Soni Maria

Soni Maria has a diverse work experience in the field of fisheries, aquaculture, and food safety. Soni started their career in 2008 as a Quality Control Incharge at Karunya Marine Exports Pvt Ltd. Soni then worked as a Quality Control Manager at Sandy Bay Seafood's Pvt. Ltd. and Taprobane Seafoods Pvt. Ltd. (both under the Thai Union Group). In 2012, they gained practical experience in a family-owned shrimp farm, where they actively participated in sustainable shrimp production. Soni later joined Soltuna Ltd. as a Quality Control Manager, where they worked until 2019, overseeing quality control processes in tuna canning.

In 2019, Soni started pursuing a PhD in the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Queensland, focusing on fisheries, aquaculture, food safety, and environmental management. Soni also worked as a Casual Academic Tutor, teaching undergraduate courses related to fish, fisheries, and aquaculture. During this time, they also served as the Secretary of the Marine Society UQ, coordinating marine research activities and fostering connections among marine students and staff.

Soni Maria then transitioned to roles within the sustainability certification field. Soni joined SCS Global Services as a Senior Lead Auditor, conducting audits for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) standards. Soni audited seafood processing industries and aquaculture farms across various countries. Later, they became the Seafood Program Manager at Green Marketing Concepts, overseeing sustainability assessments and audits for aquaculture farms and supply chains.

In 2023, Soni is set to begin a research internship at CSIRO, further expanding their expertise in their field.

Soni Maria is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy - PhD in Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management at The University of Queensland, which they started in 2019 and is expected to complete in 2024. Prior to this, they obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Industrial Fisheries from Cochin University of Science and Technology, where they studied from 2006 to 2008. In addition to their academic qualifications, Soni has acquired certifications such as ISO 14001 Lead Auditor in Environmental Management System from BSI in January 2020 and ISO 22000 Lead Auditor in Food Safety Certification from BSI in September 2019. Soni also holds certifications in Lead Auditor Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Senior Lead Auditor MSC/ASC Chain of Custody standards from Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) respectively, although the specific dates of obtaining these certifications are not provided.