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
Award: QEII 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. He is skipper of the Research Expedition Vessel (REV) and will lead ORI’s Pacific expeditions. 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.
To be Advised
Oceanic Research Institute Chief Operating Officer
The Chief Operating Officer will lead the development of our internationally-focussed operations, based in Sydney, Australia, in the three key Mission areas of Education, Communication and Field Research.
You will be an Ocean lover, inspirational leader of teams, media whiz, organisational mastermind, and a proven major fundraiser – corporate sponsorship and private philanthropic – who understands the Ocean controls all climate, life, culture and economy on earth.
If you are interested in exploring the life-changing opportunities this position offers, and how you could help lead Australia’s only independent Oceanic research organisation, please contact us at GHQ@ori.net.au
Shaun Deverson, BEng (Hons), MBT, FCLP
Oceanic Research Institute Strategic Operations Consultant
- Civil and Environmental Engineer
- Business Leader
Shaun is an Engineer and Business Leader with significant commercial, government and military experience managing teams, change, contracts, risk advisory and stakeholders. His responsibilities have included project and commercial management, contractual administration, change management, governance and the development and implementation of strategic plans to effect sustainable growth. His strengths are transformational and systems-based approaches that build an intelligent, collaborative and conscious team towards prosperous outcomes.
Arnold Toynbee, A.Inst. IB, Cert. Bus. Mgmt.
Oceanic Research Institute Expedition Logistics Consultant
- Chartered Quantity Surveyor UK
- Business Management Specialist
Arnold serves as Expedition Logistics Consultant, responsible for business planning and management of global research expeditions. Originally a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in the UK, and qualified Business Management specialist in Australia, Arnold has a quarter century in corporate IT with roles including Managing Director of Australian and international companies.
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