Image related to website content

CapeNature Welcomes Dr Ashley Naidoo as New CEO

8 Jan 2024

CapeNature is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Ashley Naidoo as its new Chief Executive Officer, following an extensive recruitment process conducted by the Board. Dr Naidoo joins the entity after most recently serving as the Chief Director for Oceans and Coasts Research at the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.

Dr Naidoo commenced his duties on 1 January 2024 and succeeds Dr Razeena Omar, who retired at the end of last year after serving in the role for the past decade.

In his previous role, Dr Naidoo managed comprehensive ocean science programmes encompassing biology, physics, and chemistry, with a focus on the South African coastal and deep-sea ecosystems. He also previously served on the Board of the South African National Space Agency, focusing on Earth observation applications for the ocean environment.

Dr Naidoo's vision for CapeNature is deeply rooted in his belief of the essential transition from environmental science to policy and implementation. With a keen focus on governance, he acknowledges CapeNature's exemplary procedures, stakeholders, and the connection the entity has with the people of the Western Cape.

“I see CapeNature as the ideal place for the transformation of science into policy and, most importantly, into implementation,” remarked Dr Naidoo. “The entity’s stellar governance, engaging outreach, and commitment to conservation make it a prime platform for bridging the space between science and policy implementation.”

Expressing his eagerness to delve into the entity, Dr Naidoo envisions enhancing CapeNature’s relevance to the Western Cape community. He aspires to position the protected areas managed by the entity as more than just a holiday destination but a continuous conservation, educational and scientific resource, emphasising its potential to contribute significantly to climate change studies.

"One of the attractive features of CapeNature is its integrated approach. Conservation, tourism, education, and science are interconnected, creating important feedback loops. I look forward to strengthening these connections, fostering a highly skilled team, and building strong ties with the education sector," he said.

Share:

Related News

Caucasian male fishing in a pond surrounded by tall green water reeds Med
26 Aug 2025
Catch and release helps to conserve the Western Cape’s indigenous fish

Freshwater ecosystems across the Western Cape are rich in biodiversity, supporting a variety of indigenous fish. However, these species are increasingly threatened by the spread of invasive alien fish species, that prey on indigenous species and compete with them for food, space, and breeding grounds.

Cape Nature Green Noise Blog Image with Julia Louw from Wesgro Tourism and Itumeleng Pooe
19 Aug 2025
Celebrating innovative, resilient women in tourism

Women are thriving in tourism and wielding influence from the boardroom to hiking trails, where they beat a pathway for others to follow. They occupy 70% of the tourism workforce in South Africa, and their voices are being amplified in the sector now more than ever. A powerful yet often overlooked statistic that underscores their vital role in the sector.

Klein Estuary Image 1
15 Aug 2025 by Pierre de Villiers
Rivers, Watersheds, and the Klein Estuary: A 2025 Natural Breach Event

Over millions of years, South Africa’s rivers and watersheds have evolved through the forces of erosion, rainfall, and shifting geology. A river catchment, or watershed, is an area of land where all surface water flows toward a single river, stream, or channel, eventually reaching the sea.

Seagull image by taryn elliott
14 Aug 2025
Avian Influenza detected in Western Cape: Public urged to stay alert, not alarmed

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI or “bird flu”) is a viral disease of birds that can also, on rare occasions, infect humans and mammals. The virus spreads through bird faeces and droplets from the nose and mouth, and is present in other body fluids and tissues of dead birds. The disease can cause high mortality rates in domestic poultry.

Baboon icon
12 Aug 2025
Independent experts’ review of draft action plan for baboon management now available

The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) consisting of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, wants to inform residents, interested parties, and stakeholders that the independent expert panel’s review of the proposed action plan on baboon management is now available to the public. 

Wilderness Nature Reserve
5 Aug 2025
Boost for freshwater biodiversity as Wilderness Nature Reserve declared

A new nature reserve has been declared in the Western Cape, marking another significant milestone for the province’s environment. The Wilderness Nature Reserve, spanning over 643 hectares, has been declared a Provincial Nature Reserve in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003).