Amanda Austin, Principal Ecologist at Amanzi Aquatics (Pty) Ltd

Amanda Austin is the director at Amanzi Aquatics (Pty) Ltd, since July 2018, and is based in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal.

She was previously employed by JG Afrika (Pty) Ltd from July 2016 until June 2018, as the senior aquatic scientist, at the Johannesburg Branch, South Africa. Prior to that, she was employed by Natural Scientific Services CC, as an aquatic ecologist, from August 2011 until June 2016. 

She is a professionally registered natural scientist in the field of aquatic science and holds a MSc degree in aquatic health from the University of Johannesburg. During her studies, she published two articles and presented her work at many colloquiums and conferences. She is an accredited SASS5 practitioner, since 2012, and has her skipper’s certificate.

She has gained experience in project management and fieldwork for numerous surface water, aquatic ecological and wetland assessments throughout South Africa and southern Africa. During these assessments, she determined the ecological health of the rivers with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) indices i.e. Index of Habitat Integrity (IHI), Invertebrate Habitat Assessment system (IHAS), South African Scoring System (SASS5), Macro-Invertebrate Response Assessment Index (MIRAI), Fish Response Assessment Index (FRAI), Fish Health Assessment Index (HAI), Water Quality, Diatom and Sediment Assessments. In addition, she compiled numerous biomonitoring programmes for aquatic projects. The aquatic reports provided input into Water Use License Applications (WULAs), Basic Assessments (BA), General Authorisations (GA), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Environmental Management Programmes (EMPr) & Biodiversity Management & Action Plans (BMAPs).

She has gained experience in wetland assessment tools by assisting specialists over the years. She conducts wetland delineations, wetland health assessments, wetland ecological services and wetland management and rehabilitation plans. In 2018, she obtained her wetland competency certificate from Rhodes University and her certificate for the Management of Wetland Soils from the University of the Free State. In addition, she has assisted in the overall compilation of biodiversity reports and demarcation permit applications.