About
Biography
If you were to pour a glass of water and put it in front of you it should appear clean, fresh and entirely potable. When I was a student I scooped up a glass just like that from a river so polluted with Acid Mine Drainage that the bed and banks had turned bright orange, and the surrounding vegetation was so coated with salt it looked like an episode of "Ripley's Believe It, Or Not". This is one of the many things that inspired, and continues to inspire me, as a professional in the industry. The water in each and every river, lake and tap has a story to tell, or a mystery to reveal. These mysteries are why I love being an Environmental Scientist. Each situation is new, each project offers an intellectual opportunity, and facilitating economic development within the natural environment is the most challenging of all.
I believe that the natural environment should not be merely considered as a conglomeration of plants and animals, but as ecological infrastructure and natural capital that can be vital tools in profitable and sustainable economic development. Similarly, the opposite is also true - in areas with rapid urbanisation often the most effective way to prevent the degradation of a watercourse - be it from illegal refuse disposal, alien and invasive vegetation proliferation, erosion or sedimentation - is for a development to be built directly adjacent to it.
When I am involved in a project I consider all possible angles with meticious attention to detail, and after consulting all pertinent resources. I enjoy building relationships and supporting communicative, effective and responsive dialogues.
When I am not happily up to my knees in mud, I am nose deep in a favourite book. I also enjoy long walks in the wilderness, sundowners, and boardgames.
If you would like to work with me I would love to hear from you. You can find me at kaaolsen@gmail.com or +27 82 735 3790.
Tertiary Education & Research
I hold a Master's Degree in Animal, Plant and Environmental Science and have completed all of my degrees at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Wits is based in Johannesburg, South Africa and has been consecutively rated as the top university in the country, and in Africa by the Academic Ranking of World Univerisities (ARWU). An International Qualifications Assessment of my credentials can be produced upon request.
Please find further information on my qualifications below.
Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Environmental Science and Conservation completed on a full time basis between 2009 – 2012. Relevant courses: Introduction to Freshwater Ecology; Ecosystem Ecology; Rivers and Wetlands; Marine and Coastal Systems; Population Resources and Modelling.
Bachelor of Science with Honours in Ecology, Environmental Science and Conservation completed on a full time basis between 2012 – 2012. Relevant courses: R Software Programming; Global Environmental Change. Research report: Natural Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage in the Tweelopiespruit, Krugersdorp.
Master of Science in Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences by Dissertation completed 2013 – 2014 (full time) and 2015 – 2016 (part time). Dissertation entitled: Natural Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage in a Dam Ecosystem – an Epilimnion and Sediment Analysis.
Short Courses & Training
| Course/Program Designation | Institute | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Navigating Canadian Environmental Law | ECO Canada | Completed 2018 |
| Lead Auditor ISO 14001:2015 - Environmental Management Systems | LiberoAssurance | Completed 2018 |
| Water Quality Analysis & Interpretation | The Canadian Rivers Institute and the University of New Brunswick | Completed 2018 |
| Mountains 101 | University of Alberta | Completed 2017 |
| Certified Training in ArcGIS 9.2 – 9.3 | ESRI Training | Completed 2012 |
| Rocks and Minerals Revealed: An Introductory Course in Geology | University of the Witwatersrand | Completed 2013 |
| Wetland Plant Taxonomy | South African National Biodiversity Institute | Completed 2017 |
| Wetland Back to Basics Course | Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | Completed 2017 |
Employment History
I was employed as a Junior Environmental Scientist at Scientific Aquatic Services for two years (01/02/2015 - 24/02/2017). Thereafter, I was moved to another member of the SAS Group - Water Use Licence Associates - and promoted to the position of Environmental Consultant. I resigned this position in order to relocate in March 2018.
For all of the above positions I have been required to work independently and in team, to gather background desktop data using ArcGIS and other methods, to gather, capture and analyse field data using standard techniques, statistical analysis and programs (including the Windows Interpretation System for Hydrogeologists (WISH)). I have also been required to both attend and solely facilitate consultation meetings with clients and approving authorities in order to compile specialist scientific, well-articulated, accurate specialist reports and/or to facilitate environmentally integrated Water Use Authorisations.
Mr. Stephen van Staden
Director, Scientific Aquatic Services
Stephen@sasenvgroup.co.za
+27 83 415 2356
Mrs. Nelanie Cloete
Director, Water Use Licence Associates
Nelanie@sasenvgroup.co.za
+27 84 311 4878