Real Talk: Early Careers in Marine Mammal Science

Tim Awbery

PhD Student , Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)

Tim Awbery is a marine conservationist currently completing his PhD at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Tim’s PhD focuses on the distribution of mobile marine megafauna, their spatiotemporal overlap with anthropogenic threats, and how this can contribute to marine protected areas. This feeds into the Scottish Entanglement Alliance, an organisation working to reduce the number of whales, sharks and turtles killed by fishing gear.

Previously, Tim was a Senior Researcher for DMAD – Marine Mammals Research Association where he worked in data-deficient parts of the Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean. During this time, he collected baseline data to address key information gaps that had previously hindered conservation decisions. During multiple, wide-ranging collaborations he has co-authored a number of peer-reviewed publications, and won a number of prizes at international conferences. Tim’s next role is in consultancy, transitioning from academic research to applied ecological problem-solving with the aim of bridging science and policy.

Emily Cunninghham MBE

Global Lead for River Dolphin Conservation, WWF International

Emily is currently global lead for river dolphin conservation at WWF International, working across 14 countries in Asia and South America. She is an Honorary Associate Research Fellow at the University of Exeter (UK), with research interests in the ecology and conservation of marine and freshwater cetaceans. Her work over the past 13 years has taken her all across our blue planet, from Antarctica to the Amazon.

Emily is an activist for equity, diversity and inclusion in the marine sector, particularly around social mobility, and she previously served as EDI Lead on the Board of the Marine Conservation Society. She was awarded an MBE in the King's New Year Honours List 2025 for services to Marine Conservation and Coastal Communities. Emily holds an MSci in Marine Biology from Bangor University (UK). She is a state-schooled, first-generation graduate and grew up in the Midlands.

Niru Dorrian CSci CMarSci FIMarEST

Co-Chair Marine Mammals SIG, IMarEST

Niru is an offshore ecologist and marine mammal specialist with ESB. Formally educated in Marine Biology and a Chartered Marine Scientist and Fellow of the IMarEST, his journey encompasses diverse environmental and ecological project management and field work around the world on over 60 projects. Niru’s passion for marine mammals also extends beyond academia and industry, where he has dedicated 20 years to marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, science communication outreach, mentoring, education and working with NGOs, and is the appointed Ambassador to the UN Ocean Decade by IMarEST.

Elizabeth Ferguson

Co-Chair Marine Mammals SIG, IMarEST

Liz is the CEO and Founder of Ocean Science Analytics (OSA), a company focused on research and providing technical training in oceanic and coastal environments. Liz brings extensive experience from her previous roles at Bio-Waves, and NOAA Fisheries. Her expertise includes passive acoustic data analysis, project management, PAM survey coordination, GIS analysis, and technical curriculum development. As a dedicated educator, she teaches biology and science education at multiple colleges and serves as the Executive Director of Expanding Your Horizons of San Diego, empowering young women in STEM fields.

Emily Hague

Marine mammal Post-doctoral Researcher, UHI Shetland

Emily is an early career post-doctoral research associate based at UHI Shetland, working on a project (BLUE CONNECT) to encourage local people and industries to contribute to data collection on marine mammals within the ‘Shetland and Fair Isle Important Marine Mammal Area’.

She recently completed her PhD at Heriot-Watt University on ‘marine mammals in the Anthropocene’, and for a number of years prior to this, Emily worked for the Sea Mammal Research Unit (University of St Andrews), and for their consultancy arm ‘SMRU Consulting’.

Her research interests largely focus on how human activities overlap with and potentially affect marine mammals, and how we can improve data to understand and prevent this. She has a strong drive to support community efforts to collect data, and as such, her main body of work in recent years has involved working with community organisations to better utilise their data as scientific outputs. 

Ashleigh Kitchiner MRes, BSc (Hons), MMOA, CSci, MIMarEST, MCIEEM

Chair, Marine Mammal Observer Association

Ashleigh Kitchiner is a marine ecologist and her interests lie in marine mammal ecology, impact assessment, mitigation implementation, and licensing and consenting.  Ashleigh is passionate about encouraging a global network of environmental professionals and is the co-Chair of the See Your Future and member of the Marine Mammal SIG at IMarEST.

Leonie Lepple

Marine Mammal Consultant, MMO / PAM

Leonie is currently transitioning from desk to deck: after 2.5 years as a marine mammal consultant at Royal HaskoningDHV, she is now seeking hands-on experience as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) or Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) operator. As the Honorary Secretary of the IMarEST Marine Mammal Special Interest Group, Leonie has been driving the organisation of this webinar.

Originally from Germany, Leonie began her career in nursing before moving into the environmental sector. After an MSc from Bangor University, her career in marine mammal science started to take shape during her dissertation with the Sea Watch Foundation. One of her first roles was as ORCA Ocean Conservationist, lecturing and guiding wildlife tours in Norway, the UK, and the Azores. Leonie continues to expand her network and seeks roles that support marine conservation and the growth of the renewable energy sector.

Giulia Luerti

Marine Biologist

Giulia is an Italian marine biologist with a BSc in General Biology from UC San Diego and an MSc in Marine Vertebrate Ecology and Conservation from the University of Exeter. She has contributed to a range of marine research projects in the US, Italy, Costa Rica, Portugal, the UK, Cyprus, and Slovenia, with a primary focus on cetacean conservation and strong experience in marine bioacoustics.

Currently working at IMCA as Assistant Technical Adviser – Environment and Sustainability, Giulia is expanding her expertise into the offshore industry’s environmental and sustainability challenges. She supports IMCA’s work by contributing to projects and initiatives that promote responsible environmental practices and by collaborating with Members and colleagues to help meet sustainability goals. Passionate about bridging science and industry, Giulia brings a global perspective and scientific understanding to her role, with the aim of supporting more sustainable approaches within offshore operations and contributing to positive environmental outcomes.

Dr Maevatiana N. Ratsimbazafindranahahaka

Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and Research Associate, Cétamada Association

Maeva is a Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Germany, and a Research Associate at the Cétamada association, Madagascar. He earned his Ph.D. at the Université Paris-Saclay, France, and the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar, where he studied mother-calf interactions in humpback whales. His research spans both marine and terrestrial behavioral ecology, with a focus on bioacoustics, biologging, and conservation. In addition to his work on lemurs, he remains actively involved in marine mammal research, particularly the acoustic and behavioral ecology of cetaceans in Madagascar through his ongoing collaboration with Cétamada. He also teaches ethology at the University of Antananarivo and contributes to conservation efforts linking science and local contexts.

Keely Saville

Recent MSc Graduate, Zoologist

Keely is a zoologist with an MSc in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation from the University of Bristol, where her research on the effects of storminess on seal pups in the British Isles was published in a scientific journal. She also holds a First-Class BSc in Zoology and has gained practical experience through marine fieldwork in Honduras, Belize, and Borneo.

Her academic background reflects a strong interest in marine conservation and the impacts of environmental change on wildlife. Keely has recently relocated to Zurich and is now in the early stages of her professional journey. She is actively exploring career opportunities beyond those traditionally available in the UK. Her key areas of interest include marine conservation, science communication, and community engagement.