West Indian Ocean Governance Exchange Network
Ombache Effie a marine biologist by profession. She is very passionate about the marine world. Since having joined Kenya Tropical Sealife, Africa’s leading marine ornamental export company, she has become the lead aquarist with responsibility of taking care of fish, invertebrates and elasmobranches kept in captivity. Her wide variety of duties primarily focuses on providing […]
Annabelle is a PhD student at the University of Zurich. She is an ecologist with interest in vegetation dynamics of island ecosystems, she aims to understand better the conservation threats posed to small islands, as a result of climate change. She has spent nine years working in conservation in the Seychelles Islands specifically, as a […]
Khethokuhle Good-Gift Hlatshwayo is a young passionate and goal driven scientist who grew up in rural areas in Bergville, Zwelisha (KZN) where he developed a love for the environment. He pursued a BSc Life and Environmental Science (with Human Physiology and Zoology Majors) and BSc Zoology Honours at the University of Johannesburg. Currently, he is […]
Eric Thuranira is 25 years old, and from the Eastern part of Kenya – far away from the Coastal region. Where he was born, no one who works in the marine science field but he was encouraged me to make a difference and break the norm. He completed a graduate course in Marine Biology and […]
Philile Mvula, is a Marine Biology, Master of Science student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. In addition to her research she has also been an NRF intern at the University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal where she worked on bioacoustics, estuarine hydrodynamics, marine pollution and fish health. Her Masters research is on ecological research on the intertidal rocky […]
Dave van Beuningen participated in the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition research cruise as a marine top predator observer, just after completing his Masters degree in conservation biology from the University of Cape Town. Shortly after the research cruise he was hired by the Wildlife Conservation Society, and is now an associate shark and ray […]
Dr. Hellen Akoth is a veterinarian, passionate about research with determination to forge new paths in science. She is currently the only veterinarian in Kenya actively involved in marine ornamental aquatic veterinary science and is also pursuing an online course in marine ornamental species, elasmobranchs and invertebrates. She works at Kenya Tropical Sealife Limited, an […]
Frank Mirobo, a 27 years old honours graduate of University of Dodoma, Tanzania, majored in marine biology. He is currently doing his Masters in Aquatic ecosystem management at Addis Ababa University focusing on sustainability of marine ecosystem. He has also volunteered in different projects at the institute of marine science in Zanzibar, where he was […]
Ayesha Bobat is a Marine Research Assistant at WILDOCEANS under the supervision of Dr Jean Harris. Her project title is: Surveys of the Comoros Archipelago to gain knowledge about the mesophotic reef biodiversity in order to support action for increased ocean protection. The overall objectives of this study are to: i) improve the knowledge of the biodiversity of […]
Veronica is a PhD student from the North-West University, South Africa. She has spent the last 6 years studying the impacts of various pollutants on coral reefs in the western Indian Ocean. In September 2014, she had the life changing opportunity to participate in the Mascarene Coral Island Expedition and, with a team of six […]