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Dr. Vanessa Pirotta is one of Australia’s most recognised wildlife scientists and a leading voice in science communication. Known for blending cutting-edge technology with conservation, her work spans both marine (whales) and terrestrial (illegal wildlife traffic detection) environments—bringing the natural world closer through innovation and storytelling.
A trailblazer in making science accessible, Vanessa has represented Australia on the global stage as the international runner-up in the prestigious FameLab competition, and she’s graced the TEDx stage. She’s been named one of the Top 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review and a Superstar of STEM by Science & Technology Australia. In 2024, she was named Emerging Leader in Science at the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards and in 2025, Vanessa was awarded the NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence, Celestino’s Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science in the Australian Museum’s Eureka’s Prizes (Australian Oscars of science) and named the Young Tall Poppy of the Year for New South Wales by the Australian Institute of Policy & Science.
Vanessa’s work is deeply community-driven. She leads an international whale research program in the Kingdom of Tonga called the Tongan Whale Tourism Project, designed to empower local communities to help ensure the longevity and sustainability of whale swim tourism. Locally she runs Wild Sydney Harbour, a citizen science initiative exploring marine life in collaboration with the Gamay Rangers—local First Nations rangers—blending Indigenous Knowledge with scientific research to better understand marine mammals in Sydney’s blue backyard.
As an award-winning author, Vanessa brings the magic of the ocean across generations in her children’s and adult books. Vanessa was the invited MC for Australia’s most prestigious science event—the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science—held at Parliament House in Canberra. She is a regular face on national and international media, appearing across television, radio, and social platforms to advocate for marine science and environmental awareness.
In 2025 Vanessa delivered her first National Press Club of Australia with a talk titled “Australia’s Scientific Future: Built on Education, Connection, and Investment”.
