Graham Taylor, Executive Director

Graham is a Geomatics professional specializing in Geographic Information Science, Environment, and Development. He practiced at the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) and is currently the chairperson of the Historical Society of Port Elizabeth. Prior to joining the CDC in 2003, he was Director for Nature Conservation, Environmental Protection, and Environmental Policy for the Provincial Government of the Eastern Cape in the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism

Lloyd Edwards, Chairman

Lloyd is the owner of Raggy Charters, a licensed boat based whale watching and shark cage diving business. He is also a skipper, marine guide, award winning photographer, author and conservationist. He has an absolute passion for the natural environment and has an incredible knowledge of South African flora. He is chairman of the Eastern Cape Dendrological Society. Lloyd works tirelessly for the conservation of the natural environment.

Purity Khosa, Director – Education

Purity grew up in Mpumalanga and grew to love the environment on her visits to Kruger National Park. She first saw the ocean on her arrival in Nelson Mandela Bay to attend the local university. On completing hers studies she joined Raggy Charters as a Marine Guide. She was mesmerized and full of awe at the diversity of marine life. However she also discovered that the existence of marine flora and fauna is threatened and now undertakes to educate as many people as she can, both at sea and in schools, about marine conservation.

Graeme Lund, Director – Marketing & PR

Graeme is a fervent conservationist and has been involved in ecotourism for many years. He has worked as a field guide and has owned a tour guide school and a tour operating business.  He is currently a publisher of a travel website and is the owner of a marketing and advertising business.

Dr Deborah Roberts-Andersson, Advisor: Marine Science

Deborah holds a PhD from the University of Cape Town and trained as an integrated multitrophic aquaculturisthas. She worked with marine guides for over 20 years and has received two Special Knowledge and Skills awards from the Field Guides Association of South Africa.  It is her work as a marine guide trainer and marine guide which has cemented her resolve to share her passion for the marine environment and the importance of connecting people to something that many only get to see the surface of, or that others are afraid of. 

Monica Maroun, Program Manager: Outreach

Monica has always had a passion for the bush and the ocean. Being a qualified teacher, in 2011, she decided to do a c course to become a Nature Guide.

She did the part-time year course  and loved it. Deciding then then that she wanted to change careers and move into the guiding field, she went to complete a Back-up trails guide course, and ended up being the Senior Programmes manager at the company where she did her trails guide course.

Besides assisting with the running of the education programmes at the camp, she also began training nature guides and got the opportunity to teach marine guide students- satisfying her own keen interest in all things marine.

Patricia Hilbig, Program Manager (volunteer): International Communication

Patricia is German, has a degree in Tourism Management, Economics and Marketing and supports BANA on a voluntary basis as an online marketing expert and business consultant with more than 15 years of experience. She loves nature, the ocean and the animals that live on our planet. Being involved in crowd funding campaigns and speaking multiple languages she will also help raising funds and establishing BANA internationally.