MEET OUR TEAM

Discover the passionate individuals behind Ethical Seafood Research — a team characterised by a diverse background of experiences, knowledge, and skills. We are united in our mission to ensure the ethical treatment of aquatic animals.

Wasseem Emam

Founder, Director & Lead Researcher

Wasseem is an accomplished aquatic ecologist with over 15 years of experience across the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Holding advanced degrees in applied aquatic ecology, Wasseem is currently completing his doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the Complutense University of Madrid on ways to improve the welfare of farmed Nile tilapia during the harvest process in Egypt.

Amada Perales Ferrer

Head of Operations

Amada is a dedicated advocate for non-human animal rights, with expertise in legal frameworks and a strong academic background in Law from Universitat de València. She became a Lawyer after obtaining her Master's degree in Legal Practice at UCAM and even started a PHD on Non-Human Rights. 

Faisal Qureshi

Country Manager - Kenya

Faisal oversees our operations in Kenya, including organising training workshops and creating partnerships with key actors on the ground. He is involved with gathering information from stakeholders on the biggest obstacles they face, when it comes to implementing meaningful welfare reforms for aquatic animals.

Mohamed Bakr​

Country Manager - Egypt

Mohamed Bakr is an aquaculture expert with extensive experience managing fish farms. Hailing from the Kafr El-Sheikh region in Egypt where most of the country's fish production takes place, he is well-versed in the local farming context. He continues to supervise a number of the Egyptian Army's shrimp farming projects.

Abdulrahman Banisheyba​

Research Fellow — Blue Economy Policy Liaison​

Abdul, a Tanzanian social entrepreneur, merges academic expertise in Economics, International Relations, and Coastal Management. He researches autonomous region participation in national plans, collaborating with Zanzibar's research institute. Passionate about sustainability and positive change.

Hadeer Elkhouly

Communications Specialist

Hadeer Elkhouly is an accomplished Egyptian aquaculture expert, marine educator, and researcher with a strong commitment to ocean conservation and sustainable aquaculture practices.
Hadeer holds the position of Editor at Blue Life Hub Magazine and serves as Communication Coordinator for ECOP Africa, where she focuses on promoting ocean literacy and awareness.

Christina Zantioti

Research Fellow

Christina is a dedicated researcher and educator in sustainable aquaculture, currently pursuing a PhD at the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece. She is also the Co-Founder and President of NOWA a global network promoting gender inclusivity in aquaculture. Her work combines cutting-edge research with educational initiatives, promoting sustainability and fostering a more inclusive aquaculture.

Are you interested in diving into the world of aquatic animal welfare and making a difference?

We are always eager to connect with talented and driven individuals with quantitative and qualitative scientific research skills and experience working with aquatic animals. Reach out to us, and we will get back to you if we have an opportunity that aligns with your skillset. 

ADVISORY BOARD

The main purpose of our advisory board is to help shape ESR’s strategic vision, provide expert guidance, and support in addressing challenges as we work towards improving the lives of farmed aquatic animals.

Alex Suchy

Vice President of Global Programs at The Humane League

Alex has a background as an engineer, fundraiser, campaigner, strategist and currently leads global programs at The Humane League.

Yasmine Kamar

Business Director-Koudijs & Kapo Feed

Yasmine Kamar is a Business Director and Board Member of Koudijs & Kapo Feed (KKF), a leading Egyptian Dutch joint venture specializing in the production of livestock and fish feeds. Her leadership has been recognized through various honors, including being named one of Egypt’s “Top 50 Most Influential Women” and representing the country in the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) by the U.S. Department of State. She was also selected for the AUC Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 2018.

Alice Di Concetto

Executive Director, The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy

Alice Di Concetto is the Executive Director and Chief Legal Advisor at The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy. She additionally is a lecturer in animal ethics at Sciences Po (Paris, France). She was previously a fellow in the Animal Law & Policy Program at Harvard Law School, from 2016 to 2018. Alice earned a master’s degree in Animal Law (LL.M, 2016) from Lewis & Clark Law School (USA), for which she obtained a Fulbright grant. She graduated from Sciences Po Law School in Paris (Master in Law, 2015).

COLLABORATORS

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Waithera Mwangi

Finance & Operations

Maggie Casas

Maggie Casas

Senior Communications Consultant

Stuart Craig

Stuart Craig

Generalist MSc.

Shelly Steffler

Shelly Steffler

Social Media Strategist

Tim Huntington

Tim Huntington

Aquaculture strategy planning and evaluation

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Carlos Vera

Market Researcher & Content Creator

Dr Bevin Meyer, BVSc MSc

Dr Bevin Meyer

Animal Ethos Consulting Services

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Rachael Adams

Marine Biologist and Environmental Journalist

Michelle Sinclair

Dr. Michelle Sinclair

International Director
A World of Good Initiative

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Shreya Padukone

Head of Programs, Animal Law Centre, NALSAR University of Law

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Damien Aymerich

Freelance Graphic Designer

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Santiago Alcubierre

Marketing & Web