Inspired during her first scuba dive in Thailand in 2009 where she saw entire coral reefs devastated by bleaching, Dr Jennifer Matthews has dedicated her career to protecting ocean ecosystems.
Her pioneering research is unravelling life-saving nutrient interactions in corals to better inform management strategies. She developed a breakthrough coral “baby food” that more than doubles young coral survival, which is now being adopted by aquaculture and reef restoration programs across Australia.
Jennifer has also designed innovative microplastic removal technologies for wastewater and aquatic systems.
Beyond the lab, she founded Big Blue Conservation in Thailand, training hundreds of volunteers and local communities in reef protection and restoration. Closer to home, she launched the Sydney Coral Project, a landmark citizen science and research program uncovering NSW’s unique coral ecosystems – the southernmost coral communities in the world.
Through science, innovation and education, Jennifer is driving solutions that give reefs a fighting chance.