The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) has welcomed Dr Jenny Shaw to the team as Research Director to manage the development of the Blueprint for Marine Science priorities.

In the lead up to major investment in the next projects for WAMSI, Dr Shaw (Jenny) will be working to determine stakeholder questions on issues, synthesis of existing knowledge including collation of data and the determination of researchable management questions resulting in a science plan to address residual gaps.

Jenny has had a long association with WAMSI prior to coming from Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety. In 2017 Jenny was the lead author on a review of Western Australian stakeholder views and science priorities on decommissioning offshore infrastructure.

In 2014, she won multiple awards for the Abrolhos PhotoVoice project and the ‘Seeing Change’ exhibitions. The PhotoVoice project showcased a fishing community’s experience of environmental and social change as seen through the lens of a camera. The project highlighted the issues affecting the Abrolhos Islands, the rock lobster fishing industry and the Island community over a five to ten year period. It was a successful collaboration between the Western Australian Marine Science Institution, Curtin University, WA Department of Fisheries, FRDC, Coastwest, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, the WA Museum, ABC Open,  and of course, the Abrolhos Islands fishing community.

 Jenny was an inaugural Director and foundation member of the Women’s Industry Network Seafood Community and was recently acknowledged as a life member for outstanding service to the organisation since its inception. In October this year she was inducted into the inaugural Women’s Honour Roll for Women in Seafood Australasia (WISA).

“Jenny is a proven high achiever with extensive experience performing a broad range of high level roles in stakeholder engagement, transdisciplinary knowledge brokering, research, management, and policy,” WAMSI CEO Dr Luke Twomey said. Her extensive experience in both Government and the private sector and her demonstrated practical experience and published theoretical knowledge will help to strengthen WAMSI’s capability to facilitate collaborations that will respond to the science priorities for the state. We welcome Jenny aboard and look forward to a constructive year ahead.”