Lesley Rochat

Lesley Rochat is a South African marine and shark conservationist., campaigner, wildlife filmmaker, underwater photographer, environmental writer, author, speaker and activist. She founded the non-profit organisation AfriOceans Conservation Alliance in 2003 for which she is the Chief Executive Officer.
Rochat is a leading figure in efforts to conserve our oceans, and in shark conservation in particular. Due to her passionate efforts in shark conservation, and the lengths she goes to in order to raise awareness and change negative perceptions of sharks, such as freediving with sharks, and posing naked underwater with them, she is known as the Shark Warrior. In 2014, Rochat won the Johnnie Walker / Sunday Times Nations Greatest Challenger Awardfor her work in conservation in South Africa and for challenging conformity. In 2010 she was inducted into the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLPA) as an Associate Member, and into the Women Divers Hall of Fame. In 2013 she was inducted into the Global Oceans Society. In 2015 she was nominated for a second time for Africa's Most Influential Women in Business and Government Awards. She has appeared in numerous TV shows promoting ocean conservation including CBS News

Early life

Rochat was born in Pretoria, South Africa to Bryan Allon Rochat and Leilani Rochat. She is the middle child of a family of nine children, eight girls and one boy. Her love for the ocean was instilled from an early age when growing up along the Garden Route of South Africa.

Education

She matriculated at Krugersdorp High School. She holds a Perf. Dip. from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Early career

Rochat began modelling while studying at the University of Cape Town. She modeled swimwear and underwear for brands such Le Coq Sportif and Arena, and for stores such as Garlicks and Woolworths. After graduating from the University of Cape Town's Drama School, Rochat was accepted into the Performing Arts Council (PACT) of the Transvaal (now Gauting Province). She was cast in leading roles, playing alongside South Africa's leading actors and actresses such as Sandra Prinsloo. She was a professional actress, going on to co-direct and perform and sing in cabaret shows, perform at the State Theatre, South Africa in Pretoria, act in South African SABC TV productions, and as a SABC TV Presenter for a weekly magazine program. She diversified into the corporate world becoming a successful insurance agent with Liberty Life South Africa. In 2003 she founded AfriOceans Conservation Alliance.

AfriOceans Conservation Alliance

Rochat is the Chief Executive Officer of AfriOceans Conservation Alliance, a registered Section 21 non-profit organisation focused on marine and shark conservation based in Cape Town, South Africa. AfriOceans became established as a leading ocean conservation organisation in South Africa through the Maxine, Science, Education and Awareness Programme, a shark conservation project designed by Rochat, which involved the satellite tagging and releasing of captive raggedtooth sharks (sand tiger shark) from the Two Oceans Aquarium in South Africa. Rochat is also the principal photographer and videographer for the organisation. In 2010 under Rochat's leadership, the AfriOceans Warriors Environmental Programme, an environmental education programme funded by the National Lottery of South Africa, was established.

SWIM LIKE A SHARK is another of Rochat's educational programs, launched in 2015, which teaches water skills to underprivileged children while nurturing the next generation of ocean guardians.

Documentary Filmmaker

Rochat is the CEO of Blue Pulse Pictures, her documentary film company which produces awareness documentaries focused on the oceans. She is a producer for the SABC3 TV Human/Nature show since 2004 50|50 and has produced a number of inserts for them, including Sharks in Deep Trouble, a multi-award winning documentary about shark finning in South African waters, which she filmed, directed, produced and edited. Her production, Save Our Sharks, a short awareness film, for which she is the original producer, scriptwriter and editor, won a Panda Award. See Awards

Photographer, Environmental Writer & Author

Rochat is an environmental photojournalistand accomplished underwater photographer. Her bylines and images have been published in many newspapers (in 2010 Rochat covered the CITES conference in Doha Qatar for Associated Press) and magazines including Africa Geographic, Ocean Geographic, Diver Magazine, and Asian Diver. She runs photographic expeditions and wildlife safaris through her company, Lesley Rochat Wildlife Adventures. She is the author of educational books for children, namely Sharks, Teachers Handbook'; Alphabet of the Sea; Marine Activities; Feebee the Turtle.

Campaigner

Through AfriOceans Rochat produces campaigns aimed at raising awareness about critical ocean issues. With Saatchi & Saatchi, Cape Town, Rochat created the Rethink the Shark campaign which won a Wildscreen Panda Award in 2008. This was followed by her Rethink the Predator campaign, and Oceans Reach Out campaign. In 2012 Rochat launched the Shark Warrior campaign through AfriOceans which identifies high profile individuals who lend their fame and name to the shark conservation cause. These include South Africa's sexiest man 2014 and celebrity Johnathan Boyton-Lee, champion freediver, Trevor Hutton who dove to 70 metres in the AfriOceans Deep Freedive for Sharks campaign, and big wave surfer Frank Solomon

Extreme Conservationist

Given the lengths Rochat goes to in order to raise awareness, Rochat is considered an extreme conservationist. For two of her awareness campaigns Catches Anything, Kills Everything and Get Hooked on Conservation, Ban Drumlines, Rochat stripped naked and posed underwater with sharks surrounding her. Rochat is the voice for those who cannot speak and is often on international and national TV shows challenging policies and practices which harm marine life.

Inspirational Speaker

As a public speaker, Rochat speaks at events and to companies, organisations, universities and schools, inspiring and motivating individuals. Raising awareness about the oceans and inspiring positive global environmental change are key messages in her multi-media presentations.

Rochat's Accolades:

• 2013 - Johnnie Walker & Sunday Times Nation's Greatest Awards: WINNER in ‘The Nation's Greatest Challenger’ category
• 2013 - Africa's Most Influential Women in Business and Government Awards: Finalist in non-profit sector
• 2013 - Mail & Guardian Book of Women: 1 of 50 women featured
• 2013 - Oprah Magazine: 1 of 16 women chosen internationally for 'Women of Authentic Power'
• 2013 - Global Oceans Society: Inductee
• 2010 - Women Divers Hall of Fame: Inductee
• 2010 - International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP): Inductee - Associate Member

Video Production Awards: Rethink the Shark: Wildscreen 2008 - Panda Award & PSA/Campaign award; Jackson Hole Film Festival 2009 - Winner Campaign Award; Interfilm Berlin 2009 - Viral Video Award • Montana 2009 - Best of Category in the Non Broadcast Program Category; Missoula 2009 - Best of Category in advertising/PSA/Promo; Fastnet Short Film Festival - Special Mention; Sharks in Deep Trouble: Montana Cine International Film Festival 2008 - Conservation Message Award; 32 International Wildlife Film Festival 2009 -Honorary Conservation Message Award; 32 International Wildlife Film Festival 2009 - Honorary Investigative Journalism Award; Celebrate the Sea Festival 2009 - Outstanding Achievement Award; 36th World Festival of Underwater Pictures 2009 - Conservation Message Award 36th World Festival of Underwater Pictures 2009 - Best Information Film Award, Cat A Beneath the Waves Film Festival 2010 - Best of Festival Award Save Our Sharks: Wildscreen 2010 - Panda Award (original producer, scriptwriter and editor, original concept)

Photography Awards: Getaway Award: Fuji Photographic Awards Winner; Fuji Photographic Awards 1st Runner up Epson Underwater Category; Fuji Photographic Awards Certificate Epson Underwater Category; Fuji Photographic Awards Certificate Epson Underwater Category