Elizabeth Daley was born in Queensland and came to Tasmania with her family 1989.    Since her arrival via South Australia and Victoria, she has explored many of Tasmania’s remote nooks and crannies as a researcher, science teacher, natural resource manager, nature reserve owner and public servant.  

The majority of Elizabeth’s tertiary education has been undertaken in Tasmania.  She has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne, and a Diploma in Education, Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Doctor of Philosophy (Environmental Studies) from the University of Tasmania. 

Writing has always been an enjoyable part of Elizabeth’s life.  Her published works include book reviews for Austral Ecology, botanica articles in 40° South Tasmania, scientific papers in Cunninghamia and Australasian Plant Conservation, and input and reviews to the State of Environment Report, Tasmania and the Commonwealth’s recent State of Environment Report. 

Together with her husband, Alan, Elizabeth manages Riffles Pty Ltd.  A major focus of Riffles is the publication and distribution of Elizabeth’s first book, “Wings:  an introduction to Tasmania’s winged insects”.  Wings was developed in association with Dr Peter McQuillan from the School of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Tasmania and a range of other specialist entomologists from Tasmania and the mainland.  Wings contains around 600 colour photographs depicting a variety of insects in their natural environment.  Many of the insects depicted are also found in eastern Australia and some Australia-wide.  Information about lifecycles, diet, habitats and flight periods is also included in the book. 

The team at 40º South Pty Ltd have done a brilliant job of producing Wings.  Wings will be printed in Melbourne and launched at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery on Tuesday, 11 December 2007 at 1:00 pm.  Wings is the only book of its kind in Tasmania and will be a valuable resource to students, visitors, naturalists and the fishing fraternity.  Further books to expand knowledge of Tasmania’s natural environment and its inhabitants are well into the planning stages.

Elizabeth and her husband live on a small farm in Buckland in eastern Tasmania and own and manage around 3000 acres of native vegetation including the Little Swanport Private Nature Reserve and Swanston Private Nature Reserve located in the Eastern Tiers.

Book:    Wings:  an introduction to Tasmania's winged insects

Wings is a 256-page book featuring around 600 colour photographs of nearly 400 winged insects - e.g. butterflies, beetles, dragonflies, grasshoppers, moths, wasps.  It will be launched on Tuesday, 11 December 2007 at the Commissariate Store at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery at 1:00 pm.

Book review for Austral Ecology:  Restoring Natural Capital:  Science, Business, and Practice.  Edited by J. Aronson, S.J. Milton, and J.N. Blignaut (2007). Published for the Society for Ecological Restoration International by Island Press, Washington.

Integrated Management System (IMS):  As a consultant, Elizabeth is developing an integrated management system for a small construction company.  The IMS is being developed to meet the audit specifications of the Civil Construction Federation.

Botanica articles:  Elizabeth continues to be a regular contributer of botanica articles to the widely published magazine, Tasmania 40º South.