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Dr Jillian Ooi started out as an environmental social scientist but shifted to studying marine plants after finding herself drawn to the sea. She studied the effects of disturbance on tropical seaweeds for her Master in Environmental Management degree at Universiti Malaya and then went on to pursue a PhD in Seagrass Biogeography on an Endeavour International Postgraduate Scholarship at the University of Western Australia. Under the supervision of Professor Gary Kendrick and the late Dr Kimberly Van Niel, Jillian worked on the spatial patterns and ecology of subtidal seagrass meadows in the Johor islands, where she fell irrevocably under the spell of these undervalued but extremely important ecosystems.

Returning to Malaysia in 2012, Jillian tried to increase the public profile of seagrass in Malaysia by directing her work toward understanding how seagrass meadows function as habitats and feeding grounds for fish, dugongs, and invertebrates. She works closely with industry and conservation partners to pass on scientific findings in her field for implementation and public outreach on the ground, and is optimistic that public affection for seagrass will grow the more science reveals about these remarkable plants. Her work on surveying and mapping marine ecosystems, including seagrass, have contributed to strengthened protection for the Tioman island marine park (2007) and the proposed gazettement of eight new marine park islands in Mersing (2017). In her current projects, Jillian seeks to understand the environmental requirements for different seagrass species so that we may conserve them better, and to develop restoration techniques for coral reef and seagrass ecosystems.

When she is not underwater watching grass grow, Jillian is the Artistic Director and Music Director of Rhythm in Bronze, an award-winning contemporary gamelan ensemble based in Kuala Lumpur. Founded in 1997, Rhythm in Bronze is known for its pioneering efforts in showcasing the Malay gamelan as its main medium of musical expression. Jillian’s music direction and compositions for the gamelan have won awards and/or received nominations at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, which celebrates outstanding performances in music, dance, theatre and musical theatre in Malaysia. She considers the Sea her main source of musical inspiration.