It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of the Western Australian Marine Science Institution’s (WAMSI) inaugural Chief Executive Officer, Dr Steve Blake.

Steve graduated with first class honors in Geology from the University of Edinburgh before moving to Australia in 1987. He undertook his PhD in marine geology at James Cook University, studying the Great Barrier Reef. Steve worked in various positions in Canberra before moving to Western Australia to join WAMSI as its first Chief Executive Officer.  

Steve joined WAMSI in 2006 and managed the organisation from its inception until 2012.  Steve particular enjoyed working with Indigenous groups in the northwest of WA and eventually left WAMSI to work with Ninti One to further build opportunities for people in Indigenous communities in remote Australia.

On behalf of all of us at WAMSI, we thank Steve for his enduring contribution to marine science and offer our sincere condolences to Janine and their three lovely daughters, of whom Steve was so proud.