BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2022)
The African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS AC) was established in 2018. Through its commitment to excellence in science, technology, education, and information exchange, the WAS AC will contribute to the progressive and sustainable development of aquaculture in Africa.
WAS AC is led and managed by a Board of Directors who are elected from the Chapter’s membership in Africa, every two years. These are renowned professionals who have occupied strategic leadership roles in aquaculture disciplines within their countries or regions.
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PRESIDENT Dr. John Kilemerwa Walakira Director of
Research: Abi ZARDI-National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO),
UGANDA
John
first joined WAS in 2003 and has attended numerous WAS and partner events around
the world ever since. He was elected the first President-Elect for the WAS-AC
in 2019 and has been instrumental in the establishment processes of the WAS
AC from onset. Through various R&D activities, John has contributed
immensely to the development of aquaculture in Uganda and East Africa region
since 1999. He is presently a committee member on aquatic animal health
management within the African Union; a member of the Scientific Committee for
Lake Victoria Basin (2017 – 2020); Program Leader: Innovation and
Post-Harvest Fisheries; and various other research initiatives and leadership
roles within the NARO, Uganda. John has attained some awards and accolades
including the African Bioscience Challenge Fund Fellowship; 1st Winner of the
SARNISSA-ASAKUA Fish Health Competition; and Fish Innovation Lab-USAID
fellowship and grants. As WAS AC President, John has pledged to lead the
organisation on many of its upcoming events and activities in line with its
commitment to be a continental player in providing the necessary societal
support for sustainable aquaculture development.
Phone: +256777673696 Email: johnwalakira2003@gmail.com
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IMMEDIATE
PAST-PRESIDENT Dr. Sherif Sadek Creator and General
Manager: Aquaculture Consultant Office (ACO), EGYPT
Sherif
has been the President of the WAS-AC since its establishment in 2019. In
addition to be at the helm of the organisation since its formation phase,
Sherif co-ordinated the organisation and hosting of the 1st Aquaculture
Africa Conference (AFRAQ21), in Egypt (March 2022), on behalf of the WAS,
where he was the Conference Co-Chairperson. This was his monumental
achievement. He has been the Vice-Chairperson of the Egyptian Aquaculture
Society (EgAS) - one of the largest national aquaculture societies in Africa,
and an Affiliate Member to the WAS; the Vice-Chairperson of West Port-Said
Aquaculture Cooperative (WestPAC); partner and General Manager of the
Egyptian-Franco Mariculture company (Egymarine co.) based at Manzala Lake,
Egypt. Sherif obtained a grant to do research on crustacean aquaculture at
Auburn University, USA (1986-87). In 1998, he successfully conducted research
on freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) culture> Sherif holds a
PhD (Docteur de l'INP) from the Institut National Polytechnique (INP), Toulouse
France and has published around 40 scientific papers in various international
journals on aquaculture. He has been consulted to co-ordinate a number of FAO
projects in the North Africa region.
Phone:
+201223492423 Email: aco_egypt35@yahoo.com; sadek_egypt35@hotmail.com
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PRESIDENT-ELECT Ms. Foluke Areola Director (Rtd), Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development, NIGERIA.
Foluke
first joined WAS in 2008 and has been an advocator for the establishment of
WAS AC ever since. Foluke has occupied a number of leadership roles in
fisheries and aquaculture in Nigeria. She is a Fellow and the First Female
National President Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON); Facilitator of the
Agriculture and Food Security of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group
(2006-2016); Member - pioneer steering committee- NEPAD/ International Partnership
for African Fisheries – PAF (2009 -2014); and Secretary: Board of the
Interpol Fisheries Crime Working Group (2013-2015). She has been the first
Federal Director of Fisheries Quarantine in Nigeria; first female Acting
Federal Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Rtd). Foluke is currently a
Consultant and regular speaker on fisheries and aquaculture. She holds a BSc.
(Hons) Zoology (1977); MSc. Zoology (1980); PGD Fisheries Management
(Temperate & Tropical) (1984). Her multidisciplinary leadership
capabilities is expected to be valuable to the WAS AC.
Phone:
+2348091256444 Email: foareola@gmail.com
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SECRETARY Prof. Adeosun Festus Idowu Professor: Federal University of
Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Ogun State, NIGERIA.
A
Professor at FUNAAB, Adeosun is also the Director: Centre for Entrepreneurial
Studies and also Deputy Director: Institute for Human Resources Development
at FUNAAB. He is also a long serving member of the Fisheries Society of
Nigeria (FISON), including its Editorial Board. Adeosun has published a
number of journals, articles and technical reports on fisheries and
aquaculture and has been an ardent supporter of the formation of the WAS AC.
Since 2019, Adeosun has been instrumental in various pioneer programmes
within the WAS AC West Africa regional office, notably the planning and
delivery of Webinars and partnership development initiatives. Adeosun holds a
BSc in Fisheries and Wildlife Management (1997); MSc in Fisheries Management
(1999); PhD in Fisheries Biology and Management (2007) amongst a range of
other academic and professional qualifications.
Phone:
+234-8038057564 E-mail: adeosunfi@yahoo.com & adeosunfi@funaab.edu.ng
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TREASURER Dr. Bernice Mclean Acting Head: Industrialisation
Division and Blue Economy, Africa Union Development Agecy (AUDA-NEPAD), SOUTH
AFRICA.
WAS
member since 2017, and through the AUDA-NEPAD - an ardent actor in the
formation and operationalisation of the WAS AC since its launch in 2018.
Bernice was elected to be the first Treasurer for the Chapter in 2019, and
has been re-elected for another term 2021-2023. She has been instrumental in
all engagements and formalities for interfacing WAS AC to the AU, leading to
AUDA-NEPAD officially hosting the Chapter at its headquarters in South Africa
from 2020. She also led the process of formally registering the Chapter as a
legal entity in South Africa (2022). Being the Chapter’s interface to the AU
agencies and its divisions, Bernice aspires that WAS AC and the aquaculture
sector-at-large’s initiatives are aligned with the aspirations of the
continent’s vision as expressed through the continental policy frameworks,
including the AU’s Ten Years Aquaculture Action Plan for Africa 2016-2025. Professionally,
Bernice has over 17 years of experience in managing marine, coastal and
environmental consulting projects in the private sector.
Phone:
+27828586513 Email: BerniceM@nepad.org
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REGIONAL DIRECTOR - NORTH AFRICA Dr. Nevine Mahmoud Abou Shabana Associate Professor of Fish
Reproduction, Aquaculture Division. National Institute of Oceanography and
Fisheries (NIOF), Alexandria, EGYPT
Nevine
joined WAS in 2013 and has been working at NIOF, Egypt since 1994. She was
assigned as Head of Alexandria Aquarium from 2009 to 2014. She also led the
multi-organism bioassay unit at the NIOF, for the testing of marine
dispersants for several petroleum companies. She supervises a number of
students of their MSc and PhD thesis. In 2012, Nevine was assigned by the
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research as Research Innovation
& Development Focal point (an EU funded program). Nevine holds a BSc in
Zoology (1988,), MSc (1998) and PhD (2004). She implemented several research
projects funded by EU and USAID dealing with Integrated Polyculture Systems
(sea breams, mullets, shrimps, bivalves and algae), marine fish farming,
aquaponic systems and environmental impacts on aquatic animals. Nevine was
elected 1st Director of North Africa Region for the WAS-AC in 2019 and has
been in the Organising Committee for the 1st Aquaculture Africa Conference
(AFRAQ21), Egypt (March 2022).
Phone:
+201002666870 Email: anny666mb@yahoo.com and nm.aboushabana@niof.sci.eg
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REGIONAL DIRECTOR - WEST AFRICA Mr. Olanrewaju Badmus Rtd Head: Department of Fisheries
& Aquaculture - Federal College of Animal Health & Production
Technology; National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau-State; CEO:
AqualGlobal Solution Inter Limited, NIGERIA.
Being
a WAS member since 2009 and a former Vice President of Fisheries Society of
Nigeria (FISON), Olanrewaju has been one of the leading pioneers of
aquaculture development in Nigeria and West Africa. A founder, pioneer
lecturer and 1st Head of the Department of Fisheries at the Federal College
of Animal Health & Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute,
Vom. Plateau- State, Nigeria (2012). Lanre has also been the Vice Chairman of
the Plateau State Fish Farmer Cooperative Society (2006). Lanre was elected
1st Regional Director for the WAS-AC in 2019 and has been instrumental in
organising aquaculture actors in the West Africa region to the platform. This
led to the successful hosting of the 1st Hybrid Conference on Aquaculture in
West Africa (Ghana, 2021). He co-ordinated several technical webinars on
aquaculture that preceded the Conference. Lanre is looking forward to
co-ordinate the hosting of the 2nd Regional Conference on Aquaculture in West
Africa (Nigeria, 2022) and many other WAS related activities in West Africa
region during his term.
Phone:
+2348036362827 Email: lanre2ola@gmail.com
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REGIONAL DIRECTOR - EAST AFRICA Dr. Ajangale Nelly Isyagi Fisheries Trade and Investment
Consultant, AU-IBAR, UGANDA.
Nelly
is one of the longest serving members of the WAS in Africa, having joined the
organisation in 1999. She has been active in the development and management
of aquaculture in Uganda taking up roles from farm manager, entrepreneur,
researcher to aquatic animal health practitioner providing technical services
to aquaculture producers and related aquaculture enterprises in Uganda and
East Africa for several years. In 2015, Nelly was appointed the Aquaculture
Officer at AU-IBAR for a period of three years, where she was instrumental in
the development of the African Union Continental Aquaculture Action Plan and
the associated technical guidelines for its implementation. She additionally
serves in national and international committees on setting fish safety and
aquatic animal health standards. She is also currently the Director-at-Large
(Africa and Middle East) for the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association
(WAVMA). Nelly holds Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (1993), MSc. Aquaculture
(1996), PhD. Aquaculture (2007). As the 1st Regional Director for WAS in East
Africa, Nelly co-ordinated the organisation of the 1st Regional Conference on
Aquaculture in East Africa (virtual) in 2020 and is expected to co-ordinate
the 2nd Regional Conference later in 2022. With support from AU-IBAR, Nelly
was instrumental in the formation of the WAS-AC since its launch in 2017.
Phone:
+254791497161 Email: nisyagi@gmail.com
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REGIONAL DIRECTOR – CENTRAL AFRICA Dr. Francisca Alberta Lourenço Pires
Delgado Coordinator: Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO (Angola) and Vice President: Women
in Maritime Organisation Africa (WIMAFRICA); ANGOLA
WAS
member since 2017 and first WAS Regional Director for Central Africa, a
position she has now been re-elected for another term until 2024. Francisca
being a renowned researcher in Angola, is currently serving and co-ordinating
in various intergovernmental local bodies including intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO under Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries- ANGOLA- (2011-2021) and Vice-President of Women in Maritime
Organization – WIMAFRICA (2018-2023). Francisca has more than 36 years
working in fisheries and aquaculture and is fluent in English, Portuguese and
moderate in French. She is also a Consultant and regular speaker on
Fisheries, Aquaculture, Blue Economy and related professions. She holds a BSc
(Hons) Biology
(1987), MSc on Marine Resources, Ocean Science and Coastal Zones (2011).
Francisca’s leadership capabilities, her proficiency in key African languages
are expected to be valuable to the Chapter.
Phone:
+244939569682 Email: frapidelgado14@gmail.com
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REGIONAL DIRECTOR – SOUTHERN AFRICA Dr. Khalid Salie Head: Aquaculture Unit, Department of
Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, SOUTH AFRICA.
Long
serving WAS member, since 1999 and presently on Ad Hoc Committee member for
WAS-AC. Khalid was active in the formation of WAS AC from onset and for its
direction. He is the Past-chairperson of Hands-On Fish Farmers’ Cooperative
Limited and served on WAS Promotion and Affiliation Committee. He is
currently an Executive Member of the Aquaculture Association of Southern
Africa (AASA). He received AquaFish Innovation Lab Certificate of Recognition
for contributing to creating sustainable aquaculture systems. An active and
renowned aquaculture researcher in South Africa, research areas include
Ecological Aquaculture, Integrated Aquaculture Farming Systems and
Sustainable Aquaculture Development. Khalid has co-ordinated several service
level agreements with numerous organisations and presented aquaculture
outreach initiatives at secondary and tertiary levels. Khalid holds BSc
Botany & Zoology (1993), BSc (Hons) Riparian Ecology, (1994);
MSc Riparian Ecology (2003); PhD Socio-ecological Aquaculture (2014).
Phone:
+27824126120 Email: ks1@sun.ac.za
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CHAIRPERSON - AD HOC COMMITTEE OF WAS
AC Dr. Kevan L. Main Associate Vice President of Research,
Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, USA
Joined
WAS in 1985 at the beginning of her career in Aquaculture. Dr. Main has
directed Aquaculture Research at Mote Marine Laboratory since 2001. She has
worked on the development of sustainable aquaculture technology for over 30
years. Throughout her career, she has served on numerous committees and panels
to identify priorities and challenges to advance global aquaculture.
Beginning in 2014, Dr. Main and Mr. Roger Krohn (South Africa) co-chaired the
Steering Committee for the World Aquaculture 2017 International Conference
that took place in Cape Town, South Africa – this was the 1st WAS conference
held in Africa. At the Steering Committee meeting in 2014, there was a
meeting to plan the formation of an African Chapter of WAS and Dr. Main was
appointed the Adhoc chairperson to advise on various matters for the
formation and operationalisation of the chapter - a position she still holds
to this day. Dr. Main served as President of the World Aquaculture Society in
2012-2013 and was recognized in 2016 by President Obama as a Champion of
Change for Sustainable Seafood.
Phone:
+1-941-388-4541 ext. 127 Email: kmain@mote.org
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EXECUTIVE OFFICER – WAS AC SECRETARIAT Mr Blessing Mapfumo Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisor,
ZIMBABWE
With
over 20 years’ experience in fisheries and aquaculture, Blessing was
appointed the 1st Executive Officer for the WAS AC Secretariat in 2019,
overseeing the Chapter’s formation, administrative, communications and
operational functions. Prior to joining the WAS Secretariat, Blessing was an
FAO consultant for several projects mostly in Southern Africa on fish trade
and aquaculture. He was a short-term expert for a number of projects by the
EU, AU, World Bank and others – spanning in over 25 African countries. From
2006 to 2011, Blessing worked for INFOSA (the Inter-governmental Organisation
for Marketing Information and Technical Advisory Services for the Fishing
Industry in Southern Africa), based in Namibia. His first career (2000-2006)
was with Lake Harvest Aquaculture Ltd, Zimbabwe - one of the leading
freshwater aquaculture ventures in Africa (as Production Administrator).
Blessing has been the Communications and Liaison person for the 1st
Aquaculture Africa Conference (AFRAQ21), Egypt, March 2022. The WAS AC
Secretariat office is based at the AUDA-NEPAD, Midrand, South Africa.
Phone:
+263778415685 or +27766318729 Email:
africanchapter@was.org or blessing@hempelco.com
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OUTGOING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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OUTGOING SECRETARY (2019-2021) Dr. Harrison Charo-Karisa Senior Fisheries Specialist for
fisheries and aquaculture: World Bank Group, Washington DC, USA
Harrison
has worked with several organizations in support of aquaculture and fisheries
development as a scientist, manager, and trainer. He was elected 1st
Secretary of the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society in 2019 and
immediate former WorldFish Country Director for Egypt and Nigeria. As
Director of Fisheries Resources Development and Marketing at the State
Department of Fisheries and the Blue Economy, he contributed to Kenya’s
strong participation in national, regional and global Blue Economy. Harrison
is currently engaged in strengthening livelihoods and food and nutrition
security through offering solutions to technical, environmental, and social
challenges affecting fisheries and aquaculture. He holds a PhD in Animal
Sciences (Fish Breeding, Genetics and Aquaculture) from Wageningen University
of Life Sciences, in the Netherlands and an MSc in Biodiversity from Swedish
Agricultural University, Sweden. Regarding his vision for WAS, Harrison would
like to see a society which brings together all the different aquaculture
actors including farmers, hatcheries, feed producers, traders, academia,
researchers, and policy makers. The World Bank supports the development of
vibrant aquaculture sector which is economically and environmentally
sustainable by providing funds and expertise to its clients, who are
government and private sector.
Phone:
+1 2029678998 Email: harrison.charo@gmail.com
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OUTGOING REGIONAL DIRECTOR – SOUTHERN
AFRICA (2019-2021) Dr. Alexander Shula Kefi Director of Fisheries: Ministry of
Fisheries and Livestock, ZAMBIA
Alexander
joined the WAS in 2019, the same year he was elected to become the 1st WAS
Regional Director, overseeing the Southern Africa Region. He has recently
been appointed Director of Fisheries in Zambia and also the Project Manager
for the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development (ZAEDP) Project, a US$50.89
million funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Zambia government.
He is also Focal Point Person for the Technologies for African Agricultural
Transformation (TAAT), Zambia Compact funded by AfDB. Prior to that (between
2014-2017), Alexander co-ordinated the implementation of a number of
multinational, donor funded projects on fisheries and aquaculture. He has
authored several peer-reviewed journal papers and supervised several students
at PhD, MSc and BSc levels. He holds a PhD in Aquaculture and Fisheries
Science from the University of Malawi and specialises in fish nutrition,
biotechnology and fish breeding. His vision for WAS is an institution which
should continue to inspire and catalyse the development of Aquaculture in the
world through the provision of the credible and tested information on
technologies for aquaculture. His time at WAS AC as Regional Director for
Southern Africa targeted mainly on the recruitment of the members, with the
belief that WAS is an information hub that can support the development of
aquaculture continentally. The WAS AC intends to organise its 2nd Aquaculture
Africa Conference in Zambia in 2023. Alexander has pledged to coordinate the
hosting of this event if given the opportunity by WAS and Zambia government.
Phone:
+260979255620 Email:
askefi@yahoo.com |