Dr Crowley is an ecologist who works with land managers, environmental planners and researchers to develop collaborative conservation options. This has included developing the Queensland Government’s Reef Policy Science Program in 2011-12, the Northern Territory NRM plan in 2010, the Land Manager and NT Infonet websites between 2005 and 2009 and the Management Guidelines for Golden-shouldered Parrots in 2003.Gay earned a Bachelor of Science with Honours (Botany and Geography) before continuing with her PhD in Botany,  from James Cook University. She is active with many groups in the north of Australia, including the Irvinebank Landcare Group.