Ever wondered what it's like to navigate the oceans as a blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, or to explore an urban marine environment as an endangered sea lion? While we, as mammals, lack the ability to live underwater, Professor Chandra Salgado Kent brings us closer to these extraordinary creatures through cutting-edge technologies.

By deploying satellite trackers, using drones, and listening to their vocalisations, Chandra monitors whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. She employs advanced statistics to evaluate how human activities impact these species and communicates findings to governments, industries, and communities to support protection of marine wildlife and their habitats.

Born in Venezuela to a Spanish father and American mother, Chandra's early cultural connections to nature sparked her passion for marine science. She earned her PhD in Marine Ecology from Charles Darwin University and has since held leadership and mentoring roles at Curtin and Edith Cowan Universities. In 2018, she founded Oceans Blueprint to advance science communication and inspire action for sustainable oceans.

Chandra is a WA Parks Foundation Ambassador, represents Australia on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, and is actively supports equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM.