Selina Stead

Professor Selina Stead is CEO and Council member of the Australian Institute of Marine Science: 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2029

Selina is a marine biologist and environmental scientist with expertise in coral reef ecosystems, aquaculture, fisheries, environmental governance and science policy. She has enjoyed an active dual career in academia and government.

She has a Personal Professorship of Marine Governance and Environmental Science from Newcastle University where she acted as Dean of Research and is a Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute.

Selina’s last roles have been as Executive Dean for the Faculty of Environment at the University of Leeds and the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser for the Marine Management Organisation. Her research focuses on biodiversity conservation, climate change, food insecurity and sustainability, which spans the Caribbean, East Africa, Europe, Middle East, SE Asia and the UK.

Previously she has served as Chair and Non-Executive Director of the Scottish Government’s Science Advisory Board and Ministerial Appointed Scientific Fisheries Advisor. Selina was President of European Aquaculture Society and her research on climate-smart seafood and conservation was recognised with their highest honour, the Distinguished Services Award.

Selina is a member of Science Advisory Panels for Australia’s Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre and the Plant and Food Forum, New Zealand. She holds a BSc in Marine Biology and Oceanography, MSc in Fisheries Biology and Management and a PhD in Zoology.