Dr Terry Hillman was educated at Dookie College and ANU. He carried out research as an ecologist at CSIRO, ANU, Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation, Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre, and CRC for Freshwater Ecology. He was a member of the Board of North East Catchment Management Authority for 10 years and provided technical advice to the Murray Darling Basin Authority, Federal and State government departments responsible for natural resource management, CMAs, and industry groups.