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Meet the inspiring 'blueys' who are championing ocean literacy

Literacy Experts

Scientists

Educators

Ocean Champions

Project Team

Brett Shorthouse

Brett loves the marine environment and has produced a diverse range of projects for federal, state and local government departments and the corporate sector.

Brett Shorthouse

Brett loves the marine environment and has produced a diverse range of projects for federal, state and local government departments and the corporate sector, including specific target audience programs on health, science, education, indigenous and maritime communications, with particular emphasis on sustainable resource management (samples can be seen on rgbmedia.com.au). He has also produced high quality natural history programs including the Great Barrier Reef series and a 20 part children’s series Barney’s Great Barrier Reef for international broadcasters including the BBC, Nat Geo and Discovery.

Jody Plecas

Jody is a foreign-born Aussie who loves the ocean and believes it is vitally important. She wants every Australian child to learn about the amazing marine environment around them.

Jody Plecas

Jody, a foreign-born Australian, is passionate about fostering ocean literacy and inspiring Australians to value their unique marine environment. Over decades, she has educated more than 15,000 people through innovative programs, workshops, and public events.

A Life Member of the Gould League and former Secretariat of the Marine Education Society of Australasia, Jody contributed to CoastAction, CoastCare, and EPA Victoria’s $22.5m Stormwater Action grants program. She was instrumental in placing Melbourne Aquarium on the state’s Agenda 21 and coordinated the international One Ocean Pacific Forum in Hawaii.

As Education Officer for the Australian Marine Environment Protection Association, she led a groundbreaking ocean literacy project in the Torres Strait and collaborated on Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers’ resources.

Working with scientists, educators, and government bodies since the 1990s, Jody’s enduring dream is for every Australian to recognize that a healthy ocean is vital. Serving on the reference group is a privilege.

Australian Ocean Literacy Reference Group

Dr Prue Francis

Dr Prue Francis is a marine scientist at Deakin University. She brings a unique set of capabilities that bridge kelp restoration science and ocean literacy research, exemplified by her interdisciplinary approach to promoting marine conservation.

Dr Prue Francis

Dr Prue Francis is a marine scientist at Deakin University. She brings a unique set of capabilities that bridge kelp restoration science and ocean literacy research, exemplified by her interdisciplinary approach to promoting marine conservation. She is the co-author of the children’s picture book The Great Southern Reef, which has sold over 2,300 copies and continues to raise awareness about Australia’s temperate reef systems.

A passionate advocate for science communication, Prue is a regular keynote speaker and guest presenter at community and professional events and is part of the prestigious 2023-24 Superstar of STEM cohort. Her work demonstrates a commitment to combining research excellence with public engagement to inspire stewardship of marine ecosystems.

Harry Breidahl

Harry is legendary when it comes to Ocean Literacy and has been actively involved in the education space since 1970. 

Harry Breidahl

Harry is legendary when it comes to Ocean Literacy and has been actively involved in the education space since 1970. He established the Tooradin Marine Life Centre, is the founding member of the Marine Education Society of Australasia (MESA) and the International Pacific Marine Educators Network (IPMEN). In 1982 Harry started his own company, Nautilus, Education, where he worked as a natural history author (he has published over 100 books), exhibit designer and environmental education consultant. He was also a teaching associate in the Education Faculty at the Peninsula Campus of Monash University between 1989 and 2014. Although retired from formal employment, Harry is still actively engaged in promoting ocean literacy here in Australia and internationally and has received a number of local and international awards for his work in this field.

Sheree Marris

If Sheree had her choice, she would have gills instead of lungs, a breath hold to rival the sperm whale and a sparkly green mermaid-esque tail. 

Sheree Marris

If Sheree had her choice, she would have gills instead of lungs, a breath hold to rival the sperm whale and a sparkly green mermaid-esque tail. Since she doesn’t, this marine biologist, does the next best thing and spends as much time as she can scuba diving and blowing bubbles. When she’s a land lover you can find Sheree working on a range of innovative and engaging projects that bridge the gap between marine science and the public. She is a board member of our partner organisation Unico Conservation Foundation, is a former Young Australian of the Year, documentary maker and award-winning author with many books under her belt including ‘KamaSEAtra – Secrets of sex in the sea, a humourous look at how sea creatures do the no pants dance.

Hakan Dellal

Hakan has been active in the marine conservation and education sector for over two decades. 

Hakan Dellal

Hakan has been active in the marine conservation and education sector for over two decades. His early professional experience was shaped within the sustainability arena, as a researcher and consultant on projects in sustainability reporting, stake holder engagement, SIA and social risk. Hakan then turned his attention to the community sector at the inception of Victoria’s system of marine national parks, being on the executive committee of Marine Care Ricketts Point inc., for 12 years. In that time Hakan engaged in numerous activities and projects around marine education, including the development of the Ricketts Point Marine Education Centre and coordination of inter-agency public education programs, such as Marine Care’s regular contributions to Coast Care’s Summer by the Sea festivals. The former won a Banksia Award and the latter a nomination in the education category for the organization. In parallel Hakan developed and delivered environmental education programs as a consultant in the schools’ sector and has for over a decade been an educator with the Gould League, specializing in the development and delivery of its marine education programs for Victorian primary and secondary students.

Hakan holds an Honours degree in Marine Science and Management and a Diploma in Conservation and Land Management. His post graduate research focused on policy development and implementation of marine protected areas. In addition to his continuing role as an environmental educator, Hakan is undertaking a bachelor’s degree in music composition and music technology, being keen to explore the intersections of creative arts and environmental education.

Michelle Lauder

Michelle has worked in natural resource management since 1992 for non-government organisations, the Victorian Government and Australian Government.

Michelle Lauder

Michelle is passionate about marine and coastal education and volunteered on the management committees of VAEE and MESA, delivered school coastal field trips and helped develop marine and coastal teacher resources for the Commonwealth Government.

She worked for Coast Action/Coastcare for ten years. She worked with volunteer groups in the Port Phillip and Westernport region, coordinated the Summer by the Sea program, and advised groups on Coastcare.

Michelle has worked in natural resource management since 1992 for non-government organisations, the Victorian government and Australian government. Her focus has predominantly been on sustainable management, encouraging a balance between production and the environment.

Michelle was recognised for outstanding public service to natural resource management and was awarded a Public Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for 2019. She also received Awards of Excellence for her role in Summer by the Sea Program, and for her leadership of Coast Action.

Andrew Christie

Andrew Christie is a lecturer in the Bachelor of Agriculture & Technology program at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Epping campus, specialising in aquaculture. 

Andrew Christie

Andrew Christie is a lecturer in the Bachelor of Agriculture & Technology program at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Epping campus, specialising in aquaculture. Having had an interest in marine biology since early childhood, he is an avid snorkeler, diver and underwater photographer, and is also president of Marine Care Point Cooke, a friends group devoted to the conservation of the Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary in Melbourne’s west. He is a regular panellist on “Out of the Blue,” a radio show devoted to marine issues, on 3CR Community Radio, 855AM.

Adam Richmond

Adam has a love of the ocean and all things marine-related.

Adam Richmond

Adam has a love of the ocean and all things marine-related. Although Marine-biology trained, Adam has spent the last 25 years sharing his enthusiasm for the marine environment with secondary school students. Adam is involved with developing marine education resources and curriculum for Queensland schools.