Kara Majerus
Co-founder, Managing Director and Head of Research and Conservation
Email: k.majerus@sorce.org
Kara Majerus is a Marine Conservationist and Biological communicator specialising in broadcast, written, photographic and direct communications. She runs a sole trader company with the purpose of educating and engaging with audiences of all ages and levels. She holds a first-class Honours BSc. in Zoology with Animal Behaviour from Bangor University, an MSc. in Biological Photography and Imaging from The University of Nottingham and an MSc. in Conservation Ecology from Oxford Brookes University. She is currently studying for her PhD in Wildlife Trade with a particular focus on marine species and the illegal markets. Her interest in organismal biology was born with her and has since grown considerably thanks to a childhood spent travelling and researching with her evolutionary ecologist father. Her dedication to conservation was irrevocably sealed during a three-month expedition to the rainforests and reefs of Indonesia where she carried out a study regarding the ranging behaviours of Malay Civets, and assisted in the surveying and monitoring of the coral reef ecosystems and achieved her PADI Advanced Open Water Diver qualification. Now a PADI Divemaster, and Reef Check Instructor she develops marine science and conservation courses and utilises scuba diving in her teachings. Since returning from Indonesia she has worked as: a Deputy-Branch Manager and Scientific Presenter – inspiring children to pursue science; a Research Assistant over a four-year period working within the fields of entomology and genetics; and a Biological Communicator and Author. She has also been on the council of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society (AES) as well as developing and running the Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire branches of the British Naturalists Association (BNA).
In 2016 Kara co-founded SORCE and set out to build a marine research and conservation non-profit from the ground up. Here at SORCE Kara leads the team as the organisation’s Managing Director and heads up all Research and Conservation activity, eco-venture and student co-ordination and partnership liaison – including advising the government departments of Indonesia with whom we work. When not underwater leading diving activities, or developing ways to expand or improve our efforts here in the Secret Gilis Kara works on securing funding through grant submissions and fundraising campaigns and puts her background in photography and scientific communications to use in developing new marketing strategies and materials for the organisation. Her passion for the protection of the natural world is unparalleled and she continually endeavours to broaden her appreciation of the difficulties that face the Earth and the impact mankind is having on virtually all the ecosystems on our planet.
Michael Sayers
Co-founder, Director and Head of Oceanic Chemistry
Email: m.sayers@sorce.org
From a young age, Michael Sayers has had a fascination with the natural world and how it functions. In particular, his interests were drawn toward the link between biological and chemical elements. This led him to choose an education which focused on how the world works at the chemical and molecular levels. In 2010 he attained his BSc. in Chemistry with Biomolecular Sciences from Bangor University and then went on to achieve an MSc. in Biomolecules for Medicine. Since graduating, his career has focused on chemical aspects of the world ranging from medical device research and development to hazardous waste management and lab testing. Now a keen scuba diver with a PADI Divemaster and Reef Check Eco-Diver status, Michael’s eyes have been opened to the marine world and the challenges that face all life under the water. Being from a chemical background gives Michael a unique perspective on the devastating effects of human activity on the marine world. He believes that the application of chemical theory will play a big role in finding solutions to many of the environmental issues we face today. Michael strives to continually expand his understanding of the natural world and aims to help combat negative impacts on the environment across the entire ecosphere.
Michael supported Kara as co-founder through the initial establishment of the organisation in 2016 until its registration as a limited company in mid-2018. He now assists in the running of the company as a Director and takes a leading role in developing and implementing initiatives focused on oceanic chemistry, sustainability and waste management. As a natural problem solver, he is forever developing inventive ways to reduce the costs and carbon footprint associated with running our facility. When not leading dive activities Michael works tirelessly to develop recycling initiatives, not just for our facility but for the wider community in which we reside.
Izy Rigby
Director and Head of Finance and Administration
Email: i.rigby@sorce.org
Isobel (Izy) Rigby is a Finance & Operations Manager with a difference! Izy grew up in Llandudno, North Wales and after Uni travelled extensively, running bars & restaurants all over the place before finding her dream job with Live Nation in venue management. For nearly 10 years in both the UK & Ireland Izy honed her operational skills in the corporate world of musical entertainment and theatre as part of the management teams for the Motorpoint Arena (Cardiff), the Dominion Theatre (We Will Rock You), and the Lyceum (The Lion King) in the west end while still acting as backstage manager for both Download and the Hyde Park music festivals in 2009 before then moving across the Irish sea to Dublin to open the multi-million euro venue, the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. After 5 incredible years at the BGET (during which time she finished a degree in Mathematics from the Open University), she moved to the charitable organisation, Rua Red (Ireland’s largest multi-disciplinary arts venue) as General Manager and then Executive Director. During this time she was also the Finance Manager for EUCIDA, a collaborative digital art project over 3 years partnered with French and Latvian organisations and co-funded by Creative Europe. Inspired by a deep love of the ocean instilled in her from a young age by her family she decided to volunteer at a Marine conservation centre in Malaysia, where she learned to dive and met our co-founders.
In March 2019 Izy became a part of the SORCE family and has become an integral member of the team. She puts her skills and expertise to excellent use handling the organisation’s accounts and assisting Kara in all matters related to Administration and Human Resources, as our (self-proclaimed) Spreadsheet Queen. Now a PADI Divemaster, Reef Check Eco-Diver Izy also spends a great deal of time under the waves leading dives and carrying out project activities.