Congratulations to Kingsley Dixon for being named WA’s Scientist of the Year. Incredibly well deserved. We have had the pleasure of working with Kingsley over many years. Amongst his many significant roles and achievements, Kingsley is Curtin Professor at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, the foundation Chair of the Society for Ecological Restoration Australia, and one of the modern botanical pioneers who have elevated our knowledge of south-western Australia so that it now sits high on the world stage as a global hotspot. Amongst his many pithy quotes, this one when taking a group of international ecologists on a study tour of the south-west “You will see many things here that contradict your knowledge of life on Earth”.