Born in Antwerp –Belgium- I have had an interest in marine mammal conservation for as long as I can remember. Pursuant upon this life-long passion, I conducted most of my research and conservation work in Argentina, focussing on bottlenose dolphins and southern right whales. Currently, my aim is to use my expertise to aid in a marine conservation effort on the humpback dolphin in South Africa.
My core research expertise and interest lies in animal behaviour, ecology and population biology. With the use of science, I aim to understand the causal factors affecting marine mammal conservation in order to aid in enhancing conservation management strategies.
Summary of my work:
2015 – ongoing: Post-doctoral fellow, University of Pretoria, Mammal Research Institute
2014 – ongoing: Principal Investigator, Sea Search
2013 – ongoing: Co-Founder and Scientific Director of Whalefish, a non-profit organization for the conservation of the marine environment
2013 – 2015: Committee member of the Marine Mammal Observer Association
2011 – 2014: University of Liège, PhD: Population ecology of inshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in North Patagonia, Argentina” Supervisors: Dr. K. Das and Dr. S. Bräger
July 2011: Scientific Advisor of the Belgian Delegation at the 63th International Whaling Commission, Jersey, United Kingdom.
2006 – 2011 : Director and main researcher Project Toninas “Population ecology and biogeography of inshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the South-West Atlantic”, Marybio Foundation
2009 – 2011 : Co-founder, Director and tutor of “Refugio de Delfines”, an interpretation centre for marine mammals based in Las Grutas, Patagonia, Argentina
2008 – 2011 : Co-Director and main researcher Project Right Whales “Evaluating the impact of tourism activities on the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) on North Patagonia, Argentina”, Marybio Foundation
2006 – 2011: Co-Founder and president of the Marybio Foundation, a non-profit organization for the investigation of marine mammals, Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina
2001 – 2003: University of Brussels, MSc: “Photo-identification and activities of Southern Right Whales at the breeding ground Península Valdés, Argentina.” Supervisors: Prof. C. Joiris and Dr. L. Holsbeek
