Parks Ambassador role for whale shark expert

The WA Parks Foundation’s newest Parks Ambassador, Dr Brad Norman AM has dedicated more than 25 years to research, education and conservation programs focused on the world’s biggest fish – the whale shark.

He is currently leading a program on whale sharks in his role as a Research Fellow with The Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University.

Dr Brad Norman AM

Dr Norman also heads ECOCEAN Inc., which since 2006 has developed it into Australia’s leading non-government whale shark research organisation, responsible for the development and management of the longest photo-identification monitoring program on a wild shark species in operation globally.

His Masters and PhD were both undertaken with WA Marine Parks, and he continues to coordinate multi-stakeholder research programs within Ningaloo Marine Park, Shark Bay Marine Park, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

in 2006, Dr Norman was the first Australian to be receive the prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise for his ground-breaking whale shark citizen science project and in 2019 he was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for ‘significant service to Science as a Marine Biologist’.

WA Parks Foundation Chair, the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC, CVO said Parks Ambassadors inspired in others a love of WA’s parks and an appreciation of their uniqueness and value to the community.

“We are delighted that Brad has accepted our invitation to become a Parks Ambassador and we warmly welcome him,” she said.