Welcome to The Wildlife Forensic Academy
Fighting Wildlife Crime with Forensic Science
What We Do
We are here to give wildlife a voice and fight back against wildlife crime.
Poaching often happens in remote areas without witnesses. First responders unintentionally disrupt the crime scene and crucial forensic traces get lost. This results in poor evidence in court and the culprit never gets caught or punished. Connected to poaching, entire illegal financial and transportation networks exist which are known to be linked to large scale organised crime in drugs, weapons, and human trafficking worldwide. This makes preserving and presenting forensic evidence from wildlife crime scenes even more crucial.
WFA trains individuals in Forensic Science and Methodical Evidence Reporting so that no wildlife criminal will slip through the net.
Where It Happens
The Wildlife Forensic Academy is conveniently located just over an hours’ drive outside beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. In the middle of Buffelsfontein, a private wildlife reserve, lies our 800m2 state-of-the-art forensic training experience lab.
The Experience Lab is tailor-made for our unique learning concept which consists of theoretical training, virtual reality (VR) training and lots of practical field training. We provide comfortable accommodation for students on longer courses. Because the academy is in a malaria free zone you won’t have to worry about using any malaria medication.
Follow the link below to obtain the GPS location of the academy:
How We Do It
Our courses are facilitated within and around our Experience Lab. Our next generation learning facilities are purposefully built to learn and experience what actually happens out in the field. This way of experiential learning is hands-on and accommodates learners of all educational backgrounds and walks of life.
Our lecturers are professional veterinarians, judges, prosecutors, and forensic experts with years of experience and in-depth knowledge. What is unique in all our training is that theory is put into practise by doing actual forensic investigations on life-like staged wildlife crime scenes. Through cameras and microphones students’ actions and conversations are monitored and analysed for constructive feedback.
The Experience Lab also houses a court room where wildlife crime cases are re-enacted. Here, students learn how to convincingly present the evidence they have collected to a judge.
Our Mission
Our mission is to protect and preserve the African ecosystem through education, innovation and state-of-the-art technology. We aim to raise awareness and mobilise enthusiasm for a global call-to-action.
We stand for ‘Ubuntu’, a South African philosophy that speaks to the universal bond that connects all humanity and beyond. We seek to connect people, the planet, wildlife, business, research, education and corporate social responsibility.
Team
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CEO AND FOUNDER
With over 35 years in the Criminal Justice Chain, Andro’s decision to build the Wildlife Forensic Academy came after his visit to the Southern African Wildlife College. After hearing about the extent of wildlife crime, Andro visited a horrific crime scene. Since there were no witnesses, the poachers were going to get away with it. He then noticed there were forensic traces all over the scene, similar to those found on human crime scenes. No one else seemed aware of this. It was then he decided to build the Wildlife Forensic Academy as a way to educate people on how to solve and prevent wildlife crime.
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DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER
Dr. Greg Simpson qualified as a veterinarian in South Africa, working in the United Kingdom, Central Asia and Africa. After receiving a Masters Public Health in Developing Countries, as well as a Masters in Wildlife Management, he began developing a unique training clinic for veterinary students in a resource limited community outside the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
The clinic treated all wildlife in neighbouring reserves and not only made a difference to the local community through clinical service provision, but also school learner’s education and research. This research led to a Ph.D. on brucellosis in domestic animals, wildlife and humans.
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SENIOR ADVISOR AND CO-FOUNDER
Having traveled all over the world and visited numerous wildlife sites, Fred fell in love with nature and all it’s creatures. It is very difficult for him to understand why humans keep on killing all kind of animals just for pleasure and/or decoration or even for unproven medical purposes. This has to be stopped in order to preserve these animals for generations to come and to stop us from disturbing nature’s harmony.
Being an entrepreneur and investor in various start-ups, Fred believes it is not only about making money it is about making a change!
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STUDENT AND INTERN COORDINATOR / ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION
Landi holds a Masters degree in Fynbos restoration (an endemic and threatened vegetation type in South Africa) and pollination biology. Having studied Nature Conservation, she has experience as a nature reserve manager as well as a lecturer and facilitator of nature-based programmes.
Before settling in South Africa, she worked in five-star facilities on passenger cruise ships and travelled to 35 different countries.
Her passion for the environment and for meeting people led her to the Wildlife Forensic Academy, where her penchant for detail ensures that our operations run efficiently.
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LECTURER AND DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Phil spent the first nine years of his career as prosecutor and state advocate, serving with the Director of Public Prosecutions in Cape Town, South Africa. After resigning at the end of 2000 he spent a short period in private practice before being appointed as consultant legal advisor to the then South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism’s Marine and Coastal Management Branch, tasked to ensure effective enforcement and prosecution of fisheries offences, a position he held from 2002 till 2006. During the same period he was part of the team that set up and conducted prosecutions at the Environmental Court under delegation from the National Prosecuting Authority.
Since then he has been acting as environmental legal consultant. This includes extensive work in Southern, Eastern and Northern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands region on regional fisheries matters. He was part of the team that established the FishFORCE Fisheries Law Enforcement Academy, funded by the Norwegian government, at Nelson Mandela University in 2016, and has been actively involved in the development of Short Learning Programmes and the facilitation of training courses for Fishery Control Officers in South Africa.
Phil was the principal author of The Prosecution of Environmental Crime: A Guide for Prosecutors, a joint publication by the (then) Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and has been actively involved in the training of judges, magistrates, prosecutors, environmental management inspectors, fisheries inspectors and other legal and environmental practitioners, as well as the drafting of various enforcement manuals and standard operating procedures, both on national and regional level.
Phil holds the degrees BA LLB and MPhil (Environmental Management) from the University of Stellenbosch, and a LLM (Environmental Law) from the University of Cape Town, is admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa (non-practising) and has contributed to various academic publications. He holds appointments as Extraordinary Lecturer to the Centre for Environmental Studies at the University of Pretoria, Research Associate to the Faculty of Law (Public Law) at the Nelson Mandela University. He is also a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL).
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LECTURER
After 21-years of service in the South African Police Service (“SAPS”) Petro resigned in 2013 on the level of Lieutenant-Colonel. Since then, she has consulted and lectured in the field of crime scene investigations and forensics.
Her career in crime scene investigations and forensics, the passion she wanted to pursue when joining the SAPS in 1992, started in 1995 when she was transferred to the Local Criminal Record Centre where she received formal training on various aspects of crime scene investigations. During this period, she contributed to numerous successful organised crime cases, as well as serial offence cases, with her evidence on matching of fingerprints and facial identification.
In early 2000 Petro became a South African Certified Criminalistic Expert specialising in crime scene investigation. In 2005 she obtained the rank of Captain and became the Provincial Coordinator for the Facial Identification Unit in the Western Cape Province. In 2007 she was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and the Commander of the Forensic Field Unit in Paarl, Western Cape Province, a unit she managed until her resignation in 2013.
Since then, she has been a consultant and private forensic investigator, mainly reviewing High Court case evidence and doing investigations for corporations in the private sector. She also developed lectures for the Applied Forensics Modules for master’s degree students at the University of Cape Town and has been facilitating their tutorials on crime scene management and forensic evidence as a part time lecturer since 2020.
In 2021 she successfully completed a Certificate in Education and Training from CTC Training and Development in the UK and subsequently became a qualified teacher in her field of expertise. She has been an associate member of the International Association for Identification, which is the oldest and largest forensic association in the world, as a specialist in fingerprints, photography and facial identification since 2013.
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RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Thomas holds a Bachelors degree in Chemistry with a teaching qualification, a Masters degree in Forensic Science and a Masters in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Netherlands Forensic Institute. While finishing his Masters in Forensic Science, Thomas conducted research on non-human bloodstain age estimation using reflectance spectroscopy in a wildlife forensic context.
Thomas believes forensic science can play a major role in bringing poachers to justice and in preventing wildlife crime. By the development and application of new and existing (human) forensic techniques in a wildlife forensic context, Thomas wants to contribute to the expanding wildlife forensic field.
Thomas’ passion for forensic science and chemistry led him to the Wildlife Forensic Academy, where he assists students in terms of research coordination, development and design.
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LECTURER
Stephan was born and raised in the town Springbok, South Africa. In 1988, after he matriculated from CJ Langenhoven Gymnasium, in Oudtshoorn, he joined the South African Police Service (SAPS). For the next decade he became part of the Specialized Dog Unit, fighting Urban Terrorism stationed in the former Transkei.
He was promoted to Unit Commander of the SAPS' Dog (K9) Unit, in 1995. In 1998 he resigned from the SAPS and became part of the Private Security Industry in South Africa. He has been working as a Security Consultant in various joint ventures for multiple security industries.
Stephan has a passion for combating crime and especially Wildlife crime. He is the director of the company, Wildlife Security Consultants; fighting urban and wildlife terrorism, while working hand-in-hand with a number of Intelligence Units. He has ties regarding anti-poaching all over central Africa, seeing that he delivered a presentation on the matter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the African and European Union, in February 2016. He visited Uganda, in 2017, consulting the National Parks on how to combat wildlife crime.
Using his expertise, he has also written an Anti-Poaching Training Manual, the first to exist in Africa.
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E - LEARNING
Rajiv is a master’s student at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich. He previously used his background as a computer scientist to develop web platforms for various organizations, as well as for a start-up he co-founded. Now, Rajiv is closely involved with the creation of the e-learning courses of the Wildlife Forensic Academy.
Rajiv believes that education is one of the keys to combatting wildlife crime. He is passionate about levering his digital skills to make this education available to people worldwide. By developing and maintaining an online learning experience for WFA, Rajiv wants to contribute to the ongoing fight against wildlife crime.
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MARKETING
Aimee holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Anatomy with a research focus in forensic anthropology and forensic facial reconstruction. She blends her scientific passions with her creative background and photography experience. She has experience in forensic casework, forensic photography and science communication. Notably, she won first place at the 107th IAI Annual Educational Conference's Forensic Photography Exhibition in 2023.
Within the WFA, Aimee supports the communication and social media team by creating educational- and marketing-related content as well as assisting with facilitating school groups at the academy.
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NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Lisanne holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences and will graduate in Science Communication Studies in 2024. Her passion for laboratory techniques and nature conservation led her to the Wildlife Forensic Academy, where these two fields are uniquely combined. In her opinion, communication and education on wildlife is central in building a sustainable society in which we care for each other and our environment. She has experience in science communication and nature conservation through work at museums, zoos and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.
At the WFA, Lisanne supports the communication and social media team by sending out updates on the developments at the academy in the form of the newsletter.
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LECTURER, ENVIRONMENTALIST AND SURVIVAL INSTRUCTOR
After obtaining his BSc degree and Higher Teachers Diploma at the University Of the Orange Free State in 1980, Jan commenced his two years of National Service concluding as Officer at 1 Parachute Battalion in Bloemfontein. In 1983, he was in service of the Orange Free State Education Department as a Secondary Science Teacher after which he transferred to the Orange Free State Nature and Environmental Conservation Directorate. Jan started as Technician and ended his career after 14 years with the Directorate as Senior Nature Conservation Scientist. During this time, he obtained his Master's degree with his thesis entitled The Population Ecology of Waterbirds in the Orange Free State and wrote numerous articles for newspapers, newsletters, and international journals. In addition to his service with the Environmental Conservation Directorate Jan qualified as a Special Forces Operator with the then South African Defense Force and using his conservation background as cover, executed clandestine Special Forces operations in seven African countries over a period of six years.
From 1997 to 2018, Jan served as Special Forces Operator and Environmentalist at 4 Special Forces Regiment (4SFR), Langebaan, Western Cape. During the 20 years at 4SFR, Jan presented lectures regarding environmental management and conservation strategies and as an Operator, he specialised in coastal survival, photography and demolitions. He presented survival training to the Operators on the seaborne cycle as well as other establishments such as the Police Task Force. During this time, Jan developed and built a survival centre and compiled a coastal survival handbook for the South African Special Forces. He qualified as a South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) assessor and as he is a Fourth Dan in Shotokan Karate partook in a Krav Maga course presented to Special Forces Operators.
Being a clandestine procedures specialist Jan was the mission commander on numerous gun trafficking, abalone (Haliotis midae) poaching, buchu (Agathosma betulina) smuggling, counter-terror, etc. operations. He frequently executed Joint Emergency Evacuation Contingency (JEEC) visits to South African embassies in other countries and compiled emergency plans. As Operations Officer, Jan planned international exercises with foreign countries and managed these maneuvers.
Except for fulfilling his duties as Operator, Jan did geography and environmental-related studies on the Donkergat Peninsula. Since July 1997, he collected data on the Peninsula on cultural-historical features, fauna, flora, geology, climatology, and management challenges. Taking the mentioned records and all military and environmental variables into consideration, Jan compiled a management plan for the Donkergat Military Area. In addition, he drew up checklists for the birds, plants, and other animals and experimented with a variety of management techniques such as more efficient bird-flight-diverters means to rehabilitate gravel roads, different varieties of game fences, rehabilitation of disturbed areas, carrying capacity for the variety of game occurring, etc. Applying all this data, Jan completed a PhD dissertation in December 2014 entitled: Military Integrated Environmental Management of the Donkergat Military Training Area. The dissertation included plotting applicable data collected on Donkergat by means of GIS and developing a spatial decision support system (SDSS) to minimise the impact of military activities on the environment. During his time with Special Forces, Jan wrote numerous articles on environmental issues and the Donkergat history to newspapers, newsletters, international journals, and the books “A West Coast Odyssey” and "Contemporary Military Geosciences in South Africa".
Through his experiences whilst in the military, Jan became cognisant of the serious mismanagement of the natural resources in South Africa. To be able to play a constructive role and make a difference he qualified himself as an Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) in 2014 and registered with the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA), the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), and the International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa (IAIAsa). He was also appointed as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Military Studies (CEMIS), Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University.
Presently Jan owns his own company, Exalon 111 Environmental Consultancy, and is the Operations Manager for the St Helena Bay Water Quality Trust. Some activities he is involved with are Environmental Impact Assessments, execution of S24G's, fulfilling duties as Environmental Control Officer, compiling Environmental Management Plans, presentation of lectures and motivational speeches, karate/self-defense classes, and compilation of articles for publication in newspapers, newsletters, and scientific journals.
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SECRETARY: SHAREHOLDER MEETING
Barbara is a legal professional from The Netherlands, with a huge passion for Africa and all wildlife. She holds an LLB from the University of Leiden (The Netherlands), an LLM (International Law) from the Stellenbosch University (SA) and an LLM (Criminal Law) from the University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands). During both LLM degrees she specialized in wildlife crime topics.
Having travelled and lived in Africa, Barbara was confronted with the poaching crisis time and again. Injustice and any form of cruelty to animals, including wildlife crime, are issues she takes very much to heart. Wildlife crime is one of the biggest challenges our world is facing, and it is creeping up to be part of the top 3 biggest forms of organised crime in the world. Time is ticking and therefore she has made it her life’s mission to fight wildlife crime. The Wildlife Forensic Academy is the place where her life’s mission, passions and study background all collide.
Advisory Board
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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (WILDLIFE FORENSIC & CONSERVATION FACULTY)
Susan holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Conservation Biology; Scientific Illustration from Arcadia University and a Master of Forensic Science degree from Drexel University College of Medicine.
Currently she is the Program Director and an instructor for the first fully online certificate program in Wildlife Forensic Science and Conservation at the University of Florida, and travels extensively teaching workshops in wildlife forensics.
She developed an animal forensic science track at Drexel University College of Medicine to offer as part of their graduate forensics program. She spent many years as Forensics Manager for the Pennsylvania SPCA, where she developed the first Forensics Unit and handled all forensic responsibilities associated with humane law enforcement animal cruelty cases.
Susan is active in many professional organisations including the Society for Conservation Biology, Animal Behaviour Society, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Association of Women in Forensic Science, American Academy of Forensic Science, and the International Association for Identification, and she currently serves on the Board of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association. She also serves on the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Animal Response Teams.
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NOLDUS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Lucas is an entrepreneur, researcher and teacher in computer technology for behavioural research. Trained as a biologist and fascinated by sensor technology and biometric analysis, he became a developer of tools for science, engineering and education.
Lucas obtained his MSc degree in Biology from Leiden University and his PhD degree in Behavioural Ecology from Wageningen University.
He is the founder and CEO of Noldus Information Technology, which develops software and integrated solutions for the study of animal and human behaviour, including tools for behavioural observation, video analysis, ultra-wideband and GPS tracking, and pattern recognition. Since its inception in 1989, he has been at the head of the company that now has offices in nine countries and 165 employees. He has always been closely involved with scientific research and has (co)authored more than 130 publications.
Lucas also holds a position as Professor of Behaviour, Information Technology and Innovation at Radboud University Nijmegen. Lucas serves on many boards and committees related to technology and innovation, including ICT for Brain, Body & Behaviour Foundation; Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation; International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences; Industrial Advisory Committee Artificial Intelligence, Radboud University Nijmegen; Belmonte Arboretum Foundation; and Wageningen Ambassadors.
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Désirée van Gorp is full-time professor of International Business and chairing the International Advisory Board at Nyenrode Business University. She is also visiting professor at universities in Uruguay, China and Italy. Désirée is engaged in several (supervisory) boards, among others for Atradius, World Trade Organization’s Chairs Programme, NBTC Holland Marketing, Foundation Young & Bold, Expert Panel and (chairman) of early-stage funding initiative of start-ups for the regional development organization, Utrecht, the Netherlands. She also is involved in the Women in Business Awards 2023 for the United Nations’ World Investment Forum.
In addition to research and education she advises organisations, profit and non-profit, regarding sustainable value chains, building ecosystems, innovation and digitalization while using the design thinking method to enhance change in them. She obtained a master title in law at Leiden University; her PhD she defended at Nyenrode on the topic of global sourcing, offshoring & outsourcing; and she is design thinking educated at Stanford University.
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Dr. Francois is the ex-director of the Bertha Centre at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business.
After graduating at the top of his class at the University of Cape Town’s Medical School, Francois completed a MSc Epidemiology/Public Health (London School of Hygiene; Tropical Medicine) and an MBA (University of Oxford). He assisted the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business to envision and establish a new centre for social innovation, where he started as the Director of the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the end of 2011.
He has worked in paediatric clinical medicine; led humanitarian and development programmes; built and worked on public-private partnerships on a global and national level; managed development funding; and consulted to UN institutions, country governments, for profit social businesses and non-profit social ventures.
Francois was also the Contributing Editor to the MIT journal’s special edition on “Social Innovation in a Post Crisis World”, launched at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland in 2010.
Francois organised and hosted the first meeting on Social Entrepreneurship in Africa in 2008, co-founded the African Social Entrepreneurs Network in 2009 and am a Trustee of Unltd South Africa that supports early stage social ventures. He is a regular speaker at both local and international conferences, business and foundation events, and universities.
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Michael is a South African based entrepreneur. Starting his first business at 13, Michael has worked alongside many successful entrepreneurs on an international level. His youthful approach brings a unique perspective into his ventures and has proven to be advantageous in integrating the old with the new.
Michael has begun working alongside Prof. dr. Désirée M. van Gorp LL.M in creating Rhino Run, a mobile application which raises funds for the WFA and shines light on endangered wildlife.
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Prof. Claire Gwinnett is a Professor in Forensic and Environmental Science and is the Director for the Centre for Crime, Justice and Security at Staffordshire University. She has led and worked on national and international research projects focussing on trace evidence, forensic databases, quality standards in forensic science and microplastic pollution.
Claire conducts casework in hairs and fibres, particularly specialising in wildlife crimes and provides consultancy in validation studies for ISO accreditation for UK police forces. Prof Gwinnett is also the lead for the International Forensic Fibres and Microplastics Research Group that collaborates with organisations in 22 countries.
WFA Ambassadors
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WFA AMBASSADOR
Erwin Schwella studied Law, Sociology, Public Administration and Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University and obtained five degrees, two cum laude, at Stellenbosch University. The final degree is a PhD with a dissertation on the Role of the Media in Public Accountability in South Africa, 1988.
Currently he is the Dean of the School of Social Innovation at Hugenote Kollege in South Africa.
Previously he was for 37 years at Stellenbosch University and took emeritus status as the Professor of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University at the end of December 2018. He is also an emeritus Professor of Public Leadership at the Law School of Tilburg University and also holds a professorial appointment with Leiden University in the Netherlands.
He has been a visiting academic and scholar at world renowned universities, including the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Leiden University, Leuven University and Manchester University amongst many others.
He is a well published academic author with more than 90 publications which does not include many unpublished action research and consultancy reports. He has held high level consultancy government briefs from with all spheres of South African government since democracy as well as for the European Union, the British Government and the Namibian Government.
He has worked professionally on three continents and in countries including South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. He is rated academic researcher in South Africa. He also serves on national and international boards related to his fields of expertise.
He is continuously involved in senior leadership education and training at all levels of South African governance and administration. His current research interests include social innovation leadership in governance, institutional capacity building through organisation development, transformation and change management in complex and dynamic societies, strategic thinking, and new forms of accountability in service delivery models.
He also facilitated many local governance innovation programmes during his tenure at Stellenbosch University formally for the following municipalities: Saldanha Bay: Fibre to the Home; Prince Albert: Local Economic Development: Tourism and Agriculture; Mossel Bay: Tourism, Health Precinct Development and Port and Rail Development; and Hessequa: Local Economic Development and Water Provision, please refer:
https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5739 . and
https://www.hessequa.gov.za/witsand-solar-desalination-plant-information/
Erwin Schwella holds, or has held the following positions in knowledge organisations:
Member of the Board of the Greater Tygerberg Partnership and founding academic and board member of this governance partnership for innovation;
Member and Board Chair of the Board of the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA);
Member of the Board, Centre for Executive Leadership and Governance at Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA;
Co-Chair of the Study Group on Administrative Leadership of IIAS (International Institute of Administrative Sciences) based in Leuven, Belgium;
Member of the Statutory Training and Development Board of the Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM), Windhoek, Namibia;
Professorial Fellow of the Leiden Leadership Centre, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands;
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WFA AMBASSADOR
As a Zoologist and a specialist in Wildlife Crime research, Mollie bring's an applied and research led approach to business. With her natural aptitude for Business Development Mollie has a strong and successful track record. Being versed in complex projects, with heavy focus on Environmental policy and practices. She was previously Director of Operations and Founder of a small scale not-for-profit, which enabled Mollies connection with The Wildlife Forensics Academy. Mollie has spent her time working across the UK and South Africa, Educating, Business Consulting and her primary focus, research-led conservation.
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WFA AMBASSADOR
Mr. Aby Joseph is an Internationally recognised forensic science consultant and trainer with 23 years of forensic industry experience with Abu Dhabi, Bahrain Police and Ministry of Justice Forensic Science Departments.
His areas of expertise are crime scene investigation, biological evidence examination, DNA analysis and interpretation. He screened, analysed and interpreted thousands of DNA cases including complex sexual assault, human remains, homicide evidence samples and post blast “Touch DNA” samples.
Mr Joseph holds a bachelor degree in Zoology and Master degree in Forensic science with DNA specialisation and regularly undertakes in-depth training and continuing professional development in advanced forensic technologies and quality assurance.
Mr. Joseph attended many international scientific conferences, delivered lectures and conducted training sessions for a variety of audiences. He has pursued additional professional training in numerous areas, including Advanced Crime Scene investigation, DNA interpretation, DNA Mixture analysis, ISO/IEC:17025 QMS, Laboratory Information management system (LIMS), He is a licensed Molecular Biologist (Ministry of Health, UAE) and a competent communicator of Toastmasters International.
He serves as an advisor committee member of the Indian Association of Criminology and Forensic Science Association, His membership includes Chartered Society of forensic Science, UK, International Association for Property and Evidence, Inc. USA, Red cross Society of India.
He provides forensic training and technical expertise to equip lab scientists, police forces, justice officials, University students with skills and knowledge needed to establish effective forensic science improvement with advanced technologies and quality management systems based on international standards. He also provides consultancy services for independent case reviews of forensic evidence for prosecution & defense in criminal & civil cases; and training & assessment of DNA evidence in Case Assessment & Interpretation
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WFA AMBASSADOR
Dr. Denstedt completed her veterinary degree at the Ontario Veterinary College and spent the first two years after graduation in fast-paced emergency clinics in San Diego and Vancouver.
Ellen has always had a strong passion and desire to work with wildlife, spending her time before veterinary school volunteering at several wildlife rehabilitation centers. She then went on to treat and care for hundreds of wild animals, including grizzly bears, moose, cougars and owls at the BC Wildlife Park as their staff veterinarian. Currently she is working as a veterinarian for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, overseeing large imports and exports and participating in national foreign animal disease investigations.
Her passion for wildlife has only grown stronger with time, and she recognises the desperate need for veterinarians to participate in wildlife conservation efforts. This led her to begin a Masters in Wildlife Forensics and Conservation at the University of Florida. Ellen is deeply honoured to be a part of the Wildlife Forensic Academy, an organisation that is vital to conserving wildlife around the world.
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INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST/VIROLOGIST AT THE DEPT. OF VIROSCIENCE, ERASMUS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTRE ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS AND FOUNDER/PRESIDENT OF THE CIRION FOUNDATION
In our rapidly changing world, infectious diseases, old and new, have an undisputed impact on our society. The rapid spread of infectious diseases is seen as a serious threat to the modern world. The majority of emerging infections are zoonotic, which means transmitted from animal hosts and/or vectors to human populations. A combination of factors among which urbanization, migration of human and animal populations, intensive livestock farming, living habits with a negative impact on climate, nature and environment do have a negative impact on life. In this respect the scale and impact of wildlife crime on the risk of the spread of zoonotic infections is underexposed.
We find solutions to combat the spread of [zoonotic] infectious diseases in modern technical innovations, but the cornerstone of prevention is inducing behavior change by spreading knowledge and raising awareness. Together with WFA and partner universities we are designing a multidisciplinary masterclass program for next gen students. We aim to integrate knowledge and awareness on wildlife, wildlife crime and forensic aspects in relation to the impact and prevention of zoonotic infections, underlining the need for unconditional commitment, responsibility and leadership.
www.erasmusmc.nl www.cirion.net www.viruskenner.nl
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WFA AMBASSADOR
Martine graduated from Utrecht University in 2001, traveled the world as a wildlife veterinarian to work with many species, including gorillas, rhinos and elephants. During her work she experienced the dreadful consequences of poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, and the importance of more forensic knowledge in the field.
In South-Africa she anaesthetised, dehorned and/or translocated many rhinoceroses to prevent poaching. She also removed countless snares, treated wounded wildlife, hand-raised rhino orphans and assisted with the forensic research of poaching incidents. In the Gabonese rainforest she fought against the bush-meat trade and in a wildlife rescue center in Cameroon she took care of victims of the pet trade, including great apes and monkeys. She also did research to improve rhino anaesthesiology and trained many international veterinarians and veterinary students in wildlife immobilisations and medicine.
Next to her current positions as a veterinarian at ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo and the AAP Rescue Centre for Exotic Animals she dedicates herself to wildlife conservation and education. She is a lecturer, public speaker and recently published her first book Over Leven in het Wild about our connection with nature and the urgent need for nature conservation.
The WFA perfectly fits with Martine’s personal mission, because she is convinced that by educating, connecting and working together we can save our planet, our wildlife and ourselves.
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WFA US AMBASSADOR
Sheryl is an active Crime Scene Investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police Department, an Author, and the Director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute which collaborates with 36 colleges and universities in the USA. She has worked thousands of cold cases focusing on solvability factors with an investigative system she developed called the Last24/361. This method utilizes the media, trace evidence, new innovated forensic testing, and statement analysis. Sheryl has been involved with some high profile and notable cases such as: The Boston Strangler, Natalee Holloway, Tupac Shakur, and the Moore’s Ford Bridge Lynching. This work earned her an Emmy on CSI Atlanta.
Sheryl is also the host of the cold case and investigative podcast “Zone 7”. Sheryl has received many awards and commendations over her 44 year career, but the pinnacle being last year when she was inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame.
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SPECIALIST BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPER FOR THE WFA
Hanno first met Andro (WFA CEO) in 2014. Andro was visiting South Africa to establish a government level Dutch-South African programme aimed at crime fighting through sophisticated forensic methods. Hanno remained in touch with Andro over the years and was delighted to hear about the WFA project. Hanno will continue to offer business and technology support to the WFA and assist in selected project management focus areas.
From a personal point of view Hanno holds a strong belief that the relationship between humans and the environment is in the 11th hour. If urgent global action (with education) is not taken we as a specie are heading down an uncomfortable and irreversible path…
Education Partners
Technology Partners
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Make a donation.
As a non-government funded private institution, the Academy relies on generous donations to continue its work in training students and professionals in wildlife forensic techniques. By donating, you're directly contributing to the fight against wildlife crime, protecting endangered species, and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. Join us in safeguarding our natural heritage and wildlife – every contribution makes a difference.