Meet the Team

Dr. Justine Ewart-Smith is a senior freshwater ecologist with 24 years of experience in the assessment and management of aquatic ecosystems. Her expertise spans specialist biomonitoring, environmental impact assessments, and international EFlows studies across Southern Africa and beyond. With a PhD focused on the response of periphyton communities to flow and nutrient shifts, she specializes in translating complex hydrological drivers into actionable ecological management strategies.

Philip Frenzel is a freshwater ecologist with 6 years of experience in the field of freshwater ecology. His experience ranges across numerous fields and includes specialist input into biomonitoring, impact assessments, rehabilitation planning, management and maintenance plans, ecological and water quality monitoring, water use authorisations and research.

Justin is ecologist with over 10 years of research experience in South Africa. He holds a PhD from the University of Cape Town and has spent three years as a post-doctoral research fellow, investigating climate-coupling and groundwater dependence in terrestrial and semi-aquatic ecosystems.

Janette joined Freshwater Consulting as an office administrator in 2018.  She has almost two decades of professional experience in various roles including data capture, website maintenance, office administration, bookkeeping, accounting software and software development, and she also owned her own small business for 5 years.

 Stuart loves being in soggy landscapes, trying to understand why they exist and how they function.  He obtained a Master’s degree in Conservation Ecology at Stellenbosch University. His thesis studied the recovery of indigenous fish populations following the removal of alien fish from the Rondegat River in the Cederberg.