Australian of the Year

When an unprecedented toxic algal bloom hit South Australia in 2025, retired anaesthetist Dr Susan Belperio began recording the devastation, and making others aware of its catastrophic impacts.  

Every day, Susan patrols Glenelg beaches and photographs dead and dying fish and seabirds, also focusing on invertebrates. She identifies each species and uploads her records to the iNaturalist Marine Mortalities project to document the damage.  

So far, she’s logged over 22,000 observations and 404 species – an extraordinary record of her dedication. She raises the alarm when something changes, including a mass crab mortality event in 2026, so that scientists can respond quickly.  

More recently, she’s been one of the leading community advocates for awareness of the H5N1 bird flu. Through her photography, conversations with community members and tireless dedication, Susan has become one of South Australia’s clearest voices on environmental harm to our coast and its wildlife.