Born and raised in Perth, I was privileged to grow up in and around the ocean where I developed a strong passion and appreciation for the conservation of the sea and all its inhabitants. I undertook my undergraduate studies at James Cook University, completing my degree with an Honours project in the Marine Conservation Ecology Lab and realising my passion for research and for uncovering the many unknowns of the marine world, particularly those relating to how the behaviours of marine organisms are driven by their surrounding environment. In the following year I began my current role as a Marine Science Graduate at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, where I worked as an ecotoxicologist, gaining invaluable experiences, and developing my skills as an early career researcher.

I am now continuing to apply my passion for marine science research to answer questions of my own as a Forrest Research Foundation Scholar, at UWA’s Centre for Evolutionary Biology, with the hopes of improving our understanding of the behaviours of small, cryptobenthic fish and the role of their habitats in driving their social and reproductive behaviours. I hope that what I uncover can contribute towards the conservation of these animals and their beautiful coral homes in Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia.