ABOUT US
Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries’ (EMS)
is an incorporated, not-for-profit, non-government organisation. The program is based on (with permission) the highly successful New Zealand program ‘Experiencing Marine Reserves’.
An important component of EMS’s approach to education is to give children and their parents (and grand parents) a safe and professionally supervised ‘hands on’ experience of our unique and beautiful marine life.
Our EMS coordinators are qualified first aid, snorkelling and/or diving instructors and offer guidance, direction and coordination of in water experiences. EMS provides mask (goggles), snorkel, fins (flippers) and wetsuits. For many participants it is their first time snorkelling, therefore having a ratio of one parent to two students assists with supervision and safety.
OUR AIMS
FOSTER
appreciation and conservation of the marine environment.
PROMOTE
the establishment, effective monitoring and management of marine sanctuaries.
INSPIRE
people to become citizen scientists and actively participate in marine conservation.
EDUCATE
and engage through experience in the marine environment
Demonstrate
the value of marine sanctuaries
MEET THE TEAM
President: Professor Bronwyn Gillanders
Vice President: Professor Rob Lewis
Treasurer: Marilyn Sumner
Secretary: Sue Hill
Public Officer, Co-founder, Executive Officer & Program Manager: Carl Charter
Committee Member – Inclusive Subcommittee Member: Michael Ray
Committee Member: Gill Peacey
Professor Bronwyn Gillanders | President
Bronwyn is a Professor at the University of Adelaide. She has a background in marine biology and ecology and is passionate about training the next generation of marine biologists. Her research interests are broad but include gaining a better understanding of the giant Australian cuttlefish. She enjoys snorkelling and SCUBA diving around South Australia as well as in warmer environments.
Marilyn Sumner | Treasurer
Marilyn has been involved in accounting since starting her working career.
In the last 15 years she has worked in Real Estate and Hospitality training organisations, where her role included training in finance, and administration of regulatory compliance and governance practices.
Retiring a year ago, Marilyn has kept active being the Treasurer of a Community Garden and recently the Secretary of her local Neighbourhood Watch.
Passionate about the making the environment a better place for our children, and their children, she is looking forward to learning about our precious marine environment and to snorkel with the team.
Sue Hill | Secretary
Since my early childhood – when my father founded KESAB, I have been immersed in environmental causes and issues. Perhaps it was summers spent on the beach participating in some of the state’s earliest beach cleans that my passion for the health of our oceans emerged.
I currently volunteer with Sea Shepherd and assist them locally with publicity when and where appropriate. I also volunteer my time and expertise pro-rata to environmental causes and organisations including working alongside and helping the students on the first School Strike for Climate events in Adelaide.
In both my professional career and through organisations in which I’ve been involved, I have experience in working with volunteers and to a lesser extent, fundraising.
Aside from the environment, my other passion is travel and Im lucky enough to have travelled solo and with my family to every continent bar Antarctica (but Im working on that one!).
My career path has primarily followed a course of PR & Marketing providing me with a skill set honed over several decades within this field.
Gill Peacey | Committee member
Gill grew up in NZ spending as much time as possible in the beautiful outdoors including sailing and diving the coastal waters and inland lakes around the top of the South Island. A passion for the environment and a love for the outdoors led to a career in environmental management, and after working in several NZ national parks she moved to NSW, then across to South Australia’s national parks as a Park Ranger focussing on community engagement programs and park accessibility. She later moved into senior management roles including Commonwealth and State funded NRM grant programs, grant governance and national parks volunteer programs.
Carl Charter | Public Officer, Executive Officer & Program Manager
Carl is passionate about the ocean, he has been diving for over 30 years and recently became a PADI Dive Instructor with specialties in teaching underwater photography, O2 provision and First Aid (EFR). Carl has worked as a trainer, consultant, executive officer and program manager in the not-for-profit arena for past 20 years. He has a Degree in Fisheries and a Diploma in Resource Technology and has worked in marine archaeology, on-ground conservation, environmental management, sustainability auditing, community engagement and school and community education. Carl developed and managed an award-winning program for schools and community on River Murray and water conservation and more recently has worked on the multi award-winning Reef Watch SA Intertidal Monitoring and Feral or in Peril programs.
SOPHIE HAYAT | VOLUNTEER AND EVENTS COORDINATOR.
Sophie enjoys the ocean all year round snorkelling, diving, surfing and cold immersions in winter. When she is not supporting the behind the scenes coordination and administration for EMS, she volunteers leading snorkel tours at EMS community events. She is passionate about community building and ocean conservation, having supported various initiatives to protect our coasts. Sophie has previously worked as an educator and project administrator in adult and community education. She also facilitates yoga retreats and workshops with a focus on eco-grief healing, deep ecology and nature connection.