Team

Although originally from landlocked Johannesburg, Liat knew from a very young age that she wanted to become a marine biologist. Her fascination with the ocean began early; her grandfather was a scuba diving instructor and she spent almost every family holiday at Sodwana Bay with her father and brother. As the youngest, she would join them on their dives, snorkelling above while they explored the reefs below. Once she had finally reached the required age, she began her own diving journey, which eventually led to her becoming a PADI scuba diving instructor in 2021.

After finishing high school, Liat moved to Australia to complete her undergraduate degree in marine biology at James Cook University. Her diving experiences, especially encounters with sharks, sparked a deep fascination with these misunderstood animals and in due course she became the executive adviser of The FINstitute, a youth-driven shark conservation consortium. The FINstitute empowers young biologists to engage in shark conservation through education, outreach and hands-on opportunities, including field-work collaborations, social events and international shark science experiences.

Liat has an adventurous spirit and loves to travel, but after spending three years in Australia she found herself missing the culture, energy and familiarity of South Africa. She also wanted to bring home what she had learnt abroad, using her experience to help strengthen local knowledge and ocean literacy. By sharing science in an accessible, exciting way, she hopes to inspire a deeper appreciation for South Africa’s marine ecosystems and give back to the community that shaped her.