Justine grew up in Orlando, Florida, where she spent much of her time exploring lake shores and cypress swamps. She earned a degree from Princeton University and a master's in Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting from New York University.

Her favorite stories take her far beyond the reach of cell signal — into the wilds of Papua New Guinea, tiny Pacific islands, or logging concessions in Myanmar — to report on innovative conservation science and the people behind it. 

​When not working, she enjoys traveling off the beaten track... as long as there are still birds.