Russell J. Gray

Role at CTNC

Conservation Strategy Advisor

Primary Organization

Head of the Eco-Solve Data Component

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Areas of Expertise

Data Science R Programming & AI Spatial Ecology Conservation Strategy

Profile: Russell J. Gray

Ecologist, Data Scientist, and Conservation Strategist

Russell J. Gray is a distinguished ecologist, data scientist, and conservation strategist whose work spans Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and beyond. As Head of the Eco-Solve Data Component at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, he marries rigorous ecological research with technological innovation. His research focus includes spatial ecology, community assemblages, invasive species control, species recovery, and applying machine learning and deep learning to conservation practice.

Experience in Vietnam

Over the years, Russell has developed deep familiarity with Vietnam’s wildlife and the broader biodiversity of Southeast Asia, having served as a science advisor to Save Vietnam’s Wildlife. Through that role, he has helped guide research programs, capacity building, and data-driven strategies for habitat protection and species conservation. He is also a master user and teacher of R programming for ecological analysis, data wrangling, and open-science workflows.

Advisory Role at CTNC

At CTNC, Russell is a central figure in shaping strategy around endemic species conservation and advocacy. He contributes expertise in:

Designing and supervising research programs focused on Vietnam’s unique fauna.

Developing technology- and data-driven monitoring tools (e.g. predictive models, AI-based analyses).

Advising on ecological data analysis, visualization, and interpretation to formulate evidence-based advocacy.

Building capacity within CTNC and its partners in quantitative ecology and open-data practices.

Overview

Russell’s combination of ecological insight, computational ability, and regional conservation experience positions him as a powerful asset for CTNC’s mission to protect Vietnam’s and Southeast Asia’s endemic species.