Living with purpose: A career journey across continents, communities and oceans
In the heart of Mossel Bay, where the Indian Ocean meets South Africa’s Garden Route, Andrea Rowlands-Bradfield stands as a lighthouse for youth, conservation and purpose-driven leadership. Her story is a sweeping saga of adventure, reinvention and resilience, a journey that spans continents, career paths and conservation frontlines.
Today, Andrea is the Co-founder and Director of iOcean Investment Trust, a dynamic youth-focused NGO rooted in Mossel Bay. Alongside her partner-in-purpose, Sophumelela Qoma, Andrea brings her decades of experience to bear on initiatives that span education, leadership development and marine conservation.
With programs like iConnect, iLead, and Work Readiness, the organisation empowers young people to evolve from learners into community leaders, using the ocean as a guide and classroom.
Her life, filled with bold moves across continents and deep ecological insight, offers not only inspiration but tangible advice for those seeking to root their careers, and lives, in conservation.
On horseback in the veld: Andrea tracking wildlife.
A life of discovery: From Wales to Africa
Born and raised on a farm in Mid Wales, Andrea grew up surrounded by fields, hedgerows, and the rhythms of rural life. Her childhood instilled in her a deep respect for simplicity and sustainability, values that would guide her throughout adulthood.
Rare but treasured trips to the sea shaped her sense of wonder for the natural world, moments spent by the coast, collecting shells and watching seabirds wheel overhead, left an imprint that hinted at a lifelong connection to nature.
Bonded through the saddle: Andrea preparing her horse for another day of guiding in South Africa’s rugged terrain.
A pivotal moment came when Andrea met her future husband, a kindred spirit with an equally deep appreciation for wild places. Together, they forged a life rooted in shared adventure.
From their first sailing voyage to long overland travels across Europe and the African continent, they charted a course shaped more by instinct and curiosity than by plans. These travels brought them face to face with diverse ecosystems, peoples and challenges that further deepened Andrea’s sense of responsibility toward the environment.
Tracking giants on horseback: Andrea alongside rhinos, bringing guests closer to conservation in unforgettable ways.
Over the years, Andrea raised her family amidst these global explorations. From bustling African cities to isolated coastal villages, each chapter of their journey helped weave a rich tapestry of experience. But it wasn’t just movement for movement’s sake, Andrea carried her conservation ethos with her, nurturing it through every stop, always keen to observe, learn and act.
Conservation legacy: Andrea’s son participating in hands-on rhino conservation.
Yet, one of her greatest personal journeys has been raising her son, who lives with haemophilia. Andrea’s grace in balancing a high-stakes career with the realities of motherhood has made her deeply empathetic, a quality that infuses every mentorship program she leads. Her life has known hardship too, including the natural ebbs and flows of a long-term relationship marked by both deep connection and difficult transitions.
Finding purpose in Mossel Bay
Eventually, the tides led Andrea and her family to Mossel Bay, a coastal town where land, sea and sky seem to converge in an ever-changing ballet. Here, Andrea found not just a home, but a cause.
Andrea and her colleague Sophu first conceptualised the “Sea the Change” program, a project designed to empower youth through ocean literacy, hands-on marine experiences, and conservation action.
When Sophu later became Director of the Shark Research Unit in Mossel Bay, the two joined forces again. Together with Nicco, they co-founded the iOcean Investment Trust, a grassroots NGO committed to protecting the marine ecosystems of the Southern Cape.
Andrea co-leads iOcean and collaborates closely with the Shark Research Unit in Mossel Bay, advancing marine conservation and education.
As Chairperson, Andrea now helps guide collaborations between iOcean and the Shark Research Unit. While the Unit is dedicated to shark conservation, marine ecology research and providing training opportunities for young scientists and volunteers, iOcean amplifies this work by building partnerships, strengthening governance, and taking ocean literacy into schools and communities.
“This place speaks to you,” Andrea says. “You wake up and see the ocean, and you know exactly what you’re fighting for.”
Her leadership bridges science and society. Whether coordinating with researchers on shark-tagging projects, supporting environmental education through Sea the Change, or advocating for stronger ocean governance, Andrea’s touch is both strategic and deeply human.
Under her guidance, the Trust has grown into a vital connector, linking policymakers, researchers, educators and the broader community in a shared mission to protect the sea.
Simple living, deep impact
One of the most striking things about Andrea is her unwavering philosophy of simple living. Her house, surrounded by native fynbos and overlooking the sea, is a testament to this ethic.
“You don’t have to have everything to make an impact,” she notes. “Start with where you are, use what you’ve got, and make small choices that align with the future you want to see.”
Behind the lens, Andrea documenting rhinos in their natural habitat, blending storytelling with conservation action.
Andrea believes that conservation is most powerful when it becomes part of daily life. She advocates for mindful consumption, local engagement and inclusive dialogue, ensuring that every voice, no matter how small, is heard in the fight for our oceans.
Advice for aspiring conservationists
Andrea’s story is rich with practical wisdom. For those seeking to enter the field of conservation, her insights serve as a compass:
- Let life surprise you – “Some of our best choices came from not over-planning,” she shares. Trust the process and stay open to unexpected detours.
- Start local – Conservation doesn’t have to begin on a global scale. Look around your community. “Change starts in your backyard.”
- Use your voice and vote – Advocacy matters. Andrea urges people to support policies and leaders that protect the environment.
- Live what you believe – Whether it’s choosing sustainable products, reducing plastic, or supporting ethical tourism, Andrea embodies the idea that personal choices ripple outward.
- Balance passion with patience – “The ocean teaches you patience,” she says. “It’s not always about urgency, it’s about consistency.”
- Build relationships – Conservation is collaborative. Andrea stresses the importance of relationships, across sectors, ages and cultures, to make long-term impact.
The journey is the message
Andrea is more than a mentor or a director; she is a connector. She sees patterns where others see problems and builds bridges where others see divides. Her legacy lies not just in the programs she’s built but in the lives she’s transformed.
Seeing the bigger picture: Andrea taking in the vast ecosystems from above, a perspective that fuels her conservation vision.
For those seeking inspiration in conservation, leadership or life itself, Andrea’s story is a compelling map, one that reminds us that every path, no matter how winding, can lead to purpose when steered with courage, compassion and conviction.
For Andrea, the sea is more than scenery. It’s a legacy. And for those lucky enough to learn from her story, the message is clear: You don’t need to be loud to make waves. You just need to show up, stay grounded, and let your actions speak for the world you believe in.
Resources & next steps
If Andrea’s story has inspired you, here are some ways to continue your own path in conservation:
- Explore careers in conservation: Dive into downloadable Ultimate Guides to careers in conservation to discover the many roles and pathways available.
- Youth & community leadership: Learn from other inspiring changemakers through our Conservation Careers Interviews.
- Training & Courses: Boost your skills with practical Conservation Careers training programmes.
- Andrea’s work with iOcean Investment Trust: Keep up with their initiatives on Instagram @iocean_investment_trust
- Shark Research Unit (South Africa): Explore opportunities for marine research, internships and training at the Shark Research Unit.
Read the story of how a horseback safari guide became a conservation strategist, youth champion and community builder in Part 1 of this interview: From saddles to safaris: A journey of grit, grace and the great outdoors.
Featured image: Andrea observing a rhino in the bushveld, a reminder of the raw wildness that shaped her guiding years.
Author Profile | Stephanie Nicolaides
Stephanie Nicolaides is a dedicated PhD candidate in Environmental Management at the University of the Western Cape. Her research delves into the impact of plastic pollution on the Mossel Bay coastline (South Africa), with a particular focus on the effects on marine biodiversity. Her work focuses on assessing plastic presence, local knowledge, and developing sustainable solutions. Stephanie holds an MSc in Life Sciences from the University of South Africa, where her dissertation examined the behavioural ecology of African clawless otters. She also earned her BSc Hons in Life Sciences, graduating cum laude, with an honours project on personality in Leopard Tortoises. Passionate about environmental sustainability, Stephanie is committed to advancing knowledge in marine biology and contributing to efforts to protect and preserve coastal ecosystems. Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn.