She was previously a full professor at Auckland University of Technology, specialising in using remote sensing and drones to map and manage conservation areas.
[1] Bollard completed a PhD titled Integrating social and biophysical data to develop and evaluate marine protected area planning at a local scale: the 1998 Cairns Area Plan of Management as a case study at James Cook University in 2006.
Her research focuses on using geospatial mapping, including remote sensing and drone technology, for the identification and management of protected areas.
[5][6] She is also exploring how the three-dimensional maps created for conservation planning can also be used in gaming, allowing a virtual experience of remote environments.
[1] Bollard's work to create a photo-mosaic of the area around Scott Base was featured in the National Geographic and Antarctica New Zealand-produced programme Continent 7: Dangerous Science.