Maryke is the Chief Operational Officer at Matorka, a sustainable land-based producer of Arctic char in Iceland. She is a self-confessed fish-nerd with almost 30 years of experience in aquatic science, mostly focussed on land-based aquaculture, research and aquarium science (building and operating large public aquariums).
She is a marine scientist by training and specialised in ichthyology, fisheries science and aquaculture with further post-graduate studies in sustainable development and circular economy. Maryke is a qualified Master Carbon Analyst and currently working towards her MBA degree. She is passionate about the ocean and contributing to innovative solutions to create positive environmental impacts. She previously held positions as Chief Executive Officer of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa; General Manager of Kingfish Zeeland in the Netherlands, Executive at the South African Association of Marine Biological Research and was instrumental to the development of sustainability ratings for land-based aquaculture in Southern Africa. She has worked with many aquaculture feed producers on optimising formulations and was an advisor to the aquatic feed development working group of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which looked specifically at the development of alternative feed ingredients.
Maryke is an advisor and mentor to the OceanHub Africa Ocean Innovation Acceleration Programme and has participated in various Ocean Hackathons aimed at setting challenges and developing solutions in blue economy technology and innovation and she continues to act as expedition lead of an environmental education programme in Antarctica.
