Alice Skehel

Alice Skehel is a marine biologist, ornithologist and Expedition Diver with a professional focus on seabirds and the marine ecosystems they depend on. Originally from the United Kingdom, she is currently based between Australia and the Galápagos Islands, working across both ocean and island environments.

Alice completed her undergraduate studies in Marine Biology and began her conservation career managing a protection project for beach-nesting birds with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the UK. Her work later took her to the Galápagos Islands, where her research expanded to examine how human activity influences populations of endemic and vulnerable seabird species.

She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. through the University of the Sunshine Coast, where her research integrates genetics, spatial mapping, health assessments, contamination studies and citizen science data to inform conservation strategies for at-risk Galápagos seabirds. She also serves as a Visiting Scientist aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet in the Galápagos and publishes her findings in peer-reviewed journals.

In addition to her research, Alice teaches statistics, animal ecology and evolution at the university level. As a Naturalist and Expedition Diver, she supports guest engagement across marine and coastal environments, from polar seas to volcanic shorelines. Outside of fieldwork, she divides her time between data analysis, coding and outdoor travel, including hiking, surfing and camping.