Her mother was a zoologist and her father was a cosmic ray and aurora physicist who worked with the Australian Antarctic Division during the 1950s.

[3] She completed a science degree with Honours at the University of Tasmania on coastal krill from south-eastern Australia and southern New Zealand.

She continued her work at the University of Tasmania as part of a PhD focused on mysid crustaceans, discovering three new genera and 12 new species, graduating in 1986 at the age of 24.

[4] Fenton's post-doctoral work at the University of Tasmania resulted in the development of a technique to age fish based on the radioactive decay of radium-226 to lead-210.

She will also be working to ensure that the science program is ready to take advantage of the expanded capability that will come with the launch of Australia's new icebreaker in 2020.