White Rock: Safeguarding Australia’s kelp forests Q&A recording

Documentary Australia presents a special online panel discussion and Q&A on compelling new documentary White Rock, a timely new film helmed by Damon Gameau that tackles one of the biggest environmental challenges facing our oceans - the explosion of long-spined sea urchins devastating Australia’s kelp forests. Register to receive the recording.

Tune in to hear from White Rock filmmakers and scientists Stefan Andrews and Dr Scott Bennett, Walbunja Elder Wally Stewart and Intrepid Travel's Global Environmental Impact Manager Dr Susanne Etti, moderated by changemaker Maree Lowes. The group discusses the urgent need to address this hidden consequence of the climate crisis playing out right on our doorstep, and the achievable, evidence-based solutions available to communities, consumers, industry and government. 

This event is presented as part of Documentary Australia’s Environmental Accelerator program, with support from Intrepid Travel. 

About the film 

White Rock (2025) is a compelling new documentary helmed by Damon Gameau (2040, That Sugar Film) that brings together scientists, chefs, Traditional Owners, fishers and policymakers to tackle one of the biggest environmental challenges facing our oceans - the explosion of long-spined sea urchins devastating Australia’s kelp forests. Shot across stunning locations across the Great Southern Reef, from Tasmania to NSW, the film unpacks the science, the stakes, and the emerging solutions to this underwater crisis. 

Watch trailer |  Support the impact campaign

Take action to safeguard Australia’s kelp forests

The kelp forests of the Great Southern Reef support an enormous diversity of unique marine life, yet are threatened by the spread of long-spined sea urchin driven by climate warming and changing oceanography. In response to this escalating crisis, a coalition of concerned scientists, fishers and environmental groups developed a national urchin management plan to urgently restore reef balance – with a recent Senate Inquiry recommending immediate national investment by the Australian Government. 

Join the call for urgent government action to restore reef ecosystems

About the speakers

Stefan Andrews is a marine biologist turned filmmaker with a passion for sharing personal stories of human connection to the ocean. He is an ADAS scientific diver, a CASA commercial drone pilot and has been filming underwater for over ten years. Stefan has produced and directed award-winning short documentaries that have been screened globally, communicating scientific research, animal behaviour, marine ecology and conservation.

In recent years, Stefan has been dedicated to raising the public profile of Australia's kelp forests through his role as the Director of Education and Impact with the Great Southern Reef Foundation, collaborating with Traditional Owners, universities and conservationists to create accessible educational resources for the Australian school curriculum.

Dr Scott Bennett is a co-founder of the Great Southern Reef Foundation and a senior marine ecologist at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Scott has dedicated his career to studying and preserving the temperate reef ecosystems of Australia and around the world. His research primarily focuses on the resilience of kelp forests to climate change, and how the ecological patterns and processes of marine ecosystems change across broad environmental gradients.

In 2016 Scott coined the name ‘Great Southern Reef’ to describe the interconnected temperate reef system dominated by kelp forests that spans over 8000 kilometres of coastline across the southern half of Australia. Scott is interested in understanding and celebrating the diverse social, cultural, ecological and economic values of the Great Southern Reef through science, art and education.

Uncle Wally Stewart is a Walbunja Elder from the Yuin nation on the far south coast of NSW. Wally is heavily invested in advocating for and supporting his community and is a strong advocate for Aboriginal cultural fishing. His mob’s Sea Country – from Wollongong all the way down to Eden – has been destroyed by urchins

Dr Susanne Etti is the Global Environmental Impact Manager at Intrepid Travel. A leading climate scientist in the travel industry, she has over 15 years of experience in social and sustainability management, and leads Intrepid's climate change performance and culture of sustainability. A regular speaker and panellist, she is also a mentor through Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project and was named on BBC’s 100 Women of Influence list in 2023.

Maree Jay Lowes is an actress, changemaker and award-winning community manager. She is the Ambassador for Dr Bronner's Australia, and as dirtgirl, Maree was watched & loved on TV by millions of people across 128 nations. She is a published writer on resilience and regeneration, and an environmental speaker.
Documentary Australia presents a special online panel discussion and Q&A on compelling new documentary White Rock, as part of the Environmental Accelerator Film Festival.alia’s Environmental Accelerator program, with support from Intrepid Travel.