Workshop Speakers
Nasreen Peer - Argonaut Science (Pty)
South African marine scientist, obtained her PhD specialising in the diversity and ecology of aquatic invertebrates in a wide range of coastal and freshwater habitats, particularly in estuaries, rocky shores and mangroves. Her current research interest involves understanding community-based conservation in Mozambique and South Africa, a project that involves collaboration between community members and researchers. She is now a lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Botany and Zoology. Here she teaches students about the natural world and makes them question the way we relate to our environment and each other. She is also the co-founder of Argonaut Science (Pty) Ltd, a small business based on the principle that science and exploration belong to everyone.
Symone Barkley - Black in Marine Science
Symone Barkley is a Baltimore-born scientist and educator with a passion for educating people about the ocean and the environment. She currently is the Chief Learning Officer for Black in Marine Science and a member of NAAEE’s Environmental Education 30 Under 30 program. She is also a co-organizer for the POSea Conference and #BlackInMarineScienceWeek and a contributor to #ElasmoWeek.
Jillian Morris - Sharks4Kids
Born and raised in Maine, Jillian’s love for the ocean started at an early age and has continued to play an integral role in her adult life. She has spent thousands of hours in the field working and diving with sharks across the globe. She is a marine biologist, shark conservationist, scuba instructor and educator. She has filmed for numerous television shows and networks, has appeared on Shark Week and is a PADI Ambassadiver. She was named Scuba Diving Magazine's July 2016 Sea Hero , awarded the inaugural Shark Con Shark Hero Award in 2017 and was the Go Blue Awards 2020 Blue Ambassador of the Year. She is the author of Norman the Nurse Shark and Shark Super Powers and a member of the prestigious Ocean Artists Society. Jillian is also the founder and president of Sharks4Kids.
Zandi Ndhlovu - The Black Mermaid Foundation
Zandile Ndhlovu is the founder of The Black Mermaid Foundation, an organization seeking to create diverse representation in the Ocean Arena, her work centres around creating the first encounter that exposes the youth to the Ocean
As a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, she is able to make use of these skills in her advocacy for diverse and inclusive Oceans while working to reshape narratives through storytelling. She is a NEWF Fellow and most recently has been selected as a Jackson Wild 2021 Fellow.
Zandile is a change agent, using her voice to create the needed expansion in society, through her work in the Foundation, Public Speaking and on her Weekly podcast.
Lashanti Jupp - Siren Sundays
Lashanti Jupp is a Marine Conservationist and Science Communicator who believes in reconnecting people with their environment. Growing up in The Bahamas was key for sparking Lashanti’s interest in the marine environment. She earned a BSc. in Marine Biology from Barry University in North Miami, Florida and an MPhil. in Conservation Leadership from University of Cambridge in Cambridge, UK. Over the last 8 years, Lashanti has been involved in educating young Bahamians and local communities about marine conservation through creative outreach and community meetings. Lately she has been interested in strengthening organizational partnerships through creating true, long-term collaborations. She believes the first step in conservation is breaking the myth that humans are separate from nature; humans play a key role in every ecosystem. She aspires that to reconnect people with nature by saving the world, one ocean at a time, with one conversation at a time.
With her passion along, past experiences Lashanti fits perfectly with her new role at the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) in the Community Conservation Education and Action (CCEA) program. The CCEA program seeks to provide the tools, training, and experience to help foster a greater conservation ethic across The Bahamas, while also building the next generation of Bahamian conservation leaders. She is excited to work with PIMS to begin building capacity for marine conservation in Bahamians, promoting conservation education and action in local communities and assisting in providing opportunities for collaboration across the conservation sector, as well as increase awareness of the issues impacting coral reefs through the Reverse The Decline (RTD) initiative.
Shivani Goberdhan - Speech and Language Sciences Specialist
Shivani Goberdhan has spent her career working in diverse, coastal communities, providing rehabilitation services to children and adults with communication deficits. In the ocean, she spends her time paddling various water crafts, surfing, sailing as well as facilitating freediving and introductory ocean clinics. Her focus is in ocean advocacy; conservation education and promoting inclusive spaces in water sports.
Follow and Support Shivani
Nikita Shiel-Rolle
My name is Nikita Shiel-Rolle and my purpose in life is to spread love for The Ocean. One of the ways that I do this is as the Founder and Director of Young Marine Explorers, a community conservation organisation with the vision to inspire youth of global coastal communities to engage in marine conservation through community projects, research, education, and sustainability stewardship that honour native cultures and wisdom.
The Ocean fills me with love and wonder. I am an island girl with both my Irish and Bahamian ancestors having strong ties to mother earth and the ocean. When I am in The Ocean I am at peace with the world. Because of my deep respect and love for the ocean I have dedicated my life to developing conservation programs that address the root causes of environmental and marine degradation. My approach to conservation uses decolonial methods and engages community members in every stage of the conservation project process. I have a MSc in Biodiversity Wildlife and Ecosystem Health from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Marine Affairs from the University of Miami.
I am the 2015 Bahamian Icon Award winner for youth development, A former Zoological Society of London EDGE Fellow, and recipient of numerous awards and scholarships. I am A PADI Dive Instructor, National Association of Cave Divers Full Cave Diver, and an Atlantic Gulf Rapid Reef Benthic Assessment Trainer. I am fluent in both English and Spanish, and I have a passion for learning about new cultures and languages. I live in Cat Island, a remote island community in The Bahamas that I love, and I live each day to the fullest, laughing until my stomach hurts, and spending every possible moment connecting people to the ocean.
Rose Santana
Rose Santana is a PhD student at Florida International University. Her research focuses primarily on the anthropogenic effects on aquatic ecosystems. She is looking to understand the synergistic effects of climate change and chemical pollution on coral reef ecosystems.
Meet the Founder - Ocean Goddess Academy
As “Mermaid Katie”, one of the few professional black women in the world to teach Underwater Photography as a Professional Instructor, I’ve had the opportunity to learn and educate so many people within my ocean community. It has been an amazing journey, having the opportunity as a woman in ocean conservation to live my dreams and to explore the ocean in my own backyard, The Bahamas. My love for curating memories, sharing them with others and encouraging love and devotion for Ocean Education and Photography & Film has lead to the development of “Ocean Goddess Academy” with the vision of cultivating strong belief in representation within the ocean space. This community focuses primarily on bringing ocean awareness, education, jobs and training opportunities, and events featuring people of colour locally and internationally.
Through diligence and commitment our Team has reaped not just international recognition, but the support of Citizen Scientists and Environmentalists all around the world. We have been blessed with the opportunity to host Ocean Goddess Academy’s first Citizen Scientist Course (Powered by Gillette Venus), focusing on Ocean Literacy & Digital Photography Storytelling. Gillette Venus has chosen our program to receive the “Venus Wave Maker Project” grant, providing us with access to a global platform and funding to help develop this project that will educate and empower young women within the ocean conservation space.
This course will be offered free of charge to small group of young women of various ages, allowing them to explore marine environments with The Bahamas National Trust Environmental Stewards, and meet influential Women currently leading marine science efforts locally and internationally.
"Meaningful communication is the key to driving change to save our planet. "The ocean is our life support and we have the ability to create change! You don't have to live near the ocean to protect it, you just have to be willing to make small life changing steps to form new habits that will create a sustainable future for your families and your community." - Katie Storr
The Venus Wave Makers Project
As a brand that has been inspired by the ocean since our inception, we are excited to introduce the Venus Board of Trust Seas - six women who are breaking barriers in ocean science and conservation.
The board of Trust-Seas wouldn't be complete without our very own mermaid. @mermaidkaties is a Bahamian ocean and diversity advocate. To learn more about her diverse talents please browse the website.
Key Sponsors
