#12 - Making biodiversity count for business

In this episode of the Future of Sustainability podcast, Michael Hanf speaks with Dr. Debbie Saunders, Co-Founder and CEO of NatureHelm and Founder and former CEO of Wildlife Drones. Debbie’s career spans more than 25 years as a conservation ecologist, moving from hands-on fieldwork with endangered migratory birds to building groundbreaking technologies that help businesses and researchers better understand and protect biodiversity.

Debbie shares her personal journey from tracking parrots in Australia to founding two deep-tech ventures that are transforming how society engages with nature. With Wildlife Drones, she pioneered a radio-telemetry system that allows researchers to track dozens of animals simultaneously across challenging landscapes. Today, that technology supports conservation projects worldwide, from pangolins in Vietnam to finches in the Galápagos Islands. But her story didn’t stop there. Recognizing that biodiversity data was fragmented and underutilized, Debbie launched NatureHelm to bring clarity, intelligence, and actionable insights to corporations and supply chains.

The discussion explores the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship, and how these can work together to scale solutions for the planet. Debbie explains how NatureHelm aggregates data from diverse sources, integrates ecological knowledge, and leverages AI to identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities for businesses. Whether it’s understanding the role of pollinators in supply chains, visualizing global migratory patterns from a single urban site, or mapping the ecosystem services behind water use, NatureHelm helps companies move beyond reporting into meaningful action.

Throughout the conversation, Debbie highlights the challenges and opportunities of building biodiversity intelligence:

• Why businesses often underestimate their biodiversity footprint and how to change that mindset.
• How regulatory frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) are driving corporate engagement.
• Why technology alone is not enough, and why user-centric design and storytelling are essential to building impact.
• The critical role of resilience, from regenerative cotton production in India to sustainable asset managers advancing industry standards.

Debbie also offers candid insights into her entrepreneurial path: the importance of validating ideas, securing funding, and surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision. Her advice to young researchers and aspiring change-makers is simple yet powerful, be passionate, create value, and keep going despite the sceptics.

This episode is both a call to action and a source of hope. It shows that with the right blend of ecological expertise, innovative technology, and business leadership, companies can contribute to a nature-positive future while strengthening their own resilience. From parrots to platforms, Debbie Saunders’ journey illustrates how personal passion can grow into global impact.

Tune in to hear how biodiversity intelligence is reshaping the future of sustainability and why every business, whether in fashion, food, technology, or finance, has a role to play in protecting the ecosystems that sustain us all.

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