Inspired by a range of diving projects from the late 1960s, Bob Earll studied zoology and then the ecophysiology of mussels for his PhD. Work on citizen science projects for divers lead to his appointment for what became the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). From 1978-1992 he led and helped develop the organisation’s growth through its early days, co-ordinating a wide range of marine conservation issues from basking sharks, pollution, MPAs and ICZM. Since leaving MCS he helped set up a variety of organisations and networks on issues from shark conservation, aquatic litter and a marine industry group.

He is a consultant for Government, its agencies and NGOs on a wide range of topics. Through his skills as a conference and meetings convenor he has worked on a wide variety of issues from fish farming, aggregates, marine spatial planning and marine legislation. He has organised well over 200 conferences but the Coastal Futures conference, now approaching its 25th year, which takes place annually in London, is recognised as the main meeting that brings together the UK’s coastal and marine environmental community. He runs CMS - Communications and Management for Sustainability - which provides a unique jobs and events advertising services and weekly newsletters to the marine community of over 6,000 people.