Based on the Gower peninsular, South Wales, Lauren is a marine biologist and founder of Wild Ocean Wonders, with over 15 year’s of experience in engagement, citizen science and communication, including a degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology from Plymouth University; she’s also a PADI dive master and snorkel guide/instructor. She has engaged thousands of people in citizen science projects as well as presented face to face and on screen to show what the oceans have to offer, better understand them and the threats they face.

Lauren has appeared on BBC Blue Planet UK, Coast, Blue Peter, Newsround, Springwatch, BBC breakfast, Countryfile and numerous local and national radio stations talking confidently about the impacts of plastic pollution on wildlife and people, marine animal strandings and climate change effects on White Beaked dolphin distribution off the Dorset coastline, among others.  

Lauren has been a contributing ‘voice’ for the film ‘Between the Tides’, dedicated to the shores of North Devon – a place close to her heart and where she spent much time surfing, working in a professional capacity alongside fishermen recording cetacean echolocation for presence and distribution, and where she got married on the beach!  Lauren is particularly passionate about cetaceans and is the South Wales Regional Coordinator for Sea Watch Foundation, a charity dedicated to protecting Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in the UK, and who she used to volunteer for about 14 years ago. She recently presented a film in collaboration with them on monitoring Orca in Northern Scotland.

Lauren’s bubbly and enthusiastic personality makes her a must for public talks, ranging from over a decade working in marine citizen science, to plastic pollution including impacts to wildlife. She has presented at Swansea Science Festival, Oriel Science café and invited to give a keynote talk at the Women’s Equality Network Wales, as well as sitting on a judging panel for the Royal Television Society, West of England Awards.  

Started young

Lauren has always had an affinity with the ocean – age seven she told her grandma she wanted to become a marine biologist – that she wouldn’t have much money, she said, but she would have a good life!

This early fascination involved regularly exploring the coasts of the UK, often rockpooling with her family on trips to the sea. Lauren’s childhood reflected what was to become a career when she took part in a litter and water quality project when she was just five years old. Her Dad signed the family up to survey a few stretches of beach in Wales and Somerset, sparked by studying Geology and Oceanography at that time. Now, 35 years later, it’s come full circle and Lauren regularly takes her son and daughter to the beach as part of her passion and profession.

Global travel for work and pleasure

Born in Australia, but moved to the UK when she was six months old, Lauren has travelled the world for work and pleasure but always for marine conservation. Canada, America, Europe, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Africa and, whilst on honeymoon, to Borneo, exploring one of the best places to dive in the world, Sipadan. Professionally, she’s attended conferences and meetings across Europe and America, presenting her expert knowledge on beach clean surveys and marine litter to a global audience.  

She travelled back to Australia in 2016, with her husband and two year old son to spend a sabbatical working for the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Lauren is a keen surfer, diver and sea dipper. Also known as Lozza, she is the butt of constant jokes about how cold she gets! She’s like a marine iguana!