The involvement of industry experts across a diverse range of fields is central to what makes this program unique. Each guest brings their own story, expertise, and passion, exposing students to pathways they may never have considered and showing them what a life in marine science can look like. We are incredibly grateful to every expert who has given their time and enthusiasm to our students and this program. Without them, none of this would be possible.
Adrienne Gooden is the co-founder and scientific facilitator of the Young Marine Biologist Program and a PhD candidate studying white shark behaviour and movement on local and global scales. She uses tagging, biologging tools, and machine learning techniques to identify behaviours and understand the factors influencing white shark behaviour and movement. She holds a First Class Honours degree from Flinders University, where she investigated the influence of tourism on white shark behaviour and energetics. Adrienne has also received the 2026 SCU International Women's Day Scholarship and was a finalist in the Outreach Category of the SCU student awards. She is passionate about science communication and shares her work with a global audience through her @sharksandscience social media platform.
Dr Sophia Ellis is a PhD graduate from Southern Cross University, working within the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP), specifically the Cooling & Shading sub-program. Her research combines coral physiology experiments and mechanistic modelling to investigate how light and temperature contribute to coral bleaching. She holds an MSc in Tropical Marine Biology from the University of Essex, where she used fixed-wing water-landing drone imagery to characterise marine environments, and a BSc in Marine Biology from Swansea University. She now works as a Research Associate, supporting risk assessment delivery and documentation for the RRAP Risk Team in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Taylor Bratton is a marine social ecologist, PhD researcher at Southern Cross University and a National Geographic Explorer. She studies sea cucumber fisheries and the people who depend on them across the Indian Ocean, with the goal of informing fair and sustainable policies that support biodiversity and coastal communities. Previously, Taylor’s work took her to Belize and the Philippines, where she helped to design three Marine Protected Areas. These experiences informed her TEDx talk on why fishers may hold the key to saving marine ecosystems. When she’s not PhD-ing, you’ll find her surfing, skating or planning her next adventure.
Dr Kate Graham is a recent PhD graduate from Southern Cross University, where she studied a recreationally and culturally harvested gastropod mollusc. Her research addressed critical biological and ecological data gaps for turban snails, focusing on reproduction, age and growth, size at maturity and movement. Through her internship with NSW DPIRD Fisheries, Kate has hands-on experience operating Baited Underwater Remote Video (BRUV) systems and analysing footage for state-wide marine park monitoring. As an avid SCUBA diver who has spent years exploring the rich biodiversity of the Solitary Islands Marine Park, Kate is passionate about sharing her love of marine life, the region and science with the public and inspiring stewardship in others.
Stephan Soule's role is to encourage and facilitate the community through the provision of regionally relevant and globally significant educational opportunities, and to foster an environment of collaboration, connectivity and informed enquiry across and beyond the University. This is achieved through the National Marine Science Centre's Schools Engagement Program, the Public Engagement Program, and the NMSC's Solitary Islands Aquarium.
