Hi, my name is Jo Hurford. I have joined the Top End team as a Marine Campaigner for the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

I have always had an affinity for and interest in the ocean, despite growing up in Bathurst, country NSW. After snorkeling in the Galapagos, I decided there was a whole other world to discover beneath the surface, and so I completed my open water dive certificate, assuming that would be enough. It wasn’t.

 As a diver I became aware of the oceans’ fragility and the challenges it faces. This led me to volunteer in Indonesia on a reef restoration program, where I became hooked. For the next three years I worked as a dive instructor, and drew upon my degree in media production, creating short videos and documentaries about local marine conservation issues, including a shark-fin fishery.

Pursuing opportunities to combine my interest in marine conservation with film, I moved to Mozambique volunteering as a media manager for a manta ray and whale shark research center. After five years abroad, I have returned to Australia, where I will utilise my event management and media experience to create community outreach and engagement opportunities.

I look forward to coordinating fun and interesting activities to be enjoyed in and around our Top End coasts. Join us in making the most of our unique lifestyle.