bush Heritage working towards the conservation of the endangered Plains Wanderer. She is also an active member of the Northern Bendigo Landcare Group.

Ms Sarah Muir
(National Institute of Entomology Forums Manager)
  Sarah has had a passion for insects and other related invertebrates throughout her life and has developed her skills in Taxonomy and Identifications by way of her extensive studies. After gaining her Bachelor of Animal Science Degree from Charles Sturt University in 2023, Sarah went on to study further and also attained her Masters of Environmental Science and Management from the University of New England the following year. Sarah has a keen interest in the Ecology of Insects and other Invertebrates and is working towards further studies within the field. She also undertook and gained her Certificate of Ecology and Identification of the Ants of Australia from the National Institute of Entomology in 2022.  Sarah is the National Institute of Entomology Forums Manager and is responsible for the administration, upkeep and content of the extensive forums of the Institute. News Articles, National and International Job Vacancies and Research Developments are also uploaded to the forums on a regular basis.

Ms Amber Glyn-Jones
(Data Entry Officer)
 
 Ms Amber Glyn-Jones is the C.V.R.I.C Data Entry Officer and plays a vital role in compiling the vast taxonomic lists needed for documentation of species and specimens held at the National Institute of Entomology. Amber has added literally thousands of individual Menu Items into the Institutes Database Software as well as adding all of the required Classification Hierarchy Classes for all Insect Orders!!. She is also an extensive writer, has an uncanny fluency of the English Language and may actually be a contender for the title of fastest and most accurate typist in the country!

Ms Valencia Lovell
(Volunteer Manager)

 Ms Valencia Lovell is the National Institute of Entomology / National Entomology Insect Expo Staff Manager and assists in co-ordinating our volunteers for our yearly fundraising expo event. Valencia has years of experience in small business and finance and uses these skills to help make the National Expo flow smoothly each year.