Sue Sargent

Sue Sargent was born in the UK and brought up about 50km from the coast. Despite this, her love of nature and, in particular, the marine environment drove her to pursue a career in Marine Biology.

Graduating with an honours degree in Marine Biology from the University of Liverpool in 1987, Sue worked in a London advertising agency for three years before taking off to "explore the world" in 1990.

Arriving in Australia, Sue believed that she had found heaven (or at least, something close). Working as a volunteer for Oceanworld in Sydney for 6 months, Sue considered herself lucky to receive work experience in her chosen field.

After returning to the UK for 12 months, Sue moved permanently to Australia in 1993. Sue was offered employment with Oceanworld (a Coral World International subsidiary) and worked initially as an aquarist and seal trainer.

"Whenever people ask me about the glamorous side of Marine Biology, I tell them about coral mash - a mixture of minced fish, algae, mussels, squid and prawns which we used to prepare daily to feed the display corals. After mashing the food, you had to strain it through a fine net and then re-suspend it in water using your hands - you permanently stank of fish. Even after several showers a day, you could still smell it and you were forever discovering fish scales on your body!"

Between 1994-5, Sue worked as Oceanworld's Marketing & Public Relations Manager, before transferring to Underwater World Perth in 1996 as Education & Exhibitions Manager.

In 1995, Underwater World Perth had over 20,000 students visiting the aquarium annually. By the time Sue had reviewed their education program, nearly 35,000 students were visiting.

"My time with Underwater World Perth was fantastic - I was finally able to work in the field that was most personally fulfilling for me - marine education."

In 1997, Sue moved onto a new challenge. Having made the decision to join her partner, Glen, a commercial diver and aquaculturalist in Bundaberg, Sue heard about a job that was being advertised in the local paper for a marine Project Officer.

Four years and a daughter (Sophia) later, the Woongarra Marine Park Monitoring & Education Project is still going from strength to strength.

Looking back on my life so far, I consider myself so lucky. I have a job that I love and have worked with some amazing people. In 1998, Coral World International contracted me to write the education program for their new aquarium . . . in Maui. Now who would turn that down? But above all I love the fact that I work with so many keen volunteers, people like myself, that believe that we can all make a difference and conserve Australia's exquisite marine environment."