Liz Tanner was born in beautiful Michigan, the Great Lakes State of the USA. World famous for their size and diversity, Michigan's freshwater lakes and shoreline were the perfect outdoor classroom for Liz to develop her lifelong interest in the natural world.

“My brother and I loved Jacques Cousteau, the famous ocean explorer, and we spent our entire summers snorkelling, beachcombing and camping around the lakes,” recalls Tanner.
“My mother was a retired science teacher and a keen birdwatcher, and my father loves bushwalking and all outdoor activities, so I grew up just knowing I would be a scientist. I always wanted to be like Jane Goodall or Sylvia Earle and study animals and ecology in the field.”

Liz earned her Bachelor of Science with a dual major in Zoology and Biological Anthropology at University of Michigan, and worked as an Auditory Researcher in the University of Michigan Medical Centre before migrating to Australia in 1993 to marry and live permanently.

In 1996 and 1997 Liz was working in vocational marine training program development at the Bundaberg TAFE when she began her association with Australian Marine Conservation Society, Bundaberg, where the Woongarra Marine Park Monitoring and Education Project concept was developed.

Since its conception in 1996, Liz has worked as a volunteer, Steering Group advisor and/or Project Officer for the Woongarra Marine Park Monitoring and Education Project. Tanner cites the marine field research (she coordinates the underwater coral research fieldwork), teaching people about marine ecology and working with motivated volunteers as the most rewarding facets of her work with WMPMEP.

Since 1997, Liz has also tutored in the Arts, Health and Sciences Faculty at Central Queensland University, worked each nesting season as a Volunteer Interpretation Officer at Mon Repos Loggerhead Sea Turtle Rookery, and continued her ongoing training and interests in scuba diving.

Liz credits some of her recent successes in WMPMEP to a few key influences, including her supportive family, dedicated and talented WMPMEP colleagues, studying field ecology and research methods at University of Michigan Biological Station, and a cathartic research trip to Australia during her final year of university.

While assisting in a University field research project about the social behaviour of wild bottlenose dolphins in magnificent Shark Bay, Western Australia, Tanner met her future Australian husband on the beach at Monkey Mia. These experiences provided Tanner with further evidence that marine ecosystems are very valuable and worth fighting for!

Liz currently lives with her Australian husband, Staffordshire bull terrier and Siamese cat on the volcano in Bundaberg from which Woongarra takes its name.

In Liz's spare time, she contributes greatly to the region:

• Mon Repos Environmental Park Sea Turtle Rookery
  Volunteer Interpretation Officer/Turtle Guide (Seasonal) 97, 98, 99, 00, 01
• Australian Marine Conservation Society, Bundaberg & District Branch
  1998, 1999, 2000 Officer: Secretary, and Research Projects Steering Committee Member
• Bird Observer’s Club of Australia, Bundaberg & District Branch
  Research Projects, Volunteer
• Landcare Hummock Revegetation Project Volunteer
• PADI Dive Master SCUBA (in training)
• PADI Rescue & Advanced Open Water SCUBA
• SSI & NAUI Open Water SCUBA
• Restricted Radio Operator's Certificate of Proficiency
• Occupational Health and Safety At Sea Certification
• Recreational Shipmaster's License
• “Nautical Knowledge” from Coxswain’s training
• Current Senior First Aid and Resuscitation Certification

Professionally, Liz teaches, writes curriculum, and manages to put in extra volunteer hours towards the WMPMEP.

In her previous lives, she has:

• Studied the habits of dolphins for Dolphins of Shark Bay Research Foundation in Shark Bay, Western Australia
• Conducted and evaluated behavioural auditory testing of macaques, chinchillas, guinea pigs, and quail in laboratory environment at the University of Michigan