Kasey Whitelaw
Kasey is a marine biologist, educator and children’s author with a passion for connecting children to science and nature through storytelling and education. Drawing on the latest science, Kasey writes to make science friendly and accessible. Her picture books are filled with both fun and facts. Kasey lives on a coastal bush property in Perth, Australia with her husband, two children, three ducks and resident bobtails. And she also works in a desert – yes, a marine biologist in a desert!
education
BSc in Marine Biology
Golden Key International Honour Society
Top 15% Of Student Body
BSc (Hons) in Marine Science
Golden Key International Honour Society
Top 15% Of Student Body.
Award First Class
about kasey
Kasey grew up along the coast of Victoria, where she enjoyed beachcombing, surfing and exploring the rocky shorelines. From a young age (and still as an adult), she spent countless hours observing and investigating the rock pools teeming with life, eagerly learning about the creatures she discovered.
She earned her degree in marine biology from James Cook University, Qld and graduated with a First Class Honours in marine Science from the University of Tasmania. Recognising the knowledge gap between research and the public, Kasey decided to focus on community engagement and education to help bridge this divide.
This path led her to the World Heritage-listed Shark Bay Marine Park in Western Australia, where she had the incredible opportunity to work with the famous Monkey Mia dolphins. In Shark Bay, she took on various roles, including dolphin education, research, and conservation, along with marine park research and monitoring.
A highlight of her experience (apart from the dolphins) was being part of the dugong aerial survey team and leading the loggerhead sea turtle monitoring program.
Sharing the ocean’s wonders with the community was undoubtedly her favourite part of the job. Kasey was fortunate to deliver daily dolphin talks, coordinate engaging school holiday programs and spread ocean magic to community groups and schools.
After the birth of her first child, she returned to Victoria to embrace a new chapter in her life. There, she had the chance to work alongside penguins and seals on the rugged coastline of Phillip Island. Maternity leave also provided her with the opportunity to immerse herself in the world of picture books, where she could blend her love of the ocean with storytelling.
Now back in the west, Kasey’s days are filled with writing picture books, working in a desert and sharing her love for the natural world.
My Children’s Books
The inspiration for my debut picture book, Flute, came to me on the beaches of Monkey Mia, Western Australia. I saw an opportunity to share my knowledge of the natural world in a way that was both fun and accessible to a wider audience of young naturalists.
It is clear that children are natural explorers, full of wonder and curiosity. As a mother, a ranger, and a marine biologist, I feel I have a unique insight into the natural world. I love taking complicated science and making it exciting and easy to understand for young readers.
Check out my books here
Outreach
Over the years, I have had the incredible opportunity to develop ocean education programs and activities to present to visitors and schools. I am also proud to be involved with
the Author Pen Pal initiative.
Want to add a splash of fun to your school or library? I’d love to visit (in person or online) to chat about marine science, share a story, or give an author talk.
