Experts in the field

List of Experts in Marine or Ocean Sciences and Maritime Studies

Tittle. Name, Surname Designation Area of Expertise Email
Professor Janine, Adams

DSI/NRF Research Chair: Shallow Water Ecosystems

Deputy Director: Institute for Coastal and Marine Research

Response of blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass, salt marsh) to climate change, Coastal Ecology, Estuary management, water quality monitoring, ecosystem health assessments janine.adams@mandela.ac.za
Professor Mike, Roberts UK-SA Bilateral Research Chair: Ocean Science & Marine Food Security Marine ecosystem science & oceanography, Climate change impacts on marine systems, Food security & fisheries systems, End-to-end ecosystem & socio-economic modelling, Western Indian Ocean upwelling systems research, Ocean governance & science–policy integration mike.roberts@mandela.ac.za
Professor Patrick, Vrancken DSI-NRF South African Research Chair in Law of the Sea and Development in Africa International law of the sea (with a focus on State Ocean jurisdiction, the African maritime domain and South Africa) patrick.vrancken@mandela.ac.za
Professor Mandy, Lombard Research Associate: Institute for Coastal and Marine Research Marine spatial planning (MSP) and ecosystem-based marine management, Spatial and temporal distribution of marine biodiversity (coastal, benthic and pelagic systems), Marine ecosystem services and natural capital accounting, Baseline biodiversity data collation and marine conservation planning, Predictive spatial modelling of environmental and human-driven marine change, Application of spatial models to policy, marine governance and management frameworks mandy.lombard@mandela.ac.za
Professor Rose, Boswell DSI-NRF South African Research Chair in Ocean Cultures and Heritage Ocean cultures and heritage in Africa and the Global South; intangible cultural heritage, including oral traditions, maritime knowledge, and cultural practices; sensory ethnography and qualitative research methodologies; human–ocean relationships and coastal community livelihoods; the cultural dimensions of ocean governance and marine policy; biocultural heritage and the integration of cultural values into ocean management; decolonial approaches to heritage, knowledge production, and sustainability; social and restorative justice; identity, memory, belonging, and place-making in coastal societies; Indigenous and local knowledge systems in environmental governance; heritage-led approaches to climate adaptation and resilience; cultural ecosystem services and sustainable development; community engagement and participatory research; cultural heritage policy, management, and conservation planning; and the intersections between heritage, environmental change, and blue economy initiatives. Particular focus on African and Indian Ocean coastal communities. rose.boswell@mandela.ac.za
Dr Shael, Denise
Director: Institute for Coastal and Marine Research
Head of Department: Atmospheric and Oceanographic Science s
Aquatic ecology, freshwater ecosystems, estuarine ecosystems, coastal ecosystems, marine ecosystems, ecosystem ecology, environmental monitoring, biodiversity conservation, coastal and marine governance, science–policy integration, research leadership, strategic programme development, partnership building, transdisciplinary research and initiative management, environmental and natural resource management, stakeholder engagement and collaboration denise.schael@mandela.ac.za
Mr Michael, De Lange

Director: Centre for Law in Action and FishFORCE Fisheries Law Enforcement Academy

IUU Fishing, Organised Crime within Fisheries and Law Enforcement Michael.DeLange@mandela.ac.za
Dr Tommy, Bornman

Manager: South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)

Phytoplankton Ecology, Coastal and Ocean Observing, Climate Change, Blue Carbon, Biogeochemistry. Microphytobenthos.

tg.bornman@saeon.nrf.ac.za

thomas.bornman@mandela.ac.za

Professor Nadine, Strydom

Professor: Department of Zoology.

Estuarine & Marine Fish Biology and Ecology; Ichthyoplankton Ecology nadine.strydom@mandela.ac.za
Dr Pierre, Pistorius

Head of Department: Department of Zoology

Population Ecology; Resource Management; Climate Change; Marine Top Predators pierre.pistorius@mandela.ac.za
Dr Gavin, Rishworth

Senior Lecturer: Department of Zoology.

Marine Biology; Geobiology; Macro zoobenthos; Microbialites; Bioturbation gavin.rishworth@mandela.ac.za
Mr Andrew, Young

Director: Marine Robotics Unit

Engineering Director: eNtsa - Innovation through engineering

Mechanical Engineering, Composites Materials, Marine Robotics, andrew.young@mandela.ac.za
Mr Odwa Mtati

CEO: South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI)

Oceans economy growth and development, Maritime cluster development and management, Coastal development and entrepreneurship, Ocean arts and culture, Maritime research, Project management.  
 
Dr Nomtha Hadi

Research Director: South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI)

Strategic Maritime Management, Mixed Methods research, stakeholder management, scenario planning, coastal management and governance, science–policy integration, partnership building, transdisciplinary research and science communication.

researchdirector@saimi.co.za

nomtha.hadi@mandela.ac.za

Dr Malwande Nkalitshana

Advocacy and communications Acting Manager: South African International Maritime Instituted (SAIMI)

Marine Spatial Planning, Maritime Education and Training, Coastal and Marine Tourism, Coastal Communities and Management, Oceans Economy Development.
 
Ms Nwabisa Matoti

Strategic Projects and Internationalisation Director: South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI)  

Sustainable ocean development and management, maritime decarbonisation, maritime strategy development and enablement, maritime skills development, maritime research, programme management, monitoring and evaluation. 
 
Prof Ncwadi Ronney

Full Professor of Economics

Macro- Economist expertise spans Development Economics, International Trade and Finance, Applied Econometrics, Economic Policy, Green Hydrogen Economics, the Blue Economy, Sustainable Development, and the Economics of the Energy Transition. His research focuses on trade competitiveness, regional integration, industrialisation, digital transformation, and evidence-based policy analysis for sustainable economic development in Africa. Ronney.Ncwadi@mandela.ac.za
Dr Luara Amoah

Programme Coordinator: MPhil Maritime Studies and Lecturer, Department of Development Studies

Maritime and coastal governance and management. Climate change adaptation and resilience; Environmental risk assessment and environmental management; Rural household livelihoods and sustainable development; Food and nutrition security; Water security and integrated resource management; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); Environmental policy development, implementation, and review; Disaster risk reduction and disaster management Laura.Amoah@mandela.ac.za
Dr Lynn Jonas

Head of Department: Tourism

Coastal and Marine Tourism, Sustainable Tourism, Culture and Heritage Tourism, Tourism education lynnj@mandela.ac.za
Ms Thandeka Tembe

Lecturer: Strategic Maritime Management - NMU Business School Research consultant – South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI)

Maritime Decarbonisation, offshore renewable energy, Green shipping, Green hydrogen and alternative fuels, Port Energy Transition and Smart Ports, Maritime Business Strategy and Blue Economy Development, Life cycle analysis and Life cycle cost analysis. thandekat@mandela.ac.za
Prof Darelle van Greunen

Interim Director: Nelson Mandela University Science Centre

Human-centred design principles; Responsible and ethical AI; Community co-creation; Digital inclusion and accessibility; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Technology for social impact; Evidence-based policy and practice; Healthcare and public health; Higher education; Community development; Government and public services; Science communication; Energy and the Just Energy Transition; Agriculture; Digital skills development; Smart and resilient communities Darelle.vanGreunen@mandela.ac.za
Dr Jessica Thornton

Nelson Mandela University Science Centre, CMR

Ocean Cultures and Heritage, Coastal food heritage, wellness and sustainability, ocean literacy, anthropology, STEAM communication Jessica.thornton@mandela.ac.za
Mr Francois Du Plessis

Co-ordinator for Humanities Creative Media Lab

Photography, Videography, Live streaming, dome operator and content creator Francois.duplessis@mandela.ac.za
Dr John Fernandes

Department of Marine Engineering: Senior Lecturer 

Marine Electrical & Automation Systems, Marine Robotics. John.Fernandes@mandela.ac.za
Dr John Fernandes

Senior Researcher -CIPSET

Small-scale fisheries governance, co-management of marine resources, community education, sustainable livelihoods, gender and social inclusion, climate change adaptation and resilience, and coastal resource governance. Applies participatory and transdisciplinary approaches to strengthen community capacity, promote equitable access to marine resources, support climate-resilient livelihoods, and social and environmental justice in coastal communities. John.Fernandes@mandela.ac.za
Prof Magda Minguzzi
Indigenous Knowledge Systems of the Built Environment Unit's Leader
NRF Rated researcher
Indigenous Knowledge Systems of the built environment, tangible and intangible First Nation’s heritage in South Africa, fish traps, precolonial coastal heritage sites in South Africa, transdisciplinary research, knowledge co/creation with First Nations of South Africa representatives, indigenous methodology Magda.minguzzi@mandela.ac.za
Prof Magda Minguzzi
Dr Bastien Linol

Director AEON

Marine geology, sedimentology, geophysics and isotope geochemistry Bastien.linol@mandela.ac.za
Dr Shaun H.P. Deyzel
Science & Data Coordinator; Plankton Ecologist: South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON) Elwandle Node  
 
Research Associate: Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University 
 
Senior Research Associate: Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University 
Biological Oceanography; Estuarine and marine zooplankton ecology; Climate change impacts on marine ecosystems; Extreme event responses; Long-term Ecological Research; Ocean observation technologies and information systems. hp.deyzel@saeon.nrf.ac.za
 Mr Allan Paul

Head of Department (HOD)

Emergency medical transportation; high-acuity emergency care; paediatric emergency care; medical rescue and extrication.  paul.allan@mandela.ac.za
Prof Jacqueline Crozier-McCleland

PVinsight

Solar Photovoltaics, Quality Testing Jacqui@pvinsight.co.za
Dr Wagenaar Tanya

Senior lecturer, HOD: Public Law

Intellectual property law, environmental law, law of the sea, ocean governance, marine resources law Tanya.Wagenaar@mandela.ac.za
Dr Paul Steyn

Senior Lecturer, HOD: Botany

Seaweed biology, algal ecophysiology, algal aquaculture, phycology, shallow reef ecology. Paul.Steyn@mandela.ac.za
Prof Nikki Jame

Visting professor, CMR and Senior Scientist SAIAB

Marine Engineering

Nicola.james@mandela.ac.za

nc.james@saiab.nrf.ac.za