Susantha Udagedara is a marine scientist and Director of the Seagrass and Climate Change Programme at Blue Resources Trust, Sri Lanka, with over 12 years of experience in environmental research, conservation, and project management. A 2026 Australian Awards recipient, he is internationally recognised for his contributions to marine conservation and science–policy engagement at both national and global levels.
Susantha played a pivotal role in advocating for the declaration of World Seagrass Day, now celebrated annually on March 1st a milestone that reflects his longstanding commitment to raising global awareness of seagrass ecosystems. He serves as a member of the national Blue Carbon Task Force, appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka, where he contributes scientific expertise to national climate and coastal ecosystem policy development. He is also a Commission Member of the IUCN SSC Seagrass Specialist Group, an active member of the Indo-Pacific Seagrass Network and the Seagrass Restoration Network, and a participant in the Sri Lanka–Australia Blue Carbon Fellowship and the International Visitor Leadership Program.
His expertise spans seagrass ecology, blue carbon assessment, habitat mapping, conservation, restoration, and coastal vulnerability assessment. He has led numerous research initiatives across Sri Lanka and internationally, collaborating with government agencies, research institutions, and non-governmental organisations to advance evidence-based environmental policy and sustainable coastal management. His leadership has contributed to securing over USD 300,000 in research and conservation funding through partnerships with institutions including CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Australia.
Susantha holds a Bachelor of Science in Environment Conservation and Management (Honours) from the University of Kelaniya and a Master of Environment Management from the University of Colombo, supplemented by graduate certificates in GIS, Remote Sensing, and Climate Change Science and Policy.
His academic contributions include more than 17 peer-reviewed publications, two book chapters, and over 350 citations, with an H-index and i10-index of 6. He has presented at more than 10 international conferences and serves as a peer reviewer for several international journals.
Notably, his research has contributed to the discovery of two previously unknown seagrass-associated fungal species, revealing new dimensions of microbial diversity within seagrass ecosystems.
He is proficient in analytical and geospatial tools including ArcGIS, Agisoft, PRIMER, SPSS, and Minitab, and is a certified PADI diver, enabling him to conduct underwater ecological field surveys directly.
