Co-director of the Centre for Food Safety, Department of Food Science. NRF C2 rating.

I hold a PhD in Biotechnology, specialising in food microbiology, with a research focus on the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. I began my career at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, where I worked for three years as a medical scientist in microbiology and later in virology, gaining broad experience in infectious disease research.

I am currently based at Stellenbosch University, Food Science, where I lead applied food safety research aligned with a One Health approach. Our work focuses on a range of food commodities and foodborne pathogens across agricultural and food production systems, including Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Clostridioides difficile, and members of the Enterobacterales.

Using advanced tools such as whole genome sequencing and metagenomics, our research aims to better understand pathogen dynamics (virulence), antimicrobial resistance, and tolerance to sanitisers. Through strong food industry engagement and multidisciplinary collaborations, we seek to generate actionable insights that support safer food systems and improved public health outcomes.