Dr Judy Mann-Lang

After more than 30 years at the intersection of conservation, management, and communication, Judy’s work now centres on two areas: inspiring care for the ocean and strengthening the confidence, skills, and impact of conservation communicators.

Judy spent three decades at SAAMBR, serving as Director of Education, uShaka Sea World Director, and its first female CEO, followed by five years with the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. She holds a PhD from the University of Queensland, and her research now focuses on monitoring and evaluation, conservation learning, behaviour change, and ocean literacy.

She runs workshops on conservation communication, science communication, evaluation, and behaviour change, and has designed and delivered hundreds of training courses for diverse audiences, from marine educators and law enforcement officials to subsistence fishers, marine protected area managers, field guides, scientists, and conservation practitioners. Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of both people and the natural world.

Judy co-founded the South African Marine and Coastal Educators Network and initiated Marine Protected Areas Day and the African Penguin Not On Our Watch campaign. Fascinated by human behaviour and continually inspired by time spent in nature, she is now focused on supporting the next generation of passionate and effective educators and conservationists.