Simon Childerhouse

Simon is a marine mammal biologist with expertise in population demographics and the estimation of abundance. He currently works with the Australian Antarctic Division, but previously worked as a marine mammal scientist for the New Zealand Department of Conservation for more than 10 years, with a focus on marine mammal conservation and protection.

Simon’s Ph.D. was at the University of Otago on the Conservation biology of New Zealand sea lions, looking at population ecology and demographics. He has attended the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission for more than 10 years, including 8 years as head of the New Zealand delegation and as Chair of IWC Sub-committees on Southern Hemisphere humpback whales and Southern Hemisphere whale stocks. He is also presently the Coordinator of the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium.

The focus of his work within the Australian Marine Mammal Centre is in developing and co-ordinating the Southern Ocean Research Partnership. On the Antarctic Whale Expedition, Simon will work as part of one of the small boat teams, his primary role being to collect tissue samples from whales, using a biopsy rifle.