Our team at Ocean Life Education are an interesting bunch who all share one great passion – the ocean. Read on to find out who we are and why we love all things related to the big blue…

 

Richard Coward

Title: Director of Education          Studied: Bachelor of Marine Science, Griffith University & Dip.Ed., USC

“I’ve always been incredibly passionate about the marine environment. I love my job, working with children and adults to educate and inspire them to love the ocean and to want to protect it”.

Richard has extensive experience managing exhibits in local and overseas aquariums, working with sharks, seals, penguins, turtles, sea jellies, fish, octopus and invertebrates to name a few.  He has been involved in research projects such as buoyancy syndrome turtle research, shark research and breeding programs.

Memorable Ocean Experience: Assisting with a whale rescue in Coolum back in 1996 after the calf had become stuck on a sand bank.

Favourite Ocean Creature: Well, that’s tricky as there are so many diverse and amazing creatures out there…but if I had to pick, I guess it would be the dolphin or octopus. Dolphin, because of their intelligence and playful nature. Octopus, also because of their intelligence and also their amazing ability to camouflage against any habitat.

 

Tracey Coward

Title: Business Manager          Studied: Masters in Business Administration

“I’m proud to be playing a part in nurturing young environmental leaders of tomorrow. I’ve watched my kids grow up sharing our love for animals and the natural environment. It’s so important for children to get the opportunity to experience these things first-hand”.

Memorable Ocean Experience: “I love getting in the ocean and checking out the marine life. I recently went snorkelling with humpback whales and manta rays at Lady Elliot Island with my three (grown up!) kids, which was an incredible thing to do together”.

Favourite Ocean Creature: Humpback whales and manta rays. I’ve been lucky enought to get close to both in their natural habitat. They seem curious and intelligent.

 

Rae Doyle

Title: Marine Education Officer          Studied: MSc Marine Biodiversity

I have always loved being in the sea, searching for creatures hiding in its depths and learning more about them. I love diving and swimming and just spending time with as many sea creatures as I can. I enjoy sharing my experiences with others so that they can get interested in the marine environment. I want to show them how important the ocean is and that sea creatures are not scary monsters.

Memorable Ocean Experience: Oh wow where to start. I’ve been to so many amazing places and had beautiful encounters with all sorts of marine creatures, big and small. If I had to pick one I suppose it would have to be when a young seal followed me while I was swimming off the east coast of Ireland. It kept swimming under me, blowing bubbles up at me and bumping off me as if I was another seal!

Favourite Ocean Creature: Again, a tough question. I would have to go with sharks, rays and turtles. I know that’s more than one but I love to see them all. Sharks and Rays because they have survived millions of years and their diversity is just incredible. Turtles because they are just so laid back and relaxing to watch when they swim past.

 

Breoni J

Title: Marine Education Officer Breoni

“Growing up by the beach, I have always believed that there’s something magical about the ocean. It’s full of weird, wonderful and misunderstood creatures. If I can share my love and see kids light up with curiosity and intrigue, that’s just one small step closer to protecting our natural world.”

Memorable ocean experience – when I was volunteering at a sea turtle rescue and rehab centre in the Maldives I assisted the release of one of our patients back into the water. Watching her swim away into the deep is a moment I’ll always treasure.

Favourite ocean creature – I admire the intelligence of dolphins but I’ve always had a soft spot for sea turtles. There’s just something majestic about their prehistoric looks and I love watching the hatchlings make that tough trek down the beach to the water. Their ability to navigate the seas for migration using magnetic fields to then return to the same nesting sites (sometimes even to the beach they hatched) impresses me and there’s just still so much to learn about them. But with humans being their biggest threat, I hope I can help contribute to their survival in a small way by making people fall in love with them like I do and showing that with some small changes we can make a big difference!

Amber Paulsen

Title: Marine Education Officer          Studied: Bachelor of Psychology, UQ

“I’m a real water baby and love swimming and surfing in the waves with friends. I love the ocean because it’s so much fun and so different to land. It really inspires me when I see children get excited about meeting our marine animals, particularly the turtles. Their eyes open wide and they are so curious and ask some great questions”.

Memorable Ocean Experience: I have many but probably snorkelling in Fiji. The water is calm and clear and the coral is beautiful.

Favorite Ocean Creature: It’s got to be the dolphin. They have so much personality and are cheeky, curious and intelligent and beautiful swimmers.

A word on conservation – “A little goes a long way, so please pick up rubbish”.

 

Angie Webb

Studied: Bachelor of Science (Biology & Ecology), USC

“Growing up so close to the beach, I have always found inspiration in the ocean. I love its endless curiosities and the concept that there is still so much to explore!”

Most Memorable Ocean Experience: Definitely road tripping along the Queensland Coast! Stopping at all the beaches along the way, I got to see all the amazing diversity coastal environments have to offer. Every spot was so unique!

Favourite Ocean Creature: I’ve always loved sea horses as they’re such a whimsical and elegant creature. They are like the fairies of the sea.

Tania Kirby

Title: Business Development          Studied: Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, Monash University & Advanced Diploma of Community Services Management

“I have spent many years working in early childhood education where I have been passionate about teaching children to respect the environment and all living creatures. Children are naturally curious about sea life and I love being a part of Ocean Life Education to support this learning in children of all ages”

Memorable Ocean Experience: One of my most cherished memories is the time I spent on the Gippsland Peninsula during my youth. It was during those moments that I had the privilege of immersing myself in the wonders of the ocean. Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef also stands out as a memorable experience for me where I was mesmerised by the vibrant colours of the fish, the intricate coral formations, and the diverse marine life that surrounded me.

Favourite Ocean Creature: While my encounters with whales and dolphins have left a lasting impression on me due to their social nature and the care they show for others in their pods, I am equally fascinated by sea jellies. In my earlier years, I encountered numerous sea jellies. Though they may not possess the same social characteristics as whales and dolphins, their presence in the ocean system is crucial – serving as a reminder of the diversity and complexity of marine life and the need to protect these delicate creatures.

 

Hayley Gee

Title: Marketing & Resources Manager          Studied: Bachelor Business Studies & Diploma in Marketing, UK

“I love the ocean. It’s such an amazing place full of fascinating habitats and life and I’m proud to play a part in trying to protect it for future generations to enjoy”.

Memorable Ocean Experience: I’ve dived in some amazing places, but I think my most memorable dive was my first ever qualified dive. The minute we were at the ocean floor, a three-metre hammerhead shark swam by! I grabbed the dive master by the arm and wouldn’t let go. It was a totally amazing experience! I love sharks and wish the media would appreciate how important they are and stop giving them such a bad press!”.

Favourite Ocean Creature: “This is tricky…it’s a toss-up between the octopus and the humpback whale. Octopus, because they are so clever and versatile and humpback whales because they are so acrobatic and are part of our lives for half the year here on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland”.