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Meet The Team
Khmer Ocean Life wouldn't be the same without our amazing team working towards safeguarding Cambodia's marine life for the future. It is great to meet you, and please feel free to reach out to us!
CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Rose Ellis
Rose is our on-the-ground project team leader at Khmer Ocean Life. She has a deep love of the ocean and enjoys working closely with the whole team, local communities and collaborators to make everything happen.
Rose has a BSc in Physical Geography from King's College London and extensive experience working on various research and conservation projects across the world, including elephant seals, orcas and bottlenose dolphins. Rose has a particular passion for community conservation, working to safeguard a future for wildlife and local people.
CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Sarah Tubbs
Sarah is an interdisciplinary marine mammal scientist passionate about combining natural and social science techniques to fill knowledge gaps on endangered marine mammals.
Sarah has a BSc in Marine Biology from Newcastle University, an MSc in Marine Mammal Science from the University of St Andrews and is currently completing her PhD on Cambodian cetaceans at Newcastle University. She has extensive amounts of research and fieldwork experience across Africa, Asia and Europe, with her focus on supporting research and conservation initiatives in developing countries.
PROJECT ASSISTANT
Lokkaman El
Lokkaman is our wonderful Project Assistant and immediately become an integral part of Khmer Ocean Life. He brings a fantastic energy as well as great local knowledge to our team. Kaman has completed a Bachelor of English Literature at Angkor Khemara University, Kampot. He has a passion for community work, a natural affinity for outreach and is a fast becoming a great drone pilot. Lokkaman loves surveying, being out on the water and working to conserve Cambodia's marine wildlife - he is excited to be a marine scientist!
project assistant
Chhayhy Heng
Chhayhy is leading the Cambodian Marine Mammal Bycatch and Stranding Network (CMMBSN) project. He obtained a degree from Paññāsāstra University in Cambodia in Environmental Science, where he did his thesis on Cambodian dugongs. Chhayhy then went on to join marine mammal projects in both Cambodia and at the Sarasota Dolphin Project, Florida, USA. His love of the ocean drives his work, particularly the allusive but majestic dugong.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Nathan Nop
Nathan is KOL's full time Research Assistant (RA)! He is really happy to be using his knowledge and further building his skills in marine conservation. With over a years worth of experience, he is happy to be continuing doing his part for his country's marine wildlife. So far he has been conducting coastal wide questionnaires, as well as assistant to the aerial survey study, flying drones and assisting at outreach events.
The team also attends Nathan's Khmer school every week and are enthusiastically learning the local Cambodian language. With fluency in both English and his native Khmer, and of course his dedication to research contribution, he is invaluable to Khmer Ocean Life.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Hanafy Res
Hanafy has spent a lot of time on the water with his family of fishers, and has recently joined the KOL team as part of Sarah's PhD social science research on fisheries impacts on wildlife along the Cambodian coastline. He has achieved a Bachelor of Information Technology from the Regional Polytechnic Institute in Techo Sen, Kampot. While he is new to the world of marine conservation, Hanafy is excited to learn as well as apply his fantastic interpersonal skills to contribute to KOL's research and help to protect Cambodia's marine life.
Research assistant
Rith Kang
Rith is part of the social science team at KOL and has been working on investigating marine megafauna bycatch along the coastline. He grew up in the coastal town of Kep and has a degree in English Literature from Western University. Rith is passionate about his country and has experience working at other NGO's in the past and wants to go into project management in the future.
RESEARCH FELLOW
Camée Knops
Camée is our wonderful Research Fellow, joining us to run a pioneering aerial survey study. Camée has recently graduated with a Masters degree from Utrecht University, The Netherlands, and has experience interning on projects researching both the freshwater populations of Irrawaddy dolphins in Cambodia, at WWF Cambodia, and the marine populations too. Camée is really looking forward to being back in Cambodia and continuing her important research for the species.
Long-term placement student
Sam Haslam
Sam is currently part of our team as a placement student from the University of The West of England doing an MSc in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science. He has spent many years living in Southeast Asia and Cambodia and loves everything about the people and culture here. Sam wants to continue working on and planning long-term conservation projects here in Cambodia after his graduation.
ILLUSTRATOR
Bonsovathary Uoeung
Sovathary is an extremely talented copywriter and illustrator, and we are very lucky to have her working with us to create some beautiful and informative artworks. Showcasing Cambodia's marine life through art is her passion and she is proud to be part of the Khmer Ocean Life creative team. To see more of her work, please check out her art Instagram @silapak.komnu featuring some of our collaborations.
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
Josh Arnett
Josh is an ACA chartered accountant with an economics degree and a love of wildlife. He had extensive experience in auditing, financial reporting and forecasting. Josh helps with all things money for Khmer Ocean Life and in his spare time enjoys golf, cricket and football.
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