Pictured above: Louelle Chelsea Philander
WESSA is excited to welcome Louelle Chelsea Philander as our new Northern Cape Coordinator: Schools & Youth Unit.
Louelle brings a strong science-based foundation to the role, with a BSc Honours in Environmental and Water Science and experience across biodiversity management, project coordination, community-based environmental education and stakeholder engagement. Her work has included invasive species management, ecological restoration, environmental education, community outreach, skills development workshops and programme monitoring and reporting.
Louelle brings a strong science-based foundation to the role, with a BSc Honours in Environmental and Water Science and experience across biodiversity management, project coordination, community-based environmental education and stakeholder engagement. Before joining WESSA, she worked with L Noah Supplies and Projects, the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Management Department, including the Invasive Species Unit (Green Jobs Project) and Environmental Capacity Building Unit, as well as SANParks’ Addo Elephant National Park as the Tourism Monitor – Socio-Economic Transformation Department, where her work included ecological restoration, invasive species management, environmental education, community outreach, skills development workshops and programme reporting.
For Louelle, joining WESSA is an opportunity to deepen the impact of environmental education in schools and communities.
“Through my experience, I have witnessed the powerful role environmental education plays in engaging communities, fostering a sense of stewardship, and driving meaningful conservation outcomes.”
In her first year, Louelle hopes to strengthen engagement with schools and create lasting impact by helping learners and communities turn environmental awareness into meaningful action.
“I see these programmes as an investment in people – because when individuals carry the message forward, apply what they’ve learned, and share it with others, the impact grows far beyond just one interaction.”
Welcome to the team, Louelle. We’re excited to see the impact you will help grow across the Northern Cape.