Chandra Salgado Kent

Director

Chandra’s career in marine research spans over 25 years, in which she has worked in a diversity of fields including mangrove forest restoration, marine fauna ranging from crustaceans to baleen whales, and impacts of human activities on marine wildlife. As a recognised expert in marine wildlife ecology, applied statistics, and bioacoustics, Chandra regularly advises various organisations and industries on innovative research methods, analytical approaches, and the status, threats and management of marine wildlife. Chandra has co-authored two book chapters, over 60 peer-reviewed papers, over 100 technical reports, and over 50 conference and workshop presentations. Through Oceans Blueprint and her current academic role as Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University, she continues to work to promote change as an expert in her field and through her passion in science communication using various media forms including photography and film.

Alex D’Cruz

Research Scientist & Media Officer

Alex is a Research Scientist at Oceans Blueprint and has a background in marine ecological research with a focus on marine mammal conservation and management. Her research interests include understanding the population ecology and dynamics of marine mammals, and how these are influenced by human pressures. Her previous research investigated the population dynamics of snubfin dolphins on Yawuru Nagulagun (Yawuru Sea Country) in Broome, Western Australia. Since then, her experience in research and consulting  has expanded her skills in designing and implementing environmental baseline studies, monitoring programs as well as project management and science communication.

Alex studied a Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Australia, majoring in Marine Science and a second major in Communications and Media (arts). She is passionate about marine mammal conservation, sharing knowledge through media, and collaborating with like-minded individuals.

Kerstin Bilgmann

Senior Research Scientist

Kerstin has been in collaboration with director Chandra Salgado Kent since 2002 when they first met on a research vessel. Kerstin is excited to contribute to the vision and strategic objectives of Oceans Blueprint. Based in Sydney, Kerstin is an Honorary Research Fellow at Macquarie University and specializes in marine ecology and conservation. Much of her work has focused on the dispersal, distribution and conservation of marine megafauna. Her areas of expertise include wildlife ecology, genetics, aerial surveys, boat surveys, satellite tagging, biopsy sampling and statistical analyses. Kerstin is passionate about wildlife conservation and restoring healthy ecosystems where humans and nature co-exist in progressive ways. More recently Kerstin has authored Australian Geographic books and magazines and enjoys working with the public and the media.

Jennah Tucker

Research Assistant & Administration Officer

Jennah is a Research Assistant at Oceans Blueprint. She has a strong interest in monitoring the effects of anthropogenic pressures on marine mammal species and science communication. Jennah grew up in the Kimberley, WA, where she worked in marine tourism for a number of years, including onboard an expedition vessel that chartered the wild Kimberley coast and later, onboard a local whale watching charter. She then became a marine biologist on a charter vessel in Bremer Bay, where she collected photographic and observational data on killer whales and mentored young scientists.

Jennah completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Western Australia, majoring in Marine and Zoological sciences. She is now in the final stages of completing her honours degree at Edith Cowan University. Her research focuses on aerial survey techniques for estimating the abundance of marine mammal species such as humpback whales and dugongs, in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia. She is also currently working as an aerial observer, monitoring the humpback whale population that passes through the Ningaloo Marine Park, in Exmouth, WA.

Gemma Donhou

Volunteer research assistant

Gemma has been working with Oceans Blueprint since 2019 and her role includes the transcription of dictaphone recordings of visual observations of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in the Swan River.

Gemma has also been working as a marine scientist since 2019 with the Centre for Whale Research (CWR). At CWR she conducts humpback whale photo identification, editing and entering new whale sightings into the database.