Daphne E. Lee is a New Zealand geologist, palaeontologist and emeritus professor at the University of Otago.

[1] Lee is an honorary associate professor at the geology department of the University of Otago, having retired in 2018.

[3][4][1] In 2024 she was awarded the title emeritus professor, "in recognition of her outstanding career as one of New Zealand’s most prominent, dedicated and passionate paleontologists".

[5][6] Lee has published both scholarly research as well as a book on the fossils of Foulden Maar.

[7] Lee was a vocal opponent of the proposed mining of Foulden Maar.