DR VERE ROSS-GILLESPIE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Role
Vere is working with clients across a range of sectors (e.g. agricultural, mining conservation, water, environmental) from NGO’s, to public and private entities to introduce DNA-based methods to clients in order to improve environmental management practices, inform biodiversity monitoring, assist research and ultimately improve conservation measures.
Vere is engaging with clients from existing networks in Southern and East Africa and beyond, while establishing new partnerships, research and commercial and opportunities. Vere is actively involved in developing opportunities in these regions, including running training sessions and workshops for stakeholders focused on the integration and application of DNA based tools into sampling designs and monitoring programs.
Academia
PhD in Zoology from the University of Cape Town for work focused on life-history traits of aquatic insects in relation to thermal and hydrological alteration as well as climate change and genetic factors. BSc Hons in Zoology, BSc double major in Ecology and Environmental & Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town.
Significant Collaborations
Vere is trained as an aquatic ecologist and entomologist and has 6 years consulting experience in the water sector in Southern Africa and SADC member states, in addition to 5 years applied research. He previously managed a team of ecologists in a consulting firm based in South Africa and thus brings with extensive field experience having worked on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems across southern & eastern Africa, the sub-tropics, and the Indian Ocean Islands. He has managed numerous projects and impact assessments focusing on a wide range of topics from water quality & chemistry, diatom assessments, bio monitoring, bio remediation, mining solutions, environmental audits, environmental flows (eflows) and river health assessments, river restoration, wetland & ephemeral pan assessments, citizen science, aquatic ecological training courses and workshops. He is a member of the Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists (SASAqS), a registered Professional Natural Scientist (Pr. Sci. Nat.) in Ecological Science in South Africa, and has been an accredited SASS5 Practitioner for 10 years.
