AMSA WA

Congratulations to all of the 2026 AMSA Award recipients 🥇 🌊

We are very excited to announce our 2026 AMSA Award recipients!

These very deserving recipients will be celebrated at the upcoming 2026 conference in Canberra. A big thank you to everyone that applied. It was inspiring to read about all the fantastic work and achievements of those in our marine science community.

🌟 2026 Jubilee Award – Dr John Keesing from CSIRO, an internationally recognised marine scientist whose career has transformed our understanding of Australian marine ecosystems from foundational species ecology to integrated, ecosystem‑scale science.

🌟 2026 Emerging Leader in Marine Science – Dr Dominic McAfee from Adelaide University, a leader in marine restoration science addressing coastal ecosystem loss by integrating ecological theory, applied restoration, and social-ecological systems.

🌟 2026 Melissa George Excellence in Sea Country Award – Jordan Ivey from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, an Indigenous Futures Coordinator designing and delivering programs that are reshaping how Traditional Owner groups engage with and lead marine science and reef restoration in Australia.

🌟 2026 Technical Award – Antonia Cooper from University of Tasmania, a marine scientist and operations leader with 20 years’ experience in marine ecosystem monitoring, scientific diving, and program management (Reef Life Survey).

🌟 2026 Allen Student Travel Award – Olivia Sharp from Adelaide University, a PhD candidate focusing on social and natural sciences and the representation of cetaceans in Australian media.

Full profiles of the winners are available on the AMSA website: https://www.amsa.asn.au/amsa-home/awards/

Congratulations to all on this recognition of your achievements!

This year’s AMSA Rottnest Student Workshop exceeded all expectations, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Seeing every ticket sold and such an incredible turnout reminded us just how powerful this community is.

None of this would have been possible without the amazing support of our event sponsors WAMSI and O2 Marine, and our prize sponsors Hydrobiology, OzFish Unlimited and Paramount Importance. Thank you for believing in our vision and investing in students and future leaders.

We were also incredibly fortunate to hear from an inspiring group of guest speakers representing a range of leading organisations, including:

- Dr. Jenny Shaw (WAMSI)

- Paul Day (O2 Marine)

- Dr. James Keating (Hydrobiology)

- Dr. Fiona Webster (DWER)

- Dominic Holland (OzFish Unlimited)

- Dr. Will Robbins (DBCA)

- Alysia Woodward (SRL Consulting)

- Dr. Alexandre Siqueira (ECU)

Thank you for sharing your experiences, insights, and advice with our students.

A massive shoutout too to our committee members, Caitlyn and Penelope, and our Student Reps for the passion, commitment, and hard work that brought this event to life. The countless hours behind the scenes absolutely paid off 👏

And finally, to every single attendee, thank you for showing up with energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm. You are what made this event truly special.

This is exactly what student leadership and community are about 💙

Already counting down to the next one

We celebrated World Ocean Day early last week, with Western Australian Marine Science Institution, by having breakfast together and hearing from local WA marine researchers. There was a terrific turn out, showcasing how ocean health is at the forefront of so many minds. 💙