Figgis' research and areas of interest include national and international protected areas, biodiversity conservation policy, World Heritage, sustainable tourism, natural resource management, private land conservation and public open space management.
In 1979 she graduated Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in Government and Public Administration, University of Sydney, with the thesis titled The Politics of Wilderness Conservation: The Movement and the Issues.
From 1981-1984 she was national lobbyist in Canberra for the Australian Conservation Foundation,[1] where she played a major role in the campaign for the Franklin River.
The award was granted for her contributions to environmental organisations, public authorities and policy development in biodiversity conservation, protected areas and sustainable tourism.
[5] In 2008 she was selected to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit under the Population, sustainability, climate change and water working group.