ICMB

Introducing the Keynote Speakers of ICMB XIII!

We are delighted to announce the keynote speakers for the 13th International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions (ICMB XIII), bringing together an outstanding line-up of international experts to explore current challenges, emerging research and future directions in marine invasion science. Taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, ICMB XIII will feature five keynote presentations addressing key themes in marine bioinvasions, including climate change, marine biosecurity, genomic monitoring, international policy and the integration of Indigenous Knowledge into ocean conservation.

We are pleased to introduce our keynote speakers:

Dr John Darling is a Senior Scientist at the Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications and Senior Director of U.S. Operations for eDNAtec. His work focuses on environmental genomics and its applications in marine biosecurity surveillance.

Dr Nicola van Wilgen-Bredenkamp is a global change scientist at the South African National Parks Cape Research Centre. Her research spans ecology, conservation and ecosystem management, with a particular focus on the interconnected challenges of climate change, alien species and effective conservation interventions.

Dr Evangelina Schwindt is a Principal Researcher at the Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR-CONICET) in Argentina, Director of the Coastal Environments Ecology Group (GEAC) and Editor-in-Chief of Biological Invasions. Her research explores marine invasions across coastal ecosystems, from ports to marine protected areas, examining invasion patterns and the historical processes that have shaped invasions across oceans. Through collaborations with national and regional governments and international organizations, she works to strengthen prevention, monitoring and evidence-based approaches to marine biosecurity.

Prof Susana Carvalho is a Research Associate Professor of Marine Science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, where she leads research on marine biodiversity, ecosystem health and biosecurity. Combining ecological surveys, molecular tools and environmental monitoring, her work investigates biodiversity patterns and emerging pressures across the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. She has also developed national-scale surveillance programmes for marine alien species, contributing to improved monitoring, risk assessment, early-warning systems and practical marine biosecurity strategies.

Mr Loyiso Dunga is a kelp ecologist, whose work bridges marine science, indigenous knowledge and environmental policy to advance inclusive ocean conservation in South Africa. As the founder of Asili Blue Renaissance, he champions the protection of South Africa’s marine biodiversity and cultural heritage.

We look forward to welcoming our keynote speakers and delegates from around the world to Cape Town for ICMB XIII! We are excited to hear their contributions, exchange ideas and foster new discussions and collaborations that will help shape the future of marine invasion science!