About us
Established by the Two Oceans Aquarium in 2019, the Foundation is a registered non-profit and public benefit organisation. The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation offers quality, curriculum-aligned marine education programmes and adult ocean sustainability programmes. Its conservation work contributes to the preservation of five of the seven marine sea turtle species, collaborates on marine animal welfare programmes, and conducts collaborative research projects with major tertiary institutions and conservation organisations.
Our vision & mission
The Aquarium Foundation’s vision is for abundant and healthy oceans for life.
Its mission is to inform and inspire all to connect with and protect our ocean and ocean-vulnerable communities through conservation, awareness, research, and education.
Our objectives
- Democratise access for South African communities from cradle to career, to Ocean Literacy, STEM related Marine Sciences, and Blue Economy knowledge and awareness.
- Inspire and support behaviour change and pathways to ocean or environmental-related careers and livelihoods.
- Through partnerships with higher education institutions, we provide technical support, facility access, and aquariology data to support biophysical research, workplace integrated learning, and academic mentorship.
- Formation of People and Ocean Lab, an interdisciplinary action research unit formed to address anthropogenically created systemic crises facing the ocean by researching, piloting and publicising anthropogenic solutions to these crises.
- Create an empowered community of Ocean Champions equipped to act in support of the ocean and ocean-vulnerable communities.
- Play an active role in the conservation of key and endangered marine species, particularly turtles, through rescue, rehabilitation, release, and research and present these species as ambassadors for pro-ocean behaviours.
Our team
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is led by Executive Chairperson Ann Lamont. It has a staff of 25, assisted by volunteers and interns.
- Dr Judy Mann (Head of Strategic Projects)
- Dr Nathalie Viljoen (Head of Research)
- Kelly Rosenthal (Head of People and Ocean Lab)
- Talitha Noble-Trull (Conservation Manager)
- Bianca Engel (Deputy Head of Ocean Campus)
- Marguerite Venter (Head of Productions)
Board of Trustees
- Ann Lamont (Executive Chairperson, Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation)
- Michael Farquhar (CEO, Two Oceans Aquarium)
- Henry Mathys (V&A Waterfront Strategic Programme Manager)
- Tinyiko Mageza (Executive Head of Marketing, V&A Waterfront)
- Alana James (Advisory Strategist focusing on governance, sustainability, and corporate affairs).
Legal
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is a Trust established in the Republic of South Africa. It is registered with the Master of the High Court whose founding document is a trust deed. The founder is the Two Oceans Aquarium Trust (IT2601/94).
The objective of the Trust is to engage in Public Benefit Activities aimed at the areas of education, conservation and research to benefit the South African public. The Public Benefit Activities are carried out in a non-profit manner and with altruistic or philanthropic intent. The approved Public Benefit Activities of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation fall within.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is registered in terms of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act of 1962. Donations received will be used exclusively for the objective of conducting public benefit activities approved by the Minister of Finance as listed in Parts 1 and 2 of the Ninth Schedule of the Income Tax Act.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is a registered Non-Profit Organisation with the Department of Social Development.