Dr Lonsdale has experience in working on biological invasions, ecological implications of GMOs, biosecurity, environmental risk assessment, biological control of weeds, plant population ecology.

Mark has coordinated CSIROs research program on ecological implications of GMOs and chaired the Global Invasive Species Program.

He is a member of the Editorial Board (Biological Invasions) and the Editorial Board, (Journal of Applied Ecology). He has previously also been a member of the Global Change in Terrestrial Ecosystems program.

Dr Lonsdale holds a Ph.D. in plant ecology (1982) and a B.Sc. Hons in biology (1978).  He is also a Graduate of the  Australian Institute of Company Directors 2004.