Staff of the Centre for Whale Research

Curt Jenner, Managing Director

Curt Jenner received his B.Sc. in Marine Biology from the University of Alberta, Canada. His interests include population biology of humpback whales and blue whales, their migratory pathways, and the relationship of these pathways to oceanographic features. As a Master Mariner, his strong sailing background has been very useful in these pursuits.

Micheline Jenner, Secretary/Treasurer

Micheline-Nicole Jenner received her B.Sc. in Zoology and M.Sc. in Marine Biology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is fascinated by life histories, reproductive rates and behaviour of known individual humpback whales.

Curt and Micheline have 17 years of whale research experience. Since 1990, the Jenners have been observing the west coast stock (Group IV) humpback whales and their behaviour off the northwest coast of Australia. In 1999 their work expanded to include pygmy blue whales.

Vanessa Sturrock, Research Associate

Vanessa Sturrock has an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, England. She first worked for the CWR in 1992, assisting with the Earthwatch program and helping to build WhaleSong. She returned in 2004 after a 10 year career in the oil industry. She is drawn to all aspects of cetacean research work by a natural love of the ocean and a fascination for all the life it contains.

Kimberly Onton, Research Associate

Kimberly Onton has a BSc in marine science and conservation biology from Murdoch University and completed an Honours degree researching seabirds from the University of Western Australia. Kim has worked for Western Australia’s Department of Environment and Conservation for over three years. She is passionate about the ecology of marine, coastal and island environments.