Biodiversity Biobanks
MEET THE BBSA HUB TEAM
MEET THE BBSA HUB TEAM
The Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa is a network of institutions that preserve, maintain and utilise South Africa’s vast biodiversity biobanking resources – and provide critical research infrastructure for answering important questions about the world we live in.
Okay, so that’s what the BBSA is…but who are we?
Prof. Michelle Hamer
Founding Director & BBSA Lead
Prof. Michelle Hamer led the implementation of the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa project since its formal inception in 2019, through its launch, and helped build the tight-knit biobanking community we have today. Michelle holds a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and has researched and published on a range of fields including fairy shrimp and millipede taxonomy, and terrestrial invertebrate diversity and conservation. Prior to joining SANBI in 2009 she was Associate Professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and from 1994 to 1999 she was a curator at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum. Michelle retired as BBSA lead in 2024, and has since served as Extraordinary Professor at UKZN, where she continues to do research in millipede taxonomy and terrestrial invertebrate diversity and distribution in order to contribute to the conservation of invertebrates – and occasionally helps the biodiversity biobanking community find its way.
Dr Mudzuli Mavhunga
BBSA Lead & Plant DNA Biobank Manager
Dr Mudzuli Mavhunga joined the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa as Deputy Director in 2022, and has been the BBSA Lead since 2024. She is also the Manager of the SANBI Indigenous Plant DNA Biobank – leading one of the country’s most important biodiversity biobanking efforts. Mudzuli holds qualifications from all over South Africa, including a Diploma in Biotechnology from the Vaal University of Technology, a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from the Tshwane University of Technology, a BSc Honours in Plant Pathology and a Masters in Plant Pathology from the University of the Free State, and a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Johannesburg. She has decades of experience as a research plant pathologist, particularly at the Agricultural Research Council, where she developed her twin interests: using cutting-edge techniques to advance the study of plants and biodiversity in South Africa, and building capacity to empower a new generation of scientists to go further than previous generations even imagined. She does both at the BBSA – and she has no plans to stop anytime soon.
Thabiso Letsebe
Project & Operations Manager
Mr Thabiso Letsebe has been the Project Manager of the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa 2025 – where he’s used his considerable expertise to help track projects, manage workstreams and balance budgets – while helping to coordinate the activities of dozens of biobanks all over the country. Thabiso has long experience in managing innovation, expertise and research, having previously served as Open Innovation Manager at the Innovation Hub, and before that, having risen through the ranks at the Technology Innovation Agency from intern to project analyst to programme manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Genetics from the University of Pretoria, completed a programme in Advanced Project Management from the University of South Africa, and also holds both a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and a Masters in Business Administration from the Regent Business School. Probably the best part of his job is actually getting to visit various biobanks and seeing just what interesting work gets done there.
Nicklaus Kruger
Chief Technician: Science Communications
Mr Nicklaus Kruger joined the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa in 2022, and has spent every moment since then being amazed at the work done by the various institutions that make up the BBSA community. A strong believer in lifelong learning, Nicklaus obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology, Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Cape Town, followed that up with an Honours degree in Zoology from the same institution, and has since then done innumerable short courses from several accredited institutions on science communication, media matters, ecology and more. Nicklaus has experience in outreach, media liaison, social media management, science and general communication and administration, which he gained during his time with previous employers like Hip2b2, the CSIR and the University of the Western Cape (UWC). What he loves about his job: He is always the least knowledgeable person on any subject worth discussing in any given BBSA workshop, webinar or room…and he gets to talk about all the interesting stuff he learns from all those smart people.
Is that all?
No, of course not! The Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa project is a network that reaches across institutions, uniting them in the quest for biobanking excellence. Stakeholders include SANBI (as the host institution), the DSI (in multiple roles), and the managers and staff of the broader institutions or departments under which the biobanks fall.
