Joni Pini-Fitzsimmons

Joni Pini-Fitzsimmons is a Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University (CDU), leading the Northern Shark and Ray Research Group within the Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods (RIEL). She holds an adjunct position as Research Fellow at Macquarie University (2023-2028). Her primary affiliation is with the Faculty of Science and Technology at CDU.

Education: PhD in Behavioural ecology of provisioned rays (Macquarie University, 2017-2022), MRes (2017), MSc in Marine Science and Management (2015), and BSc in Marine Science (2013), all from Macquarie University.

Research focuses on marine ecology and human-wildlife interactions, particularly sharks/rays. Key interests include fisheries science, threatened species conservation, wildlife tourism, and policy-driven strategies. She collaborates with industry/government/Indigenous groups to balance biodiversity and sustainable use.

Current projects include mitigating gillnet bycatch in northern Australia (CDU-Wren Fishing partnership), assessing sawfish populations, and developing marine sampling best practices. Supervises three PhD students in shark/ray conservation and fisheries management.

Led projects totaling $2.8M+ funding, including multi-fishery collaborations and NESP initiatives. Active in marine monitoring frameworks and international conservation efforts spanning Australia and Latin America.