Huge congratulations to Dr Eleanor Spencer on the outstanding achievement of successfully completing her PhD at IMAS!
Eleanor’s thesis was awarded a double ‘A’ result by her examiners — with no revisions required — a truly exceptional accomplishment and a testament to the quality, impact, and dedication behind her research. This milestone was achieved under the guidance and support of her academic supervisor, Professor Quinn Fitzgibbon, whose mentorship has been instrumental throughout Eleanor’s journey.
Throughout her PhD journey, Eleanor has consistently gone above and beyond. She was a finalist in the 2024 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, showcasing her ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and passion.
She also took part in the WISA “Turn the Tide” Leadership and Entrepreneurship Program, where she collaborated with six other inspiring women in the seafood sector. Together, they created something truly special — a children’s and young adult book featuring stories from 23 women across fisheries, academia, NGOs, and governance. The project also brought together four Aboriginal artists from Ceduna, resulting in a powerful and visually stunning collection. The team hopes to have this incredible book published and on shelves within the next 12 months.
Thanks to her work on the book and other outreach work, Eleanor received the 2025 IMAS Beyond Academia award.
Beyond her academic and leadership achievements, Eleanor has been deeply committed to community outreach, contributing her time and expertise to inspire and engage others throughout her candidature.
Eleanor’s journey is an inspiring example of excellence, leadership, and meaningful impact — both within and beyond academia. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
