Dr Bonnie Holmes is a co‑lead of the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) Marine and Terrestrial Megafauna Research Cluster and a globally recognised shark biologist with more than 20 years of experience researching large marine predators. Her research program includes extensive work on tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) and other apex species, with a particular focus on movement ecology, habitat use, and population‑level responses to environmental and anthropogenic pressures. She brings expertise in the design and leadership of long‑term field research programs, the application of advanced analytical approaches to complex ecological datasets, and the translation of ecological science into applied management outcomes. Her career spans multiple ocean basins and highly dynamic coastal systems, providing foundation for applied research in the intensively used estuarine and marine environments of South East Queensland (SEQ).

In addition to spatial ecology, Dr Holmes brings strong cross‑disciplinary capability in both shark reproduction and kinship‑based population genetics. Her research uses genetic relatedness and population structure analyses to investigate recruitment dynamics, site fidelity and connectivity across life stages, while her investigations into reproduction help predict when and where sharks move for these critical life processes. This combined approach represents a methodological strength of the SEQ Bull Shark Program, allowing population‑level inference that cannot be achieved through single‑method studies alone.

Dr Johan Gustafson is an internationally recognised shark expert specialising in shark behaviour, movement ecology, and human–shark interactions. After completing his doctorate at Griffith University, Dr Gustafson joined the Holmes Lab in 2021 and leads several research fieldwork projects across Queensland’s coastal and urban waterways, working primarily with bull, tiger, and hammerhead sharks. His work is featured in major documentaries for National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Dr Gustafson is dedicated to translating cutting‑edge research into practical conservation outcomes and improved coexistence between people and sharks.