Education
University of Sydney. Australian National University.
University of Sydney. Australian National University.
Lees started off as Regional Editor for the Western Pacific in 1997 and took over as Editor-in-Chief in 2007. He is an emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales, School of Physical, Environmental & Mathematical Sciences, where he was appointed professor of geography in February 2006. Lees has been an Royal Air Force officer (Flight Navigator) and served in the Middle East, Europe (Operation Hallmark), and Africa.
After his military service, he obtained a commercial pilot license and a flight navigator license.
His career in geography began with flying for ADASTRA Aerial Surveys, engaged in mineral exploration and mapping projects. Beginning in 1977 he co-partnered in joint ventures and became a director of two small companies engaged in exploration and exploration manager of a third company.
He received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1984 from the University of Sydney and then joined the Australian National University in 1985. Currently, his main research interests are global change, predictive mapping of land cover, and land degradation.
Lees is also a special invited professor at the Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (Chinese Academy of Sciences).
Additionally, he is a commissioner and past chairman of the International Geographical Union Commission on Geographical Information Science.