Meet the team
Oceanic Research Institute explores the unknown to discover new knowledge about our oceans.
Core Team
Earle de Blonville, FRGS
Oceanic Research Institute Director & CEO
- Adjunct Professional Fellow
- Southern Cross University, NSW, Australia
- Leadership Consultant & Executive Coach
Award: Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Award (Greenland Expedition)
Earle is co-founder of Oceanic Research Institute (ORI), responsible for the development of oceanic programs and international research partnerships. Earle is a veteran Arctic explorer, having led Australia’s first expedition to East Greenland in 1985-86, with the Prince of Wales as Patron. To watch the trailer of Savage Coast, Earle’s one-hour documentary of this expedition, click on the video link below.
Professor Jennifer M. Gidley, PhD
Oceanic Research Institute Director & Director of Research
- Adjunct Professor, Institute for Sustainable Futures
- UTS University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Award: Chancellor’s Gold Medal (Doctoral Research)
Jennifer co-founded the Oceanic Research Institute (ORI) driven by her growing concern about climate crisis, the plight of the oceans, and threats to small island nations and coastal cities from sea level rise. As Director of Research she is responsible for ORI’s long and short term research programs, and contributes significantly from her academic and leadership experience as a researcher in ‘sustainable futures’.
Paul Snelgrove, LLB
Oceanic Research Institute Director & Senior Legal Officer
- SSI Dive Control Specialist
- Former Vice President & Dive Coordinator of Queensland Nautilus Scuba Club
Paul joined the Oceanic Research Institute as Director in March 2019. He has extensive business experience, residential property development, holiday accommodation and adventure tour operations. His strong entrepreneurial energy and flair will help drive ORI’s development. Paul will manage compliance matters, insurances, and coordination of ORI’s legal services providers.
Susie Crick, B Ed, Dip. Graphic Design
Oceanic Research Institute Director
- Director of Surfrider Australia
- Al Gore-trained Climate Reality Leader
Susie is a Director of Surfrider Australia, and President of Surfrider South Coast. Surfrider was founded in the USA as a professional governing body for surfers. She is a Board Member of the Boomerang Alliance and CitizenBlue, an Ambassador for Wave Changer, member of Changing Streams CIC, and an Al Gore-trained Climate Reality Leader. She is a strong campaigner for cleaning up plastic waste in the Ocean and is the Founding Director of an Australian Early Childhood Learning Centre.
Richard Mitry, LLB
Oceanic Research Institute Corporate Counsel
- Partner: Mitry Lawyers
Richard is a founding partner of Mitry Lawyers, Sydney and Melbourne, and is ORI’s Corporate Counsel. His main areas of practice are defamation and media, property and environmental law, commercial litigation, and insolvency.
Women & Oceans
“No water. No Life. No Blue. No Green.” – Sylvia Earle, PhD, Oceanographer.
SDG 5 & 14
Oceanic Research Institute is aware of the need to seek gender balance in oceanic research, marine sciences and STEM studies. We support UN SDG 5: Gender Equality.
We seek EOI’s from women researchers, advisors, crew & sponsors. Please apply below.
‘It is mankind’s responsibility to ensure that the future of the ocean is safeguarded.”
– Bertarelli Foundation
For questions, information or you want to Sponsor, Partner or Collaborate with us, click on ‘Contact Us’.
To donate, click on the ‘GiveNow’ Button below.
Office
NSW
EMAIL US
GHQ@ori.net.au