Oceans of Data Conference
Description
Oceans of Data 2026 is a national conference exploring how data-driven approaches are reshaping ocean science, engineering and decision-making. Supporting advances in observation, modelling and analytics, the conference brings together Australian researchers, industry and government to explore emerging capabilities and future opportunities in this space.
The conference will be held on Monday 25 May 2026 at The University Club of Western Australia, Crawley. Co-hosted by The University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute and Data Institute, the event will feature a keynote address, invited presentations, and opportunities for discussion and networking.
The program will draw together expertise in offshore engineering, oceanography, data science, machine learning, statistics and related fields, providing a forum for cross-disciplinary exchange and collaboration.
Lineup
Professor Tony Haymet PhD FTSE, Australia’s Chief Scientist
Opening address
Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, New South Wales Chief Scientist & Engineer
Closing address
Professor Anna Nowak, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Professor Christophe Gaudin, Director, Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia
Professor Micahel Small, Director, Data Institute, University of Western Australia
Bob Currier, Data Scientist, Texas A&M University
The AI-Native Ocean: New Foundations for Ocean Science
Marzieh Hajiarab Derkani, Research Fellow, ARC Research Hub TIDE, University of Western Australia
Data Assimilation for Improved Swell Forecast
Professor Nicole Jones, School of Earth & Oceans, University of Western Australia
Chris Gentle, Program Director, Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute
WAMSI Shared Environmental Analytics Facility (SEAF) operationalising scientific modelling to drive innovation and efficiency in understanding cumulative pressures in Cockburn Sound
A/Professor Tim Langlois, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia
Fish on film: What a national marine dataset taught us about the power of quality control and collaboration
Dipali Kuchekar, Product Manager - Autonomous Ships/Systems and Novel Technologies (Marine and Offshore), Lloyd’s Register
The Sparse Ocean: How the uneven geography of maritime data is silently shaping and distorting every AI System we deploy at Sea
Professor Fraser Bransby, Fugro Chair in Geotechnics & Director of the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, University of Western Australia
Seabed variability: do we know what we don’t know?
Mathew Wyatt, Principal Data Scientist, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Insights from a Decade of Deep Learning at AIMS
Dr Michelle Heupel, Executive Director, Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS)
Applying ocean data for decision-making and delivering benefit at multiple scales
Professor David Antoine, School of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Curtin University
The power of satellite observations to constrain projections of ocean ecosystem responses in a changing climate
Chris Eastwell, Managing Director, Capability X
Real-time, operational digital twins created at the edge for decision-making in Marine, Ports and Logistics Environments
Dr Onkar Jadhav, Research Fellow, School of Earth & Oceans, University of Western Australia
Ocean Temperature Forecasts for Coastal Decision Making
A/Professor Edward Cripps, School of Physics, Maths & Computing, University of Western Australia
Bridging Theory and Practice: Benefits and Challenges of Academic–Industry Collaboration in Data Science
Professor Andy Hogg, Director, ACCESS-NRI
ACCESS-OM3: Australia’s global ocean-sea ice model
Rick de Kreij, PhD Candidate, ARC Research Hub TIDE, University of Western Australia
Statistical inversion of surface tracers to infer fine-scale near-surface ocean currents
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