Our Team

Barry has a BSc Hons in Zoology and PhD in Marine Ecology. He founded Anchor in 1996 and has 33 years’ experience consulting on coastal, estuarine and marine ecosystem and resources management.  His particular interests are estuaries, fish (including freshwater) and corals as well as marine biodiversity and protected areas.  This has taken him to tropical, subtropical and temperate marine and freshwater ecosystems throughout much of Africa and its islands, as well as into the Middle east (UAE) and Europe (Azerbaijan, Greenland).  His work has involved conservation planning, monitoring and assessment of human impacts on estuarine, rocky shore, sandy beach, mangrove, and coral reef ecosystems as well as coastal and littoral zone processes, aquaculture and fisheries.  Dr Clark is the author of 27 scientific publications as well as numerous scientific reports and popular articles in the free press.  

Jane has a PhD in estuarine ecology and 36 years of experience in ecology, conservation and environmental economics. Her interests and experience are broad and multidisciplinary, and she thrives on the development of innovative methods and solutions and the integration of ecological and socio-economic aspects of natural resource management problems. She developed a method for assessing estuary health which is widely used and has been deeply involved in the methods and application of environmental flows and conducting specialist studies on birds.  She has led the integrated planning of estuary conservation in South Africa. She has undertaken groundbreaking studies on the quantification and valuation of ecosystem services for mainstreaming biodiversity in decision-making, planning and policy. She was part of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework development team in 2003 that led to the widespread classification system for ecosystem services and involved in the finalisation and testing of the UN's methods for Ecosystem Accounting in 2021.  She has led studies to design efficient, nature-based solutions and financing mechanisms for water security, including pricing strategies, payments for ecosystem services and certification schemes. She has led large multidisciplinary field and modelling studies on the rehabilitation of ecosystems and on reversing land degradation.  She has also led studies on green economy development at local to multi-country scales and has developed a framework for the consideration of poverty and gender dimensions for the IOC-UNESCO guidelines on marine spatial planning.  Dr Turpie is also a Senior Research Fellow of the Environmental-Economics Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town and Honorary Research Fellow of the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. She maintains strong academic ties and has supervised 44 postgraduate students and written 66 peer-reviewed papers, 12 book chapters and many technical reports.

Ken has 26 years of experience working on fisheries and mariculture research and management, estuarine research and management, marine and estuarine spatial planning and management, marine impact assessment, research and conservation strategy development, fishery socio-economic studies, biological sampling and fish life-history studies, taxonomy, population genetics, fisheries modelling, marine ecotoxicology, physico-chemical, ecological and biodiversity surveys of marine, estuarine and freshwater habitats.  He has worked throughout much of southern, eastern and western Africa, as well as in New Zealand and Belize. He has practical experience in several commercial fishery sectors and has managed large-scale fishery scientific observer programmes.  Dr Hutchings is a research associate of the University of Cape Town’s Marine Research Institute and has published 16 scientific papers as well as numerous consulting reports.

Bianca has a Bachelor’s degree and over 15 years’ experience in office management and corporate administration. She has a diverse background in high-volume fast paced corporate environments and has worked in a variety of industries. She ensures the smooth and harmonious operations of the office here in Cape Town and remotely in Namibia. Bianca also manages training, employee development, HR relations and organizational development. She enjoys working for a company that makes a difference to the various facets of the environment through their research and project management. She is currently a junior marine biologist in training and can often be found underwater along with the rest of her colleagues. 

Gwyneth has a background in ecology, an MSc in Conservation Biology and a postgrad certificate in Applied Environmental Economics, and has honed her skills in quantitative statistical and econometric analysis. She has 16 years of experience working on the social and economic aspects of natural resource management and conservation, focusing mainly on the valuation of ecosystem services, the design and economic analysis of nature-based solutions, the evaluation of incentive and financing mechanisms such as certification and payments for ecosystem services, the analysis of tradeoffs in determining environmental flow allocations, the assessment of impacts of infrastructure and mining developments on tourism, and integrated conservation planning using Marxan.  Gwyn has worked on projects in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Ghana.

Amy has an MSc degree in Biological Sciences and BSc. Hons. degrees in Marine Biology and Applied Biology from the University of Cape Town. She is currently a Senior Associate for Marine Ecosystems & Resources at Anchor Environmental and a professionally registered Natural Scientist (SACNASP 131256).  She is a marine ecologist with environmental research, impact assessment, permitting, dispersion modelling and environmental auditing experience in systems across South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Mauritius, Kenya and Tanzania. Her areas of expertise include maritime and estuarine engineering; reverse osmosis/desalination operations; industrial and small-scale intake, discharge and cooling systems (including gas to power, green hydrogen and fisheries processing); offshore oil and gas operations; land- and sea-based mariculture, dredging and offshore mining operations, and shipping (ballast, antifoulants).  She has direct experience in the undertaking and application of two- and three-dimensional hydrodynamic modelling of marine and estuarine systems to inform impact assessments and regulatory compliance, as well as monitoring program design and implementation. She has experience in a range of numerical model systems, including the Delft3D modelling suite and CorMIX. She is the author of four scientific publications in Class A scientific journals and over 100 technical reports.  As a Senior Associate her responsibilities include business development and strategy, project management and environmental research. 

Aiden has more than 11 years of research and consulting experience in ecological and biodiversity surveys of marine, estuarine and freshwater benthic habitats, invertebrate taxonomy and systematics, specialist marine impact assessments, biofouling, hydrocarbon, antifoulant and trace metal pollution and physico-chemical surveys. He has recently reviewed the barnacle fauna of South Africa and has undertaken the specialist role of invertebrate taxonomist for various local and international clients. Aiden is author of 5 peer-reviewed scientific publications and many specialist reports in his capacity as a benthic invertebrate biologist. Aiden has undertaken biodiversity field surveys and assessments in South Africa, Namibia, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somaliland and Mozambique. Aiden also has more than 16 years working experience as a class IV scientific diver/supervisor and small craft skipper.

Jessica has a background in marine biology, estuarine community ecology and food webs, benthic invertebrate biology and taxonomy, and is a class IV commercial/scientific diver.   She has a PhD in estuarine ecology (zoology) from the University of Cape Town.  Her academic training has enabled her to acquire skills in a wide variety of scientific disciplines, exposing her to a broad array of scientific methods. Jessica has worked on the taxonomic descriptions of new species (BSc Hon. UCT), the effects of grazers on community structure of soft-sediment estuarine and rocky shore communities (BSc Hon. and MSc., UCT) and the indirect effects of the presence of large herbivore species on benthic estuarine communities and food web structure during a drought (PhD).  Jessica has additionally been working as a taxonomic specialist on the benthic invertebrates of the Western Indian Ocean, as well as species from the Southwest Atlantic Ocean (NAMDEB Diamond Corporation Environmental Monitoring Programme). During her studies she has collaborated with both international and local researchers, spending time as a research assistant for the Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre in the USA, as well as working with academic teams from several South African universities. Her training has equipped her to consult on a wide variety of research and consulting projects incorporating the conservation of intertidal, sub-tidal, marine, and estuarine ecosystems. Jessica has co-authored seven peer-reviewed articles in well recognised scientific journals as well review for the Quarterly Review of Biology.

Kevin has an undergraduate degree (BSc and Hon) in Marine Ecosystem Sciences from the University of Delaware and a graduate degree (MSc) in Applied Marine Sciences from the University of Cape Town. During his undergraduate degree, he investigated the influence of anthropogenic climate change on community dynamics of coral reef and their associated ecosystems.  During his graduate degree, he collaborated with scientists from the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory (SOCCO) to investigate the wind field variability of the Southern Ocean using WaveGlider technology and remotely sensed satellite reanalysis data.  In January of 2017 he published his MSc findings in the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Journal of Atmospheric and Ocean Technology (JTECH).  Since then, Kevin has been actively incorporating satellite-derived data “on the ground”; performing validation and extrapolation tasks to broaden the spatial and temporal coverage of atmospheric, land and oceanographic variable datasets.  With his expertise in querying global repositories, he can provide his peers and clients holistic and globally unique data inputs for impact assessments, variability studies and computational fluid dynamic models.  Kevin intends to use these remotely sensed environmental variables, satellite imagery, and machine learning to bridge the gap between ecology and oceanography and to increase the efficacy of ecological surveying techniques and the strategic implementation of conservation management strategies.

Adam is a marine ecologist and fisheries expert with a PhD in Marine Science. He specialises in sustainable ocean management, with over a decade of experience across academic, NGO, and consultancy sectors. His expertise spans coastal and deep-sea benthic ecosystems, marine protected areas, marine spatial planning, environmental impact assessment, and ecosystem resource management. He has worked in temperate and tropical systems throughout Europe, west, east and southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.  He has led peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, with research contributing to marine and fisheries policy. Adam brings strong technical capabilities in ecological survey design, underwater video analysis, community-level data analysis (R, Python, PRIMER, PERMANOVA+), GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS) and he is proficient in field research e.g., eDNA sampling, plankton and water quality sampling, acoustic telemetry, underwater video surveys and underwater noise assessments. Adam is a SACNASP-registered Professional Natural Scientist in Aquatic Science and Environmental Management (Reg. No. 141530) and a Visiting Researcher at the University of Plymouth. He is also an advocate for science communication, using media, infographics, and photography to bridge science, policy, and public understanding.

Johanna Brühl holds a master’s degree in Applied Economics from the University of Cape Town’s School of Economics and a Bachelor of Science in International Business from the Copenhagen Business School. Johanna’s interests are in the fields of environmental policy and economics, the assessment and valuation of ecosystem services, the biodiversity economy, and the design of strategies to increase biodiversity conservation. Johanna’s previous work at the Environmental Policy Research Unit (EPRU), part of the Environment for Development (EfD), focused on water economics and water policy in developing country contexts. At EPRU, she designed, implemented, and evaluated large-scale projects to achieve more sustainable water management in South Africa. She has a strong background in data management and quantitative and qualitative analyses and evaluations.

Robyn has a background in marine biology research, with specific interests in biodiversity and invertebrate taxonomy, particularly of organisms from the Western Indian Ocean.  She has a PhD in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from the University of the Western Cape, with a focus on marine sponge diversity and taxonomy in the Amathole region (Eastern Cape).  Robyn has extensive experience in ship-based marine ecological collections and has been involved in various workshops relating to marine research, governance and taxonomy.  Her training has equipped her to consult on a wide variety of research and consulting projects incorporating the conservation of intertidal, sub-tidal and marine ecosystems.  She is the author of five scientific publications, which include the description of new species, as well as a chapter in a field guide.

Cheruscha has a BSc Hons in Biodiversity and Ecology and an MSc in Zoology, and is a Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAPASA 2021/3298) with eight years of research and consulting experience. Cheruscha has worked extensively on benthic invertebrates, and has authored three peer reviewed scientific publications and numerous specialist studies on the impacts of developments. She now manages a range of projects including applications for prospecting, ranching and other operational rights, environmental licenses and environmental authorisations, specialist impact assessments and baseline studies, environmental monitoring of important conservation and disturbed habitats and monitoring environmental compliance of various operations. Her projects include land-based and offshore prospecting operations, offshore mining operations, greenhouse agricultural projects, land- and sea-based aquaculture facilities and monitoring the health of bays and ports along the West Coast.

Michael holds MSc and BSc (Hons) degrees in Environmental and Geographical Science (EGS) and a BSc in EGS and Archaeology, from the University of Cape Town (UCT).  His MSc entailed a detailed field and laboratory study, and comparative analysis, of trace metal contamination in the Knysna Estuary (RSA) and the Yangtze Estuary (PRC).  He’s passionate about Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), and is particularly interested in the management of ecosystems and water resources within coastal transitional environments.  He is invested in pursuing integrated, “nature-based” solutions to problems traditionally solved with grey infrastructure design choices.  Michael thrives on unpacking the complexities of dynamic systems and using this knowledge to optimise integrated management strategies.  Prior to working at Anchor, he analysed water quality data on behalf of the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA) and the South African National Biodiversity Agency (SANBI).  Within Anchor Environmental Consultants, he principally works as an Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP), undertaking Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in marine, coastal, estuarine, and terrestrial environments.  He also works as an estuarine management specialist and specialist scientist, having authored several estuarine management plans (EMPs), maintenance management plans (MMPs), and many estuarine specialist impact assessments.  He’s further authored several socio-economic impact assessments, and has wide-ranging GIS mapping expertise. Michael is registered with the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA) as a Candidate Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP), Registration no. 2024/7978, and is a Full member of the International Association for Impact Assessments South Africa (IAIAsa), Registration no. 7619.

Tahlia is a physical oceanographer with a background in operational oceanography and hydrographic survey. She completed her BTech at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where her work and studies focused on the physical oceanographic dynamics of the Prince Edward Island region and investigating connectivity between Sub-Antarctic islands using Lagrangian modelling techniques. She completed a MSc in Hydrography, University of Plymouth in which her dissertation focused on sediment and current dynamics in estuarine regions to best monitor and salvage sunken wrecks using hydrographic survey techniques. These postgraduate studies have given Tahlia skills in remotely sensed and oceanographic data collection, data analysis, coding and research report writing and presenting. Tahlia has worked as an oceanographic technician serving onboard marine research vessels overseeing operation, maintenance, and validation of oceanographic instruments. As part of her offshore work experience, she has had the opportunity to build skills in the fields of operational/physical oceanography and hydrography. Tahlia is currently an environmental consultant at Anchor Environmental Consultants. Her responsibilities include data collection (scientific diving, Cat C skipper), data processing, report writing and assisting within the benthic monitoring team.

Lily is a marine ecologist with a strong academic foundation and diverse field experience across Southern Africa and beyond. She holds an MSc in Marine Biological Resources Management (magna cum laude), awarded jointly by Ghent University, the University of the Algarve, and the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.  She also holds a BSc Honours degree in Biological Sciences and a BSc in Marine Biology and Ocean & Atmosphere Sciences (Oceanography) from the University of Cape Town.  She is a registered Professional Natural Scientist (SACNASP 172158).  As a Consultant in Anchor’s Marine Ecosystems & Resources team, Lily contributes to a wide range of marine and estuarine projects through impact assessments, environmental audits, baseline surveys, monitoring programme design, and specialist studies.  Her fieldwork experience includes rocky intertidal and ichthyofauna surveys, benthic sampling, and water and effluent quality sampling.  She has in-country scientific experience across South Africa and in Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, and Germany.  Lily is a medically fit Class V Scientific Commercial Diver, certified Marine Mammal Observer, and has offshore experience in oceanographic and deep-sea sampling. Her technical skills include data analysis, GIS, and basic graphic design.

Megan is an evolutionary ecologist with a BSc. (Genetics and Ecology & Evolution) and a BSc. Hons. (Biological Sciences) from the University of Cape Town, and an MSc. (Botany) from Stellenbosch University. Her BSc. Hons. thesis was focused on using a population genetics approach to assess whether cities act as barriers to movement and gene flow in caracals. Megan’s MSc. used a Next-Gen sequencing approach and bioinformatic processing to look at the population genomics of Cape Dwarf eelgrass in estuaries around the South African coastline to inform conservation planning and preserve the genomic diversity of the species. Following the completion of her studies, she spent a year working on Bird Island in the Algoa Bay MPA, as a Seabird Monitor, to aid with the conservation of the endangered African Penguins and Cape Gannets.  Megan is involved in carrying out benthic species taxonomic IDs and Environmental Impact Assessments at Anchor. She has broad research interests, and the combination of molecular and general biology has given her a unique perspective on conservation, as well as experience in both field and laboratory work across a diverse range of species in both marine and terrestrial environments.

Amoré has a background in botany and zoology, with a specific interest in marine ecology and the taxonomy of benthic/deep-sea fauna. She obtained a BSc Hons in Biodiversity and Ecology and an MSc in Zoology at Stellenbosch University (SU). Her honours thesis focused on identifying a shell-boring polychaete (i.e., segmented marine worm) found in marine environments worldwide that she subsequently published in Marine Biodiversity. In 2022, she graduated Cum Laude at SU with her MSc thesis, which explored the genetic relation and demographic history of Brown fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus, across the Indian Ocean. For this work, she received the Junior Captain Scott Medal for the best Master of Science dissertation submitted at a South African university and published her work in Biology Letters. During her academic journey, she has gained extensive experience in marine invertebrate taxonomy, systematics, population genetics/genomics, and monitoring of aquatic environments. Amoré is currently a Consultant for Marine Ecosystems & Resources at Anchor Environmental Consultants, where she has gained experience in taxonomic identification on benthic invertebrates from the Western Indian Ocean, as well as species from the Southwest Atlantic Ocean and estuaries around the South African Coastline. She also recently gained experience in ship-based biological sample collection and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) identification of marine fauna in deep-sea environments. She is further involved in ecological data analyses, and reporting on various projects, including the annual De Beers Marine Namibia Environmental Monitoring Report, the NAMDEB Diamond Corporation Environmental Monitoring Programme, and the Creocean off-shore Environmental Baseline Programme. 

Yi-Ting holds an MSc degree in Biological Sciences, a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences, and a BSc in Applied Biology and Marine Biology from the University of Cape Town. She is a Marine Ecologist at Anchor Environmental Consultants with experience in environmental research, marine environmental monitoring, and impact assessments in systems across South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, and Madagascar. Her expertise includes ecological and biological statistics, benthic taxonomy, systematics, and population genetics, complemented by proficiency in molecular techniques such as DNA extractions, PCR, and next-generation sequencing. Yi-Ting has extensive experience in biological sampling and scientific diving, with direct involvement in numerous specialist studies and environmental monitoring programmes across subtidal, estuarine, and offshore systems. 

Zach has six years of academic experience and under a year of work experience in physical oceanography and atmospheric sciences. He has worked as a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) expert and an infield specialist, assisting in shark sampling collection and taxonomic identification for the South African shorelines. His primary expertise is working with extensive data outputs from regional and global oceanographic models (Delf-3D, Mercator) and atmospheric models (WRF). Additionally, he has constructed and run regional collision risk models for proposed offshore wind farms, assessing the impact on seabird species. In his work with GIS, Zachary has described ecosystem extents along Kenya's coastline. Currently, he is a junior environmental consultant for Anchor Environmental, working with their hydrological modelling team to create open ocean and estuarine hydro models. As a consultant, his primary responsibilities include assessing the ramifications of human activities on ecosystems, such as estuarine areas, rocky shores, sandy beaches, mangroves, and coral reefs.

Emihle obtained Advanced Diploma Degree and National Diploma in Marine Sciences from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Her advanced diploma research methodology was based on the characteristics and abundance of microplastics in water, sediments, and marine biota (Choromytilus meridionalis) at impact and non-impact site along Table Bay (Lagoon Beach) in Cape Town, South Africa. Her academic training has enabled her to acquire skills in a wide variety of scientific disciplines, exposing her to a broad array of scientific methods. She has a background in marine biology, estuarine community ecology and food webs, benthic invertebrate biology, taxonomy, coastal principles, and laws by partaking in the practical work and field trips offered in the programme of marine science. Within Anchor, she is a Research Technician, working on various projects as taxonomy specialising on benthic invertebrates macrofauna. 

Hrishabh has a BSc (Eng) in Mechanical Engineering with experience in hydrodynamic modelling, renewable energy development and software development. His BSc (Eng) degree involved measuring the accuracy of Computation Fluid Dynamic (CFD) meshing techniques, through the development of CFD code specific to his thesis. He is presently a Junior Consultant at Anchor Environmental Consultants. As a consultant he has been primarily concerned with hydrodynamic modelling of marine and estuarine systems with experience in the Delft3D modelling suite (FLOW), CorMIX, OpenFOAM and multiple programming languages (including C, C++, Python, JavaScript, Java). Hrishabh has experience in hydrodynamic modelling across diverse industries, including offshore benthic mining, oil and gas and fisheries. He has also worked as a Mechanical/SCADA Engineer for wind turbine manufacturing and as a freelance software developer.

Mpho completed a bachelor’s degree in Medical biosciences majoring in Medical bioscience and Microbiology at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), 2019. She then completed a postgraduate certificate in Education at (UWC), 2019. She taught Science in several schools. This experience has strengthened her knowledge in the science field. Within Anchor Environmental Consultants, she is a Research Technician, working on various projects as taxonomy specialising on benthic invertebrates’ macrofauna. Her other duties includes sample picking and sorting, wet screening and sample preparation. This experience strengthened her skills as a Research Technician. In addition, it has taught her to value ethical standard of a science laboratory. She also got an opportunity to be part of SEAmester Cruise South Africa's class Afloat 2023. The course covered CTD operations, DNA and eDNA extraction, Net operations (Neuston and Bongo nets), Dredge operation, Benthic sorting, Identification of Microplastic in the marine environment, Dissection of marine mammal. This experience has broadened her knowledge in the field of marine science. 

Olwethu is a proficient Microbiologist with a solid foundation in Medical Bioscience, where she has specialized in areas such as DNA extraction, Gel electrophoresis, and the processing of Bovine Pericardial tissue. She obtained her BSc in Medical Bioscience from the University of the Western Cape (UWC), where she cultivated her expertise in these domains. She has gained extensive experience in marine invertebrate taxonomy, and population genetics/genomics. Her current role as a Research Technician at Anchor Environmental Consultants has allowed her to deepen her experience in taxonomic identification, specifically of benthic invertebrates. This work spans diverse geographic regions, including the Western Indian Ocean, the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, and various estuarine systems along the South African coastline. In this capacity, Olwethu has contributed to the detailed identification and classification of species within these marine ecosystems around the world.

Bryn is currently pursuing a Master’s in Geography and Environmental Studies at Stellenbosch University, focusing on sedimentary catchment-wetland connectivity and sustainable sediment management in the Overberg region of Western Cape Province, South Africa. His academic journey emphasizes understanding landscape-shaping processes, particularly those related to fluvial geomorphology. As a member of the Conservation and Sustainable Development team at Anchor, Bryn brings a passion for sustainable sediment management, a deep understanding of the interactions between fluvial systems and their surrounding environments, and a strong interest in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Committed to applying his research and insights, he aims to develop and implement sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the communities that depend on it.

André holds a BSc (Hons) in Biodiversity and Ecology and an MSc in Zoology, with nine years of research and consulting experience. His research has focused on anurans, investigating species interactions, performance, population dynamics, age structure, and invasion biology. He has authored three peer-reviewed scientific publications and co-authored ten peer-reviewed scientific publications. Additionally, André has experience in invasive species management, having contributed to the control of the African clawed frog in Europe as part of the INVAXEN initiative. He has also assisted the City of Cape Town in efforts to curb the spread of the invasive Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer. With over seven years of extensive experience in environmental management across diverse projects, André has worked in both the construction and operational phases. His projects have ranged from wind turbine developments to desalination projects. He has also served as an internal and external auditor for various initiatives. Currently, André’s focus is on environmental management, with a particular emphasis on refining his expertise as a terrestrial and aquatic specialist.

Peta has a background in public administration, community development and housing policies. She holds an M.Phil and PhD both in urban ecology, and has honed her skills in trans-disciplinary, applied sciences towards improved outcomes for green infrastructure planning and management in African cities. She first entered the workforce in 2004 as a built environment professional and has filled several roles in environmental and sustainable design with a special interest in urban sustainability, ecosystem services, and nature-based solutions. She has been a pioneering member of the green building community, and has contributed to developing new methods, standards, and frameworks for the integration of nature-based solutions and biodiversity into urban planning. She is skilled in geospatial analysis, statistical modelling, stakeholder engagement and facilitation, and mixed-methods research. Peta is a senior consultant at Anchor, and is also affiliated to the Terrestrial Ecosystem Sciences and Services lab at the University of Exeter and a core member of the PLANTeD working group on animal aided design, a collaboration between the University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University.

Ben holds a BSc and BSc (Hons) in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from the University of the Western Cape, with a background in both terrestrial and marine conservation. His honors research focused on the diel vertical migration of zooplankton in False Bay, during which he gained taxonomic experience identifying zooplankton species. After completing his studies, Ben joined the SANParks Cape Research Center where he spent two years assisting the marine and terrestrial research teams, participating in numerous field expeditions. He contributed to a biodiversity and wildlife monitoring project in Table Mountain National Park, where he managed and analyzed camera trap footage. He also supported the conservation of the African penguin colony in Simon’s Town, using camera traps and monitoring predation events within the colony. Ben is currently working as a research assistant at Anchor Environmental Consultants. His work includes zooplankton and phytoplankton identification, benthic macrofaunal taxonomy, water quality monitoring and marine outfall assessments. He holds a SAMSA category c skipper's certification, enhancing his capacity for field-based marine research.

Duke is currently a Research Assistant for Marine Ecosystems & Resources at Anchor Environmental Consultants, where he has gained experience in ship-based biological sample collection and ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) identification of marine fauna in deep-sea environments. He also is involved in identifying marine benthic macrofauna, including the annual De Beers Marine Namibia Environmental Monitoring Report and the NAMDEB Diamond Corporation Environmental Monitoring Programme.

Billy has a background in fisheries and aquatic sciences with a focus on marine ecosystem research and aquaculture. He holds a Master of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Namibia, where he also completed his Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (Hon). His academic training includes specialized courses on Harmful Algal Blooms provided by the National Marine Information and Research Center of Namibia and UNESCO IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae, and biogeochemical oceanography of the Northern Benguela upwelling system provided by the Regional Graduate Network of Oceanography (RGNO).Professionally has worked on several research projects at the University of Namibia contributing to project advancements. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.