Rob Slade began working on Humpback whales on Moreton Island in 1982 as part of a study funded by Australian Parks and Wildlife Service monitoring the recovery of the east coast population. In that same year he was also part of the first group to record Humpback whale songs from Australia. This work was done off Coffs Harbour with one of the 'grandfathers' of Humpback whale research, Professor Bill Dawbin.

From 1984 to 1986 he worked for the Pacific Whale Foundation and travelled between Hawaii, Australia, Tonga, and Fiji collecting data on several Humpback whale populations, and managed to record the first whale songs from Tonga. In 1987 he again worked on a study monitoring the recovery of the east coast population, and in 1988 with colleagues Professor Michael Bryden and Dr Peter Corkeron began the first scientific study of Humpback whales in Hervey Bay. Since then he has been involved in genetic studies of southern elephant seals, and with Dr Scott Baker, a global study of genetic variation in Humpback whales.

Current research involves identification of viruses in seals and penguins with Dr Andreas Suhrbier, and studies of dugongs in Moreton Bay with Dr Janet Lanyon. He currently serves as scientific advisor to the Queensland Government on whalewatching and whale research in Hervey Bay.

Updated: 25 July 2010