Courtney Burns

Courtney is a proud Gunaikurnai woman from South Gippsland, Victoria. She is currently in her third and final year of the Bachelor of Marine Science studies at JCU Townsville.

She has an immense passion for diving and ocean health, but specifically sharks! She currently works as a Divemaster and Deckhand, Swimming Instructor, Junior Research Technician and as an Intern for the Physioshark team here at JCU. Recently was also hailed the Winner of the National NAIDOC Youth Award for 2023!

She is a Student Ambassador for the Indigenous Education & Research Centre (IERC) where she recently received the Indigenous Academic Achievement Award for Marine Science. Courtney’s goal is to continue research in order to be able to change the way the world sees sharks. She aims to promote action in their conservation by understanding the physiological effects of anthropogenic stressors (like climate change) on sharks, and how she can bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures into scientific literature to further aid this goal.