Biography
Dr. Asha de Vos is a Sri Lankan marine biologist, ocean educator and pioneer of blue whale research within the Northern Indian Ocean. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Universities of St. Andrews, gain her masters in integrative bio-sciences at the University of Oxford and a PhD from the University of Western Australia. Asha’s work has led to many key research publications, that are used to inform policy at the local and global level. Asha is the first and only Sri Lankan to have a PhD in Marine Mammal research, the first Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation from Sri Lanka and also the first National Geographic Explorer from her small island nation. Asha is also a TED Senior fellow, an Ocean Conservation Fellow at the New England Aquarium, a Duke Global Fellow in Marine Conservation, and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. In 2018 Asha was recognized with a prestigious WingsWorldQuest Woman of Discovery at Sea award, was a global winner for the UK Alumni Awards in the Professional Achievement category, a Woman in Management Inspirational Woman of the Year Award, named one of Asia’s Sustainability Superwomen, listed on the BBC 100 Women 2018 list of most inspiring and influential women from around the world.