THE MISSION
The Australian Sea Lion Recovery Foundation was established by the team behind Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker with the aim to raise urgent funds needed for critical research of the Australian sea lion. Narrated by Sam Neil, this IMAX film is a heart-warming journey of a sea lion pup named Otto, and the man that has dedicated his life to saving this endangered species.
Otto’s hero - Marine Park Ranger Dirk Holman made this film possible, opening the door to three eager filmmakers who wanted to introduce Otto to the world. Dirk is on the front line of Australian sea lion research and conservation, yet does the majority of his work completely alone.
Australian sea lions are the only listed Endangered marine mammal in Australia still in decline, yet there has been no Federal / Commonwealth investment in sea lion research, monitoring, or conservation strategies since 2014. Whilst they are a beautiful and charismatic species to work with, it is devastating to see their numbers declining year after year. With so many pressures on ocean ecosystems, we need to understand more about the stressors driving the decline, and what measures we can put in place to ultimately see the species survive and thrive into the future.
We simply can not stand by and let this adorable and important species shift onto the extinction list. At the Australian Sea Lion Recovery Foundation, we believe that with your support, we can change that and preserve this iconic species for future generations.
Otto’s hero - Marine Park Ranger Dirk Holman made this film possible, opening the door to three eager filmmakers who wanted to introduce Otto to the world. Dirk is on the front line of Australian sea lion research and conservation, yet does the majority of his work completely alone.
Australian sea lions are the only listed Endangered marine mammal in Australia still in decline, yet there has been no Federal / Commonwealth investment in sea lion research, monitoring, or conservation strategies since 2014. Whilst they are a beautiful and charismatic species to work with, it is devastating to see their numbers declining year after year. With so many pressures on ocean ecosystems, we need to understand more about the stressors driving the decline, and what measures we can put in place to ultimately see the species survive and thrive into the future.
We simply can not stand by and let this adorable and important species shift onto the extinction list. At the Australian Sea Lion Recovery Foundation, we believe that with your support, we can change that and preserve this iconic species for future generations.
AUSTRALIAN SEA LIONS
The only endemic species of seal in Australia, Australian sea lions are among the rarest marine mammals on earth. Their population is estimated to be less than 12,000 individuals strong, and in 2022 - they have been officially listed as an Endangered species in Australia due to decades of unsustainable mortalities from human induced threats.
Australians often confuse the Australian sea lion with the Australian fur seal. Both species were hunted extensively in the 1800’s for their pelts. The fur seal population is recovering. The Australian sea lion however, has not, and their population continues to decline.
Living in some of the most remote and hostile areas of the Australian coastline, the plight of the Australian sea lion is largely out of sight and out of mind for most people. They exist far from the consciousness of the majority of Australians. Consequently they continue to disappear in silence. They are facing an unsustainable, consistent, and rapid decline across their entire range.
The only endemic species of seal in Australia, Australian sea lions are among the rarest marine mammals on earth. Their population is estimated to be less than 12,000 individuals strong, and in 2022 - they have been officially listed as an Endangered species in Australia due to decades of unsustainable mortalities from human induced threats.
Australians often confuse the Australian sea lion with the Australian fur seal. Both species were hunted extensively in the 1800’s for their pelts. The fur seal population is recovering. The Australian sea lion however, has not, and their population continues to decline.
Living in some of the most remote and hostile areas of the Australian coastline, the plight of the Australian sea lion is largely out of sight and out of mind for most people. They exist far from the consciousness of the majority of Australians. Consequently they continue to disappear in silence. They are facing an unsustainable, consistent, and rapid decline across their entire range.
About the team
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Sarah Beard – Board Member, CEO, Founder
Sarah’s career spans over 25 years’ as a film and television producer delivering content to commercial clients, broadcasters and for feature release. As an ocean conservation advocate, marine themed stories have always been Sarah’s passion. Her award-winning ocean conservation documentary ‘Blue’ has been called one of the most significant environmental films of our time. In addition to her film work, Sarah was recently the CEO of the global movement, Take 3 For The Sea, tackling the marine plastic pollution crisis. Sarah has appeared on numerous panels advocating for ocean protection and sustainability. Amelia McCarten – Founder Amelia is a Writer, director, and underwater filmmaker. As a commercial, technical, and cave diver, Amelia is passionate about producing visually arresting stories that inspire hope, call for change, and highlight the need for a sustainable approach to the world’s oceans. Over the last 10 years Amelia has directed landmark documentary series, giant screen films, and blue chip feature films. Lisa Vehrenkamp - Board Member, Treasurer Lisa has over 20 years of experience in marketing and general management at global organisations. Her corporate experience culminated in two general manager roles for American Express in Asia running both the corporate and consumer businesses there. Currently Lisa is also president and Founder of Launchpad Partners, a consulting firm that provides digital marketing, personal branding, and business strategy to small businesses, charities, and individuals. Erica Griffiths - Board Member Erica has over 30 years of experience in environmental management, sustainable development and community engagement, spanning the public, private, and tertiary education sectors. With over 15 years of consulting in the resource industry, Erica has developed comprehensive community engagement programs and is adept at encouraging pro-environmental behaviour from within. Erica brings her structured approach to environmental management and education to ocean protection. |
Dirk Holman – Board Member, Sea Lion Expert & Marine Park Ranger
Australian Marine Park Ranger Dirk has been monitoring the species for over a decade. The complexities of consultation, design, implementation and management of State and Commonwealth marine parks has defined the last decade of Dirk’s work in Australia. Historical and current research projects include southern right whales, Australian sea lions, mulloway, penguins, shearwaters, white sharks and other marine species. Claudia Chatti - Board Member, Head of Impact & Partnerships After a Masters in Documentary at Edinburgh University, Claudia managed the production and distribution of impact-driven documentaries at Scottish Documentary Institute before moving to Wild Space Productions specialising in blue-chip wildlife series. Having designed and implemented impact campaigns for feature documentaries abroad, Claudia has returned to home shores in Australia to work with the protection of our unique wildlife. Annabel Robinson - Digital and Social Media Manager Annie is multidisciplinary media professional with a passion for high-end filmmaking, specialising in natural history and impact stories. She is fascinated by the power of the media and drawn to the responsibility that comes with the potential for large scale social influence. She aims to create compelling films and social campaigns that tell important stories, and to hopefully contribute in shaping a more considerate, well-informed society. |
THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, EVENT COLLABORATORS AND IN-KIND SUPPORTERS.
