Key Areas of Management and Strategic Advice

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Setting the Agenda for Biodiversity Data at the Science-Policy Interface

Providing strategic leadership in shaping the data-science-policy interface for biodiversity informatics. This includes supporting the development of South Africa’s position on the GBIF Governing Board, thereby strengthening the country’s influence in global biodiversity data governance and decision-making.

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Establishing the Biodiversity Informatics Knowledge Foundations

Enhancing capacity and building foundational knowledge in biodiversity informatics. Key activities include driving the establishment of a Centre for Biodiversity Informatics, providing thought leadership, overseeing student mentorship and supervision, and contributing to curriculum development.  This work also includes the establishment of Research Hubs in biodiversity informatics, with an existing collaboration with the University of the Free State.

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Advancing Digital Innovation in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)

Pioneering digital initiatives to address biodiversity data and knowledge gaps through digitization and mobilization efforts. This includes implementing transformative technologies such as mass digitization systems like conveyor belt solutions for natural history collections.  Efforts in collaboration with Collections Management Directorate at SANBI and International Partners.

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Knowledge Brokerage and Global Engagement

Facilitating knowledge exchange through active participation in key international platforms such as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Served as the GBIF Africa Regional Representative (2010–2018) and contributed to the IPBES Knowledge and Data Task Team.  Global engagements as a member of the Research and Innovation Working Group, and coordinating and driving a workshop on Global Collaborations supporting  Museums and Natural History Collections, in collaboration with GBIF, the Natural History Museum London, the Natural Science Collections Facility (NSCF), IZIKO and SANBI.

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Development of Websites and Decision-Support Tools

Leading the design and development of digital platforms and tools that support biodiversity informatics and informed decision-making. Notably led the creation of www.sanbi-gbif.org.  Through global partnerships, enabled the integration of an eLearning Platform supported by GBIF Spain.

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International Project Partnerships

Served as Principal Investigator for cross-continental collaborations, including partnerships with GBIF-Spain, and also actively involved in a Partnership with the Norwegian GBIF Node, and the University of Oslo called BioData Advanced, funded by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education.

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