Dean Nicolle OAM has been interested in Australian native plants since childhood and by the age of 16 was devoted to seeing in the wild, and attempting to grow, every known species of eucalypt. Dean is self-employed as a consulting arborist, botanist and ecologist, specialising in the eucalypts.

He has named over 70 new species of eucalypts and has authored over 75 peer-reviewed scientific publications as well as a number of reference books on eucalypts. He established and maintains Currency Creek Arboretum in South Australia, a specialist research arboretum growing over 800 species of eucalypts.