Orla Doherty was born to Irish immigrant parents in England on January 10, 1969. She studied chemistry at Oxford University but abandoned pure science to become a television director and producer for the BBC. From 1991 to 1999, she participated in the production of over fifty documentaries and factual programming all over the world including: South Africa, Mexico, Spain, France, Ireland, Slovakia, Alaska, New York City, and Los Angeles. She learned to dive in 1998 in Thailand, fell in love with the underwater world of fish and a year later, left London for a life of tropical seas and coral reef adventures.
In March 2000, Orla joined the RV Heraclitus in Papua New Guinea and soon became the Assistant Expedition Leader and Scientific Coordinator through to August, 2006. As Scientific Coordinator, she managed the coral reef studies on board, teaches the crew the fundamentals of coral reef ecology and how to carry out the coral reef health and vitality studies as well as the mapping of coral reefs using satellite imagery.
In September, 2006, Orla became the Managing Director for PCRF';s expedition at sea on board the SV Infinity.
Towards the objectives of PCRF's coral reef program, Orla is currently writing an educational book on coral reefs and is preparing to produce a series of mini documentaries about coral reefs and cultures during the remainder of the 1995 to 2010 coral reef expedition.
Her only regret in leaving London is abandoning Arsenal Football Club but her father kindly keeps her seat warm for her.
