Laura Torre-Williams

Laura, the founding director of East Coast Whale Study, is a conservation biologist, marine educator, and whale researcher.

She is a keen advocate for educating and inspiring young minds to care for the planet.

Laura’s experience includes freshwater ecology and restoration, having worked with low decile schools in urban Auckland to plant 25,000 native trees along streams and rivers. Laura proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Conservation Biology. She is now focused on ocean megafauna (cetaceans) and enjoys communicating science in a simple manner, so all ages can grow an appreciation for the ocean realm. Laura believes every person can take small steps to create a ripple of positive actions to protect our planet. Laura has worked with cetaceans in Alaska, Hawaii, California, New Zealand and Australia. Laura holds a Bsc in Environmental Biology and an MSc in Conservation Biology and her thesis was on mother and calf humpback whales. Since 2013 she has been a Visiting Scholar at Griffith University documenting the occurrence of newborn humpback whale calves and their habitat use in an area not considered a calving ground. Laura also leads the Gold Coast Newborn Calf study, which has a large team of research assistants supporting it. They are seeking better protection for newborn calves in this area. Laura holds the following professional memberships: Elected Board Member – Society for Conservation Biology (Oceania); New Zealand Environmental Educators Association; American Cetacean Society; Society for Marine Mammalogy; Project Jonah