RPAS 2026 Speaker Bio

Emily Sehu

Assistant Project Director - ReefWorks and Special Counsel

Australian Institute of Marine Science

Emily Sehu is the Assistant Project Director – ReefWorks and Special Counsel at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). With over 2 decades of experience in legal governance and more recently in strategic project leadership, Emily plays a pivotal role in enabling innovation within marine science and technology.

At AIMS, Emily leads legal strategy and governance for ReefWorks, Australia’s tropical marine technology testing facility, and provides legal oversight for the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP). Her expertise spans intellectual property law, risk management, and complex contractual frameworks, ensuring that cutting-edge research and emerging technologies—such as autonomous and remotely piloted systems—are deployed safely and responsibly.

Emily holds a Master of Laws (Intellectual Property) from Monash University and a Master of Laws (Applied Law – In-House Practice) from College of Law. She brings a global perspective to her work, having practiced throughout the Asia-Pacific region. She is passionate about fostering collaboration between science, technology, and regulation to support sustainable ocean innovation.