OUR TEAM
Our teams commitment is to leave the world in a better place
Daniel
Hooft
Founder, CEO
Daniel has over 20 years’ experience in offshore engineering, gained with Royal Dutch Shell in 7 different countries. He has a track record of delivering extraordinary business results by identifying technical and commercial opportunities and acting on them decisively.
Daniel is passionate about the sea and the complex Anthropocene world we live in.
Viviane
Kinyaga
Managing Director Namibia
A qualified marine biologist & water management specialist, Viviane has spent 20 years advising governments, NGO’s, the UN and inter-governmental bodies. Most recently, she has worked with the Benguela Current Convention.
Viviane sits on the board of NamWater. She adores the natural world, its quiet wonder – and empowering people.
Caroline
Slootweg
Co-founder, commercial and communication
A start-up, change management and digital transformation specialist, Caroline has worked at Unilever, WPP, in mar-tech and agri-tech. Her purity of purpose expresses itself as clarity, simplicity and speed.
Caroline sailed half-way around the world and across the Pacific Ocean in the Clipper Round the World yacht race and is also a keen forager and traveller.
Protasius Mutjida
Geochemist and Environmental Monitoring
Hugo
Stam
Project engineer
A hydraulic engineer with a masters degree from the Delft University of Technology, Hugo is a dedicated team player. He explored Suriname while working on a project assessing the technical feasibility of establishing a terminal in Paramaribo.
While in Namibia, he discovered a new hobby, mountain biking through the dramatic scenery of the Lüderitz peninsula.
Michael
Fleischman
Seaweed Sourcing and Propagation
A true seaweed enthusiast. Holds a Masters degree from the University of Cape Town in Phycology and Aquaculture and comes from an abalone aquaculture background.
He loves being in the water, is a patient teacher and can often be found sprinting up and down Table Mountain.
Ukarapo Mungunda
Biodiversity Monitoring
As a recent Marine Biologist graduate, Ukarapo wants nothing more than to be out on the water practicing her specialty: acoustic sensing for biodiversity tracking. She’s a proud Namibian with a passion for improving the planet we all live on.
She loves walking and recently hiked up Table Mountain, and back down again. And she also recently secured her commercial diving certificate.
Ferdi
Knoester
Operations Lead Luderitz
Recently graduated with a Masters in Hydraulic Engineering from TU Delft. Built an artificial reef to combat coastal erosion in North Sulawesi and built a bamboo factory in the jungles of Nicaragua while working together with the indigenous Miskito populations.
Ferdi loves to dive and does this in every place he visits (where possible), has run the Rotterdam marathon and completed the Barcelona Iron Man 70.3.
Greater
Mukumbira
Administrator
A passionate believer in leveraging the power and enthusiasm of the youth to change the planet. Has extensive experience bringing multi-disciplinary teams together and providing the necessary support and structure to creative thinkers.
Greater loves cooking and running and has been known to lose flip-flops in the sand dunes.
Xu Ben Zhang
De-carbonator
Xu was born in Zwollywood (a.k.a Zwolle, a countryside city) and studied Industrial Ecology at the University of Leiden, Delft University of Technology and at the University of Melbourne. She started her career as a sustainability consultant for the real estate sector and worked with the Port of Amsterdam on bioremediation.
Xu is an avid and elegant rock-climber, has a one-eyed cat and loves cooking, travelling and plants.
Maxime
Penning
Processing
Dedicated to understanding how cells can be seen as factories of the future. Is passionate about ensuring a total and complete usage of the seaweed, ‘waste’ is not a word in her vocabulary. Extensive experience in process optimisation and liquid separation/filtration processes.
On windy days, can often be found kite-surfing and is dedicated to living a life full of adventure.
Angelique Dodds
Environmental Monitoring Masters Student
Hails from Windhoek Namibia and studied at the University Of Namibia where she graduated with an honours in Environmental Biology after having completed an internship at Gobabeb, a desert research center.
She almost studied fashion design, but in the end nature’s beauty prevailed in grabbing her attention. She loves reading and owns over 600 books.
Cayne Moffat
Strategic Planning & Analysis
Was offered a place at university at aged 15 but decided to live a little and entered at 17. Holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Edinburgh and is a CFA Charterholder.
He’s proudly Scottish, loves playing football, and is known to be highly competitive. At the moment he’s learning Dutch.
Valentin Pitiot
Sales and Market Development
Valentin recently graduated from ISTOM in Angers, France with Masters in Agronomy with a specialisation in Agriculture. He’s worked at the World Bank and became a seaweed enthusiast when he discovered the amazing potential of seaweed to usher in a new dawn of how to do business.
He’s super sporty, any and all, but has a particular fondness for basketball. And doesn’t drink coffee.
Iriya Jona
Processing and Operations
Erastus Ashipala
Engineering Supervisor
Erastus is a budding Civil Engineer with deep hands-on knowledge of some of Namibias biggest projects as well as conceptual experience from his work as an engineering consultant. He’s a graduate of Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the winner of a regional science fair.
Erastus loves the water and often is found rod fishing in the ocean, and if he’s not doing that, he’ll be painting and drawing portraits. He’s one of Kelp Blue’s most accomplished artists.
Okke Meijer
Processing Plant Manager
Okke is not comfortable with choosing the easy path in life. His passion for mechanical management and plant operations has seen him work in one of the biggest steel plants in Europe. His most recent role was running an organic avocado oil processing factory in Awassa Ethiopia. He holds a Masters degree in Supply Chain Management and a Bachelor of Technology from the University of Groningen.
He’s often found cycling around the Ijsselmeer (350 km) climbing mountains in Peru or planning his next endurance endeavour and trying to convince others to join him. He also doesn’t drink coffee.
Laetitia Heita
Hatchery Lab Technician
Our only team member from Walvis Bay (so far). Specialised in lab and research work with experience in pharma/food grade environments.
When not making sure the lab and hatchery are clean and pristine and that everyone follows the protocols, Laetitia can be found enjoying sunsets and walks on the beach.
Fanuel Isak
Mechanic
Born and raised in Lüderitz with a background at sea working on research, fishing and mining vessels. Holds a class 5 navigation officer certificate from Namfi.
He’s a work horse on the football pitch (an asset for any team) and when he’s not kicking a ball around you can find him watching Formula One.
Ezra Hildering van Lith
Head of Delivery Excellence/Engineer
After earning a degree in mechanical engineering Ezra realised a desk job would not make him happy so he joined the army and marched to the frontline where he saved lives and fought injustice. After 7 years of being an army leader, Ezra joined us in helping fight the status quo by supporting others in delivering excellence.
Darryl Smith
Diver
Hails from Walvis Bay in Namibia. 9 years experience in marine Ops including diving & seafaring. Held chief officer position on a supply vessel specialized in cargo handling offshore transport. Commercial diving experience in vessel inspection and marine construction.
His 5k personal best is 20.45, which is not as fast as some of the vintage cars he loves, but he will keep trying.
Jonathan Kennedy
Diver
From Lüderitz, a proud graduate from SEADOG Commercial Diving School. Worked for Bresler De Beer in ship husbandry and vessel docking. Diving experience with propeller cleaning, hull inspection, UWILD inspection and Centrifugal Pump usage used in dredging for salvage work.
Crayfishing and rugby are his past times.
Hilinganye Andreas
Hatchery Intern (Masters Student)
From the north of Namibia, far from the sea and at university discovered a strong attraction to the ocean and all of its wonders. Is steadfast but humble, and a steady hand in the hatchery.
She’s an introverted extrovert.
Holly Francis
Lead Robotics Engineer
Recent Stanford University engineering graduate, but originally from Massachusetts. Has lived most of the past 3 years on a boat, and loves dark chocolate.
Rosalia Abner
Facilities Manager
A gem! Rosalia is the one who keeps the office running and tidy and always has a smile on her face. She has committed to reading one book a week from the Kelp Blue library. And we’ve all seen her reading during her breaks.
Rosalia makes a fabulous roast chicken, the recipe for her spice rub is a closely guarded secret.
Cynthia Nehemiah
Executive Assistant
Cynthia hails from Windhoek but has been living in Ludertiz for the past 4 years. Law and architecture are what originally interested her, before she realised that what she really wanted was practical exposure to running a company. She’s meticulous and organised, and can bake a mean batch of ginger cookies.
Rivaldo Visagie
Diver
Born and raised in Luderitz, graduated from Seadog Commercial Diving School as Commercial Diver Class III. Worked at Namport as a general worker loading and offloading cargo such as fish and manganese.
Also known as the friendliest person in the team. If you don’t have a smile on your face yet, you will get one because of Rivaldo. Rivaldo likes to watch rugby, loves family time and enjoys a jog in the morning.
Sarel Niese
Multi-Deployable Problem Solver
Recent Delft University of Technology and ETH Zurich graduate with a Master’s in quantum physics.
He loves challenges that require both a creative and analytical approach. Growing up in the country side and having lived in Botswana bush for 3 months helped him develop his strong interest in natural ecosystems.
He’s passionate about football, modern art, exploring the Alps and wearing baseball caps backwards.
Jerome Maarman
Dive Supervisor
Born in South Africa and raised in Luderitz, started working as a fisherman. Later completed his Commercial Diving course in Hermanus to start working as commercial diver in Walvis Bay. His passion for diving and the ocean became stronger every year. That’s why he eventually decided to do his diving supervisor course to become dive supervisor.
He loves to play and coach Basketball in his spare time and also likes fishing and swimming.
Arthur Likando
Environmental Monitoring Technician
Hails from Katima Mulilo in the mighty Zambezi Region. Holds a Degree in Wildlife Management and Ecotourism and is a committed (and creative) environmental monitoring technician.
He’s interested in graphic design and when he’s not working you can find him editing video footage.
Tuwilika Melania Amunyela
Engineering Trainee
There is no lack of enthusiasm and ambition in Tuwilika. Raised in the costal town of Walvis Bay, but born in Outapi, she holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Namibia. Her emphasis is on designing, building, and testing mechanical systems.
As an introvert, she enjoys soothing walks by the beach, listening to music and reimagining non fiction books she reads.
Petenen Nankela
Engineering Trainee
A jolly and bubbly freshly graduated NUST (Namibian University of Science and Technology) Mechanical Engineer. Was raised in a small mining town in the called Rosh Pinah in the Southern Namibia.
He loves travelling, outdoor activities and is always up for new adventures. He’s mostly driven by his ambition to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible.
Benny Hidulika
Diver
Benny is energetic, always on the go and very sociable. He believes his greatest strength is his attitude to take up any challenge without thinking whether he will succeed or fail. He always tries to move forward in a balanced manner.
Johnny Kapofi
Mechanic
A proud “Buchter” (someone from Luderitz) with a fascination for cars since a young age. That’s why he loves working on engines that much. In his spare time, he hikes, fixes cars, reads books and listen to audiobooks. And when he gets the chance, he holds services at a local church.
Board of Directors
Marguerite Soeteman-Rijnen
Kelp Blue Board Chair
Chair of AON Holdings and Global CMO at AON Inpoint
Jan Vos
Pioneer in sustainable agriculture. Deep experience in supervising agricultural enterprises.
Frederik Rengers
CEO WTS Energy, Chair of the Board VSH Offshore, Leader in energy transition, Board Member Hiber Hilo.
Special Advisors
Prof. John Bolton
South Africa’s Seaweed Authority
Prof. Mauro Sérgio Gonçalves Pavão, PhD
Institute of Medical Biochemistry – Federal University of Rio de Janeiro