My life’s mission is to secure a future for the ocean’s most misunderstood guardians: sharks. While most people grew up fearing sharks, I grew up wanting to protect them. After watching Jaws with fascination at seven years old, I wanted to see sharks in the flesh. My first shark was a baby blacktip shark, and then from there the sharks got bigger and bigger and I am always filled with awe. Today, with many shark species more endangered than the panda or rhino, my mission couldn’t be more important.
While my story to being a shark researcher started young, it became more real in 2020 when I helped launch the 'Saving Norman' campaign to end the outdated shark culling practices at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. Since 2021, I have led the Spot a Shark program, bridging the gap between technology and conservation to study the grey nurse shark. By applying my First Class Honors in Computer Science, I specialize in using advanced Photo-ID software to identify individual sharks, turning simple visual encounters into precise, actionable data. My work has contributed to global conservation frameworks, including the IUCN Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project, and my research has been published in partnership with the University of Sunshine Coast.
Beyond the data, I am a dedicated educator and communicator. Knowledge is awesome, but it has to be shared and this is another goal of mine. Translating complex science into compelling sound bites, story telling, visuals and making science fun and accessible to all ages. Whether I am presenting in front of an audience, such as on stage at the Ocean Lovers Festival or the Australian Museum, or speaking behind the scenes on podcasts, I thrive on engaging the community and influencing decision-makers. As a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor, actively teaching children and adults to snorkel and scuba dive, I am directly educating the community. My role as the Secretary of Australia's oldest dive club, the Underwater Research Group of NSW, helps me mentor a growing "army" of citizen scientists to become lifelong ocean protectors.
My mission is to secure a future for sharks by changing the public's perception, raising awareness through visual storytelling, and influencing science-based policy change.
While my story to being a shark researcher started young, it became more real in 2020 when I helped launch the 'Saving Norman' campaign to end the outdated shark culling practices at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. Since 2021, I have led the Spot a Shark program, bridging the gap between technology and conservation to study the grey nurse shark. By applying my First Class Honors in Computer Science, I specialize in using advanced Photo-ID software to identify individual sharks, turning simple visual encounters into precise, actionable data. My work has contributed to global conservation frameworks, including the IUCN Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project, and my research has been published in partnership with the University of Sunshine Coast.
Beyond the data, I am a dedicated educator and communicator. Knowledge is awesome, but it has to be shared and this is another goal of mine. Translating complex science into compelling sound bites, story telling, visuals and making science fun and accessible to all ages. Whether I am presenting in front of an audience, such as on stage at the Ocean Lovers Festival or the Australian Museum, or speaking behind the scenes on podcasts, I thrive on engaging the community and influencing decision-makers. As a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor, actively teaching children and adults to snorkel and scuba dive, I am directly educating the community. My role as the Secretary of Australia's oldest dive club, the Underwater Research Group of NSW, helps me mentor a growing "army" of citizen scientists to become lifelong ocean protectors.
My mission is to secure a future for sharks by changing the public's perception, raising awareness through visual storytelling, and influencing science-based policy change.
I lead the world’s largest photographic dataset for Grey Nurse Sharks, managing a collection that spans Australia and South Africa. My Spot a Shark work integrates diving, with social media outreach, and background analysis. I use multiple software algorithms to photo-identify individual sharks and train others to do the same. I support academic research and advocate for positive policy change. Explore my work further to see how I transform a diver’s photograph into a measurable conservation outcome.
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I love talking to people about sharks and helping them separate facts from fiction. My goal is to inspire the community and influence decision-makers toward science-based conservation. I am currently the host of a podcast called the "Citizen Science Show", where I try to engage with a broader audience on all things marine science and conservation.
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This section highlights examples of where my work has been featured in news articles, podcasts, documentaries and magazines. I believe that science that stays within an academic paper gathers dust, and so my role is to spread the word and educate the next generation. I aim to translate complex data into stories that drive legislative change. Learn more here.
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As a PADI SCUBA Diving Instructor, I love to transform students into active citizen scientists. By teaching technical diving skills alongside shark ecology, I empower divers to contribute to vital photo-ID research. I am not just teaching people to breathe underwater; I am building an "army" of advocates dedicated to protecting our oceans' most misunderstood predators. Learn how to dive with me by following me in this link.
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In shark conservation, a photograph is more than an image—it is a data point. My journey into the marine environment began with a single underwater camera, a passion that has since taken me across the globe to document our oceans. What started as a fascination with the beauty of the underwater world evolved into a research tool that helps me track and protect vulnerable species. Explore my gallery to see my best work.
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Featured - IN MEDIA
Podcast - Citizen Science Show / 2025 - Episode 99 - Citizen Science Show podcast discusses Spot a Shark with Sarah Han-de-Beaux and how we’re turning photos into protection. 🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
Podcast - Citizen Science Show / 2025 - Episode 100- Citizen Science Show podcast discusses shark nets with guests including Sarah Han-de-Beaux and how we can and should stop killing sharks. 🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
Documentary / 2024 - Waves of Change: Saving Sydney's Sharks documents how photos can be used to drive conservation with Sarah Han-de-Beaux ▶️ Watch on DocPlay / Apple TV
Podcast - Ocean Lovers Festival - Ocean Ideas / 2023 - In this panel discussion Sarah Han-de-Beaux joins Valerie Taylor to discuss the grey nurse shark 🎧 Listen on: Spotify or ▶️Watch on YouTube
Magazine - Scuba Diver ANZ Issue 78 - 2025 - An article to discuss what diving with Sarah Han-de-Beaux is like and why citizen science research is so important 📖 Read at the ScubaDiverMag website here
Future movie promotional material - 2024 - Currently in the process with Valerie Taylor to try and get funding to produce a movie about how we can save the grey nurse shark - Download the taster printed trailor here
News Article - 2025 - A news article by CNN on shark nets and why the tides are changing including an interview with Sarah Han-de-Beaux - 📖 Read more here
News Article - 2021 - A promotional material about the Saving Norman campaign to end the archaic shark nets and try to save the Grey Nurse shark - 📖 Read more here
Podcast - Citizen Science Show / 2025 - Episode 100- Citizen Science Show podcast discusses shark nets with guests including Sarah Han-de-Beaux and how we can and should stop killing sharks. 🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
Documentary / 2024 - Waves of Change: Saving Sydney's Sharks documents how photos can be used to drive conservation with Sarah Han-de-Beaux ▶️ Watch on DocPlay / Apple TV
Podcast - Ocean Lovers Festival - Ocean Ideas / 2023 - In this panel discussion Sarah Han-de-Beaux joins Valerie Taylor to discuss the grey nurse shark 🎧 Listen on: Spotify or ▶️Watch on YouTube
Magazine - Scuba Diver ANZ Issue 78 - 2025 - An article to discuss what diving with Sarah Han-de-Beaux is like and why citizen science research is so important 📖 Read at the ScubaDiverMag website here
Future movie promotional material - 2024 - Currently in the process with Valerie Taylor to try and get funding to produce a movie about how we can save the grey nurse shark - Download the taster printed trailor here
News Article - 2025 - A news article by CNN on shark nets and why the tides are changing including an interview with Sarah Han-de-Beaux - 📖 Read more here
News Article - 2021 - A promotional material about the Saving Norman campaign to end the archaic shark nets and try to save the Grey Nurse shark - 📖 Read more here
Research Papers
Points to populations: Using individual spot patterns to track the conservation status of QLD's grey nurse sharks (reference TSR029) - published by Queensland Government, with authors including Ross G. Dwyer, Simon J. Pierce, Christine L. Dudgeon, Carley Kilpatrick, Sarah Han-de-Beaux, Jarrod Cameron, Tegan Jennings, Victoria Withington, Sofia Bachels, Christoph A. Rohner
Important Shark and Ray Area Factsheets:
Important Shark and Ray Area Factsheets:
- ISRA8AUS1703-Factsheet-Flat Rock Minjerribah
- ISRA8AUS1707-Factsheet-Nguthungulli Julian Rocks
- ISRA8AUS1709-Factsheet_Jervis-Bay
- ISRA8AUS1722-Factsheet- Bass Point & Bushrangers Bay
- ISRA8AUS1724-Factsheet-Port Macquarie-Budgewoi Shelf
- ISRA8AUS1779-Factsheet-Fish Rock & Green Island
- ISRA8AUS1807-Factsheet-Solitary Islands
- ISRA8AUS1814-Factsheet-MagicPoint
- ISRA8AUS1815-Factsheet-TollgateIslands
- ISRA8AUS1816-Factsheet-Montague Island
- ISRA8AUS1997-Factsheet-Bondi
- ISRA8AUS2000-Factsheet-Collaroy
Credentials
In my corporate background, I carry a bachelor of science degree with honours in Computer Science and am a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply Chain (MCIPS).
In relation to my marine conservation activities, I am a PADI Instructor who can teach Open Water, Advanced Open Water and have specialties in also being able to teach the following PADI courses: Emergency First Response, Emergency Oxygen Provider, Caring for Children with AED, Deep Diving, Night Diving, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Scuba Equipment, Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox), Diving Against Debris, Coral Reef Awareness and Shark Conservation.
In relation to my marine conservation activities, I am a PADI Instructor who can teach Open Water, Advanced Open Water and have specialties in also being able to teach the following PADI courses: Emergency First Response, Emergency Oxygen Provider, Caring for Children with AED, Deep Diving, Night Diving, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Scuba Equipment, Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox), Diving Against Debris, Coral Reef Awareness and Shark Conservation.