Executive Manager
Sebataolo Rahlao
Administration
Melanie Reddy (Project Administration Officer)
Ramini Naidoo (Administration Officer)
Regional Fisheries & Invertebrate Fisheries
Johan Groeneveld (Senior Scientist)
Ashrenee Govender (Scientist)
Erika Steyn (Assistant Scientist)
Xolani Mselegu (Research Assistant)
Saiesha Harpal (Research Assistant)
Devona Chetty (Research Assistant)
Caitlyn Fourie (Research Assistant)
Melita Sebone (Research Assistant)
Research Associates
Rudy van der Elst
Michael Schleyer
Camilla Floros
Judy Mann
Bruce Mann
Bronwyn Goble
Demersal Fisheries and Ecology
Sean Fennessy (Assistant Executive Manager/Senior Scientist)
Bernadine Everett (Scientist)
Estuarine and Soft Sediment Ecology
Fiona MacKay (Senior Scientist)
Sikhumbuzo Maduna (Assistant Scientist)
Bianca McKelvey (Scientist)
Andile Nkosi (Research Assistant Estuarine Ecology)
Rebecca Reddy (Research Assistant Genetics)
Mzokhona Mthiya (Laboratory Technical Assistant)
Partunia Zinhle Hadebe (Research Assistant)
Mthokozisi Xulu (Scientific Technician)
ORI Team
Linefish and Marine Protected Areas
Ryan Daly (Senior Scientist)
Chantel Elston (Scientist)
Marius Els (Research Assistant)
Derrick Khumalo (Research Assistant)
Estuarine and Soft Sediment Ecology
Fiona MacKay (Senior Scientist)
Sikhumbuzo Maduna (Research Assistant)
Sam Mselegu (Technical Assistant)
Mzokhona Mthiya (Technical Assistant)
Bianca McKelvey (Research Assistant)
Clare Pillay (Research Assistant)
Nontombi Siro (GIS Technician)
ORI Team
Linefish and Marine Protected Areas
Bruce Mann (Senior Scientist)
Gareth Jordaan (Assistant Scientist)
Ryan Daly (Scientist)
Marius Els (Technician)
Derrick Khumalo (Technician)
Xolani Mselegu (Technical Assistant)
Coral Reef Research
Sean Porter (Senior Scientist)
Library
Sithembile Dimba (Librarian)
Philisiwe Mhlongo (Library Assistant)
Coastal Zone Research
Thobeka Gumede (Scientist)
Marilyn Bodasing (Liaison Officer)
Angel Jali (Research Assistant)
Ntandoyenkosi Zondi (Research Assistant)
Anele Chili (Research Assistant)
Thembelihle Dlamini (EDTEA Liaison Officer)
Field Operations
Vusi Mthembu (Field Officer)
Sebataolo Rahlao
Executive Manager
PhD (Stellenbosch)
Sean Fennessy
Assistant Executive Manager / Senior Scientist
Demersal Fisheries and Ecology
PhD (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Fiona Mackay
Senior Scientist
Estuarine and Soft Sediment Ecology
MSc (University of Zululand)
Johan Groeneveld
Senior Scientist
Regional Fisheries & Invertebrate Fisheries
PhD (University of Cape Town)
Sean Porter
Senior Scientist
Coral Reef Research
PhD (University of Cape Town)
Ryan Daly
Senior Scientist
Linefish & Marine Protected Areas
PhD (Rhodes University)
Bernadine Everett
Scientist
Demersal Fisheries and Ecology
PhD (UiT The Arctic University of Norway)
Ashrenee Govender
Scientist
PhD (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Bianca McKelvey
Scientist
Estuarine and Soft Sediment Ecology
Sikhumbuzo Maduna
Assistant Scientist
Estuarine and Soft Sediment Ecology
Erika Steyn
Assistant Scientist
Regional Fisheries & Invertebrate Fisheries
MSc (University of Stellenbosch)
Rudy van der Elst
Research Associate
MSc (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Michael Schleyer
Research Associate
PhD (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Camilla Floros
Research Associate
PhD (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Bruce Mann
Research Associate
PhD (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Judy Mann
Research Associate
PhD (University of Queensland)
Bronwyn Goble
Research Associate
PhD (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Students
Graduated in 2025
Surname & Name | Degree | University | Reg. Date | Group | Supervisor | Location | Status | Theme | Thesis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nkosi Sithembile | PhD | KwaZulu-Natal | 2020 | BF | S Rahlao | MUT | Full time | Invasive species & climate change | Current evidence of climate change using Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis as a model for biome transformation. |
Govender Parishka | MSc | KwaZulu-Natal | 2021 | IF | J Groeneveld | PMB | Full time | Molecular ecology | DNA barcoding of Euphausiids and Chaetognaths off the east coast of South Africa. |
Ntsumele Languta | MSc | KwaZulu-Natal | 2024 | BF | S Fennessy | Cape Town | Full time | Demersal fisheries | Spatial-temporal patterns in size distribution of deep-sea crustaceans off the East Coast of South Africa. |
Students
Current Students 2026
Surname & Name | Degree | University | Reg. Date | Group | Supervisor | Location | Status | Theme | Thesis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buhrmann Corrine | PhD | KwaZulu-Natal | 2020 | IF | L Oellermann | ORI | Full time | SeaWorld – ex situ | Determining the emotional states of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) under managed care. |
Dube Alwande | MSc | KwaZulu-Natal | 2025 | BF | S Porter | ORI | Full time | Coral reefs | Spatio-temporal patterns of sessile reef biodiversity on Aliwal Shoal, KwaZulu-Natal. |
Thompson Matthew | MSc | KwaZulu-Natal | 2025 | WM | S Fennessy | ORI | Full time | Demersal fisheries | Biodiversity & abundance assessment of the KwaZulu-Natal deep-sea crustacean trawl catch. |
Harpal Saiesha | MSc | KwaZulu-Natal | 2025 | IF | A Govender | ORI | Full time | Molecular ecology | Metabarcoding of zooplankton communities in an early-retroflection Agulhas Current Eddy. |
Fourie Caitlynn | PhD | KwaZulu-Natal | 2026 | WF | A Govender, J Groeneveld | ORI | Full time | Molecular ecology | Effects of oceanographic variability on marine pelagic ecosystems of the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area, based on DNA metabarcoding of zooplankton. |
Sebone Melita | PhD | KwaZulu-Natal | 2026 | BF | A Govender, J Groeneveld | ORI | Full time | Molecular ecology | Bioregionalization of Pelagic Ecosystems along the South African Coast through DNA Metabarcoding of Marine Zooplankton. |
Sappor Raelene | MSc | KwaZulu-Natal | 2024 | BF | A Govender, J Groeneveld | UKZN | Full time | Molecular ecology | Exploring the utility of eDNA for the monitoring of Chondrichthyes in South African marine environments. |
Chetty Devona | PhD | KwaZulu-Natal | 2025 | IF | J Groeneveld | UKZN | Full time | Molecular ecology | East Coast Rock Lobster. |