With a PhD in Conservation Ecology and over a decade of experience in managing research teams, I am a highly skilled ecologist with a passion for biodiversity conservation, climate change, and sustainable development. My expertise lies in generating and synthesizing science to support evidence-based decision-making, both at a global scale but more focus on Africa and the SADC subregion. Despite my administrative and leadership responsibilities, I remain committed to conducting research, lecturing, publishing, and supervising students in policy-relevant research. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to human capital development and have mentored interns, research scientists, and postgraduate students at various universities.My most recent key project involved developing the first national status report on biological invasions in South Africa at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). I then went on to lead the conservation research and assessment team for Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Currently, I am an Executive Manager at the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), where I oversee a team of renowned scientists researching coral reefs, regional fisheries, estuaries, and marine protected areas in the Western Indian Ocean region.As a highly experienced professional in the field of biodiversity conservation, I have dedicated my career to bridging the gap between science and policy. My work with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has allowed me to contribute to important assessments, including the Africa regional assessment and the Global Assessment of Invasive Alien Species. In these roles, I have served as both a Lead Author and a Coordinating Lead Author, providing valuable insights on the threat of invasive alien species at local, national, and international levels.- ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4451-0988 - Google Scholar – https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=fwQAHuUAAAAJ- Scopus Author ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=23976644200 - ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sebataolo-Rahlao