In 2020, Laura Simmons was appointed as SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium's first female Displays Curator. It was a first in the prestigious aquarium's over three decade history that a woman had been appointed to the senior role to ensure the highest standards of care and welfare of all animals in the aquarium as well as to support and spearhead conservation initiatives.

Simmons has worked in the professional aquarium world for over 30 years and throughout that time, she has helped #breakthebias of an industry that was once heavily male-dominated.

“The industry has come a long way since I first started in 1990. Back then, there were very few female aquarists or aquarium curators; it was very much a man’s world. There were only a handful of women working in and leading Public Aquariums, even the 'hobby' was dominated by males at the time,” she says, adding that she is happy that the ratio of women to men is now better balanced.

During an interaction with People Matters, Simmons, who is also the Regional Curator ANZ, discusses how she and her fellow female aquarists continue to push the boundaries to ensure that it is an inclusive and diverse profession.

Here are a few excerpts

Challenges/biases in the journey so far

The greatest challenge I faced when first working in this field was it was quite male-dominated, especially the Life Support Systems or mechanical side of aquarium keeping. Even in the animal side of the business, it was common to lose opportunities due to being a woman.

I recall being told before a particularly interesting large shark transport that “we need backs” and essentially, all of the men on the team would be performing the animal handling because they were presumed to be stronger and more capable. Even other female aquarists could be discriminatory or judgmental if they felt other women didn’t fit a particular look or profile.

Women's presence in the aquarium industry over the years

We’ve made great strides that have not only benefited people of all identities, but also the animals we care for. The public aquarium industry has become much more inclusive and now is roughly 50% female globally. There is still a lack of executive leadership in the business, but I believe that this is also changing… Value and culture change can take time. I’m very proud to be a part of the change. I hire people who are the best for the job, regardless of gender.

Importance of women in senior roles

Leadership should represent the reality of the world and our demographics. Without this balance, bias will exist. All perspectives need to be present for organisations and businesses to be their very best.

Opportunities the industry holds for women

Fortunately, through years of demonstrating that women can indeed wrangle big sharks, safely and effectively, and do excellent, hard work, this is no longer commonplace and opportunities are present that previously were not.

There are many examples like these... assumptions that aquarium work was a man’s world over the years, but thankfully, there have also been trail-blazing, open-minded, forward-thinking men and women that have opened the doors and broken the barriers to change our industry for the better. The best aquariums in the world are the ones that are diverse and inclusive!

Advice for anyone trying to break into the industry

I don’t know if it is advice or simple encouragement, but - Do it! Stick with it! Be bold and brave and go for it! If it is your passion and dream, don’t let anything get in your way.

There are so many avenues to take in the aquarium and marine sciences world, it is a field of work that can provide great satisfaction and adventure, but it is not for the faint of heart. It takes years of dedication and perseverance to make achievements, but it is very much worth it.

I can honestly say that I love my work, my job and my life…there is so much to learn and experience. Always be open to new opportunities, like science itself, our industry is constantly changing and evolving.