15ᵀᴴ OPPENHEIMER RESEARCH CONFERENCE
7-9 October 2026
The Oppenheimer Research Conference (ORC), hosted by Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation, is a leading platform for natural and environmental science in Africa. Since 2010, it has brought together researchers, practitioners, and organizations to share knowledge, spark collaboration, and inspire action.
Through plenaries, presentations, posters, and panel discussions, ORC tackles urgent issues including biodiversity loss, landscape ecology, climate change, wildlife economies, and heritage. By amplifying Africa-led research and scientific voices, the conference contributes to conservation and sustainable solutions that benefit both the continent and the world.
ONLINE SESSIONS
Details for the online sessions will be released closer to the time. Please check back soon for updates.
Presentation Agenda
DAY 1: Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Session 1: Chair | Duncan MacFadyen (09:00 – 10:20)
Welcome and Introduction
Nicky Oppenheimer
Keynote Address
Minister David Meynier
Welcome and Introduction
Stuart Pimm
Is Earth’s biodiversity really in peril?
Session 2: Chair | Rendani Nenguda (10:20 – 12:50)
From cave to landscape: New insights into the depositional context, paleoenvironment, and behavioural significance of Homo naledi
Results Presentation Tebogo Makhubela
An energy flow view of African terrestrial ecosystems
Full presentation Yadvinder Malhi
MUFASA: Mapping Unseen Fungi Across South Africa
Results Presentation Cobus Visagie
An energetics-based decision-support tool for prey impact assessment for cheetah management
Results Presentation Elizabeth Kennedy Overton
Medicinal plants of South Africa: past, present and future perspectives
Full Presentation Nox Makunga
Seasonal variation in activity budget and daily path length of Indri indri across Mahatsara, Ihofa, and Mantadia forests in eastern Madagascar
Results Presentation Rio Heriniaina
JWO RESEARCH GRANT RECIPIENT AWARD PRESENTATION
Jonathan Oppenheimer
Session 3: Chair | Pumla Dlamini (14:00 – 15:30)
Biodiversity Capacity as a scientifically robust metric for predicting and scaling biodiversity
Full presentation Andrew Davies
Implications of Ecological Drivers on Roan Antelope Populations in Mokala National Park, South Africa
Results Presentation Nkabeng Mzileni
Impact of Invasive Rosaceae Shrubs on Bird and Rodent Diversity in Montane Grasslands
Results Presentation Karabo Moloi
More than a nest: engineering communities in the Kalahari
Results Presentation Robert Thomson
Managing Shared Risks in South Africa’s Game Meat Sector: A One Health Perspective from Experts and Value Chain Actors
Results Presentation Lydia Bhebhe
Session 4: Chair | Hayley Clements (16:00 – 17:00)
Unlocking investment and institutions for inclusive African wildlife economies
Hayley Clements
Susan De Witt
Letlhogonolo Kamuti
Nabott Mbeeli
Letlhogonolo Kamuti
Movie introduction | Shivani Balla, Peter N’dungu and Muha Gomate (18:00 – 18:15)
Movie Premiere (18:15 – 19:30)
SAMBURU
DAY 2: Thursday, 8 October 2026
Session 1: Chair | Peter Makumbe (08:30 – 9:40)
Plenary
Lee White
Transforming Science into Conservation Action in the Congo Basin
Juvenile and mature species composition: Monitoring demographic bottlenecks in the Lowveld savanna
Speed presentation Belinda Mtetwa
Mapping baobab trees with machine learning and satellite imagery in the semi-arid savannas of Southern Africa
Speed presentation Chafika Phiri
Where, How, and Why: Unravelling Black-Backed Jackal Space Use Through Movement and Behaviour on Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
Speed presentation Geke Woudstra
Human-related land use shapes microplastic and phthalate accumulation in an African subterranean mammal
Speed presentation Erin Brooke
Evaluating the influence of Seriphium plumosum and grazing lawns on termite diversity and foraging
Speed presentation Khensani Masingi
The Wildlife Economy Investment Index: Turning Conservation Performance into Financial Power in Africa
Speed presentation Christian Adebambo
The potential of using road culverts for safe wildlife crossings along a provincial road in South Africa
Speed presentation Christoffel de Lange
Group Q&A session
Session 2: Chair | Bailey Corder (11:00 – 13:00)
Measuring rangeland performance relative to potential: Separating climate and management signals from space
Results Presentation Andy Cunliffe
Can elevated CO2 help savanna trees escape the fire trap? Linking carbon gain to post-fire regrowth
Full Presentation Edith Singini
Uncharted waters: first insights into bottlenose wedgefish (Rhynchobatus australiae) movement ecology at a critical aggregation site in southern Mozambique
Results Presentation David Gilroy
Evidence-based conservation for functional outcomes
Full presentation Johan du Toit
Managing rangelands for ecological functionality: how cattle grazing strategies shape plant and soil stoichiometric heterogeneity
Results presentation Zibanani Seletlo
Early human occupation at Witberg 1 on the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve intensified during the Middle Pleistocene
Results presentation Benjamin Schoville
Session 3: Chair | Wendy Panaino (14:00 – 15:30)
Over a Decade of Observation: Building Long-Term Ecological Baselines in the Greater Dyer Island Marine Ecosystem
Results Presentation Loraine Shuttleworth
Harmony With Wildlife – encouraging wildlife within rural African communities
Results Presentation Janiel Padayachy
Silent Passengers: Exploring the Hidden Infections in Afrotropical Birds
Full presentation Mduduzi Ndlovu
Progress in mapping and monitoring South African wetland biodiversity using earth observation
Result Presentation Laven Naidoo
Sticking your neck out for giraffe – an emerging conservation success story across the continent
Results Presentation Julian Fennessy
Session 4: Chair | Kimberleigh Tommy (16:00 – 17:00)
Beyond the Lens: Reclaiming Africa’s Conservation Narrative
Kimberleigh Tommy
Panel Members
Nancy Iraba
Noel Kok
Manu Akatsa
Nyancho NwaNri
Celebrating the Legacy | JWO Research Grant (17:20 – 18:00)
Hayley Clements
Bernard Coetzee
2026 Recipient
DAY 3: Friday, 9 October 2026
Session 1: Chair | Andre Tranquelini (08:30 – 10:30)
Plenary
Natasha Ribeiro
Socio-ecology of African Woodlands: Pathways to Sustainable Management
Seasonal long-distance movement of male African elephants within the protected environments of Northwest Zimbabwe
Results Presentation Peter Makumbe
Why grassland restoration practices should include forbs
Full Presentation Frances Siebert
Regenerative livestock production using indigenous cattle provides a key solution to human health and global environmental sustainability
Results presentation Richard Fynn
Representing African landscapes in land surface models: leveraging Pan-African networks of data
Results presentation Enimhien Akhabue
Fish for the future – development of a strategy to mitigate the impacts of climate change on fish populations
Results Presentation Warren Potts
JWO Research Grant 2025 Snapshot
The AQUA-STR project: Investigating trophic tipping points in African freshwater ecosystems under climate and invasion stress.
2025 JWO Research Grant recipient Nompumelelo Baso
Session 2: Chair | Max Makuvise (11:10 – 14:00)
From Illicit to Investable: Trade Intelligence and the Future of Wildlife Economies in Africa
Results Presentation David Newton
A decade-long analysis of waterbird diversity and population dynamics at Biri Dam, Zimbabwe (2014-2023)
Results Presentation Tawanda Tarakini
Maloti-Drakensberg Mountain temporary ponds: a source of incredible aquatic biodiversity
Results Presentation Samuel Motitsoe
Protected areas and wildlife conservation in West and Central Africa: lessons learned, emerging challenges and leadership
Full Presentation Etotépé Sogbohossou
Translational conservation genetics research in South Africa
Results Presentation Paulette Bloomer
Safeguarding southern Africa’s east flowing rivers global freshwater biodiversity hotspot.
Results Presentation Gordon O’Brien
Protecting South African ecosystems through the biological control of invasive pines and wattles
Full Presentation Grant Martin and Kim Canavan
TBC
Results Presentation George Hughes
Your Turn to Talk
ORC Feedback Session
CONFERENCE AWARDS and CLOSE Nicky Oppenheimer
Nicky Oppenheimer
