Pictured above: (left) Thokozani Maphalala and (right) Khwezi Dlomo

WESSA is pleased to welcome Thokozani Maphalala and Khwezi Dlomo, who have joined the Coastal Programme as interns based at the Durban office.

Their arrival brings fresh energy, practical skills and a shared commitment to environmental learning, responsible tourism and coastal conservation.

Why they joined WESSA

For Thokozani, who holds a Diploma in Tourism Management, joining WESSA is an opportunity to connect his passion for tourism with environmental protection. He sees tourism as “more than just travel”, but as a way for people to connect meaningfully with places, communities and nature.

WESSA’s mission of “People Caring for the Earth” strongly resonates with him, especially through programmes such as Blue Flag and Green Coast, which show how conservation and tourism can work together.

“I bring a visitor-focused perspective from my tourism background,” says Thokozani. “I understand guest experience and how sustainability influences travel choices.”

He hopes to contribute ideas that improve visitor engagement at WESSA tourism sites, including stronger sustainability messaging, better signage and simple feedback systems that help visitors understand how their actions support conservation.

Khwezi joins the team with a strong environmental background and valuable skills in GIS and data capturing. She is inspired by WESSA’s role in protecting the planet while educating and creating awareness in communities.

“As an environmentalist, WESSA aligns with my values of conserving nature while educating and creating awareness to different communities,” she says.

Khwezi is particularly interested in using her GIS and data skills to support coastal programmes such as Blue Flag, while also contributing her knowledge of coastal and environmental legislation. She hopes to grow her project coordination and management skills and deepen her understanding of what it takes to run effective Blue Flag and Green Coast initiatives.

 A clear interest in the future of sustainable tourism and environmental action

 Thokozani believes that green tourism creates opportunities beyond guiding and ranger work, including sustainability audits, eco-certification and environmental education. His advice to young people interested in this space is simple: learn the frameworks, understand the opportunities, and remember that “take only memories, leave only footprints” is not just a slogan, but the future of tourism.

Khwezi echoes this with a powerful reminder that sustainability is active and ongoing: “Green is a process, not a status. We need to think of ‘green’ as a verb, not an adjective.”

“As they begin their internship journey, Thokozani and Khwezi will support WESSA’s Coastal Programme in strengthening environmental awareness, visitor engagement and practical conservation action along South Africa’s coastline,” adds Mike Denison, WESSA Coastal Programme Senior Manager.

WESSA looks forward to seeing their growth, ideas and contributions take shape as part of the Durban team.

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.

WESSA is pleased to welcome Katherine Imrie as the newly appointed Coastal Programme: Research and Monitoring Coordinator, based at the Chintsa East office.

Katherine joins WESSA with a strong academic foundation in marine biology, environmental science and sustainable development, as well as hands-on experience in field research, conservation storytelling and community engagement. Her work sits at the intersection of people, nature and conservation – a space she describes as being driven by “curiosity, connection and action”.

A deep connection to the natural world

Katherine’s journey into environmental work has been shaped by a lifelong love for nature and a desire to contribute to its protection in a way that also supports people.

“WESSA’s educate, advocate, act approach resonates with me because it turns awareness into meaningful action,” she adds.

For Katherine, conservation is not only about protecting ecosystems. It is also about strengthening the relationship between people and the natural world and recognising that lasting change is built through connection.

She is particularly drawn to WESSA’s community-driven conservation focus and believes that meaningful environmental action happens when people understand that they are part of the environment, not separate from it.

Bringing research, fieldwork and storytelling together

Katherine holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Environmental & Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town, completed in 2024. She has also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development through Stellenbosch University, where her studies included biodiversity and climate change, water and food systems, just and sustainable urbanism, governance, institutional change and leadership for sustainability transitions.

Her professional experience includes working as a field research assistant with the African Wildlife Economy Institute, supporting in-field data collection for research on sustainable game meat production. This role gave her practical experience in fieldwork logistics, stakeholder engagement and gathering data in varied socio-ecological contexts.

She also interned with Wild Africa, where she gained insight into impact-driven conservation through film, media and partnerships. This experience helped shape her view that conservation can happen in many ways – including through research, communication, collaboration and public engagement.

At WESSA, Katherine hopes to contribute by helping tell clear, relatable stories that connect people to environmental issues and encourage practical action, particularly in areas such as marine conservation and ghost gear awareness.

Supporting behaviour change through connection

In her new role, Katherine says, “I would like to help shift how people see their relationship with the environment, from something external to something they are part of. Even small shifts in awareness can lead to meaningful behaviour change, and I’d love to contribute to that through storytelling and engagement.”

Her approach reflects a strong appreciation for the link between people and ecosystems. She describes herself as curious, adaptable and eager to learn – qualities that will support WESSA’s ongoing work to educate, advocate and act for environmental and social justice, climate action, biodiversity protection and pollution reduction.

A message for future environmental changemakers

When asked what advice she would give to others starting out in environmental work, Katherine’s message is simple:

“Be brave. This work isn’t always recognised, but it is necessary. At its core, it’s all relational; it’s about building meaningful connections with people and the environment.”

As WESSA continues to strengthen coastal conservation, research and community engagement across South Africa, Katherine’s role will help support the organisation’s mission to turn awareness into action – and to inspire more people to care for the Earth.