Plenary Speakers
Chris Gordon
Monday, 9 October | 8:45–10:30 UTC (after opening ceremony)
From Data to Policy: The Need for Knowledge Brokerage and Communication
Prof. Chris Gordon holds a PhD in Human Environmental Sciences from King’s College, London, and a B.Sc. (Hons.) and Masters in Zoology from the University of Ghana, Legon. An Environmental Scientist with experience as a limnologist and aquatic resource management advisor, with a particular interest in biodiversity, the functioning of coastal, wetlands, freshwater systems, and climate adaptation. Working at Legon since 1986, he was the founding Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies and was Dean, International Programmes at the University. He was Executive Vice President, of the International Society of Limnology (SIL) and Vice-President and Member Management Board of Wetlands International. He has supervised over 60 Graduate students at MPhil and PhD levels. He is a member of the Earth Commission of Future Earth, the IPBES Multidisciplinary Expert Group, the Evidence Advisory Group of the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) and the Ghana Country Advisor for Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN)as well as the Advisory Board Member for UNU-Institute for Natural Resources in Africa. Chris Gordon won the Parker-Gentry Conservation Biology Award from the Field Museum, Chicago, USA. He also received the Order of the Volta from the Government of Ghana for service in Development, Education and Research.
Paul J. van den Brink
Tuesday, 10 October | 12:05–13:05 UTC
The interactive effects of climate change and chemicals on aquatic ecosystems
Paul J. Van den Brink is a personal professor at the Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group of Wageningen University and a senior scientist at the research institute Wageningen Environmental Research, both belonging to the Wageningen University and Research. At Wageningen University Paul chairs the chemical stress ecology group which currently consists of himself and 14 PhD students. He is involved in supervising and executing international projects on assessing the ecological effects of contaminants like pesticides, veterinary medicines and personal and home care products as well as those of multiple stressors, including climate change, drought, nutrients and salinization. Paul van den Brink has published over 280 ISI-listed papers (h-index = 60; SCOPUS). Paul currently coordinates the EU-funded Innovative Training Network ECORISK2050 which studies the effects of global change on the emission, fate, effects and risks of chemicals in aquatic ecosystems.
Beatrice Olutoyin Opeolu
Wednesday, 11 October | 12:05–13:05 UTC
Legacy and Emerging Contaminants in the Environment: Insights and Lessons Learnt by An African Scientist
Beatrice Olutoyin Opeolu obtained her BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management and Toxicology at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in Nigeria in 1995. She graduated with an MSc in Environmental Biology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2001; and a PhD in Environmental Toxicology from the FUNAAB in 2007. She was appointed Extended Curriculum Coordinator in the Faculty of Applied Sciences, CPUT in 2011. At CPUT, she is a full professor and the Leader, The Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability Research Focus Area. Beatrice is an established researcher (C3-rated) in South Africa. Her field of specialisation is in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. She focuses on the interactions between man and the environment, investigating chemical contaminations and the health risks (toxicology) to humans and ecosystems. She is also interested in the remediation of toxic chemicals in the environment. She has published over 120 articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and conference proceedings in Environmental Chemistry and Environmental Toxicology discipline. She has published over 120 articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and conference proceedings. Beatrice serves on the Technical Committees of several nationally funded projects in South Africa. She is a South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)- Biological Testing Methods voting committee member. She was a co-developer of an international programme of the SETAC online short course aimed at developing countries. Beatrice is well regarded as an evaluator of academic programmes for the South African Council on Higher Education (CHE). She is the Immediate Past President of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Africa and the Vice-president of the SETAC World Council. Beatrice is involved in community engagement projects and has a robust research network of scientists across the globe. Over the past two decades, Beatrice has delivered several speeches as a participant, invited speaker, and keynote speaker in local, regional, and international conferences. She is a sought speaker and panellist at events, including the United Nations Commission on Status of Women (CSW) side events. She has supervised scores of students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Beatrice mentors many environmental science practitioners in academia, business, and government. Beatrice is passionate about people, science, and the environment. This inspired her to establish BEE Solutions and Consultancy Services to build a sustainable future with science and indigenous wisdom.