With over a decade of experience, Justin Hess and the team are on a constant mission to grow Ichthys as well as take the aquaponics industry by storm. Through years of trials, errors, research and experience, our team at Ichthys has grown into a close-knit family that also share the same passion for aquaponics as the way of future farming.
Justin Hess
Managing Director
Justin Hess is the founder of Ichthys Aquaponics Group birthed from his love for aquaponics. He also has a big passion to grow Ichthys’s footprint without borders. Through his leadership, hunger to share knowledge and passion in assisting any aquaponic farmer, Justin is someone whose name will stand as a legacy in the aquaponics industry. Justin is at his happiest with his son at his side and a fishing rod in hand making memories that will outlast generations.
Richard Hess
Chairman
Richard Hess is a highly experienced development economist, having founded and managed one of Africa’s leading development consultancy firms. As Chairman of Ichthys Group, he is committed to ensuring the group contributes to the economic development of Africa, in ways that ensure environmental sustainability and benefit all stakeholders. In addition to his work with Ichthys, Richard is also passionate about social enterprise development. In this regard, he helped found the Social Enterprise Academy Africa, for which he has been Chairman since its establishment.
Yvette Loots
Operations Manager
Yvette is one of the most formidable minds at Ichthys. Not only is she extremely perceptive, but she is also armed with the knowledge of all the comings and goings at the company. As the project and administration manager to an Enterprise Development Business Incubator, she had the opportunity to be involved on the frontline in senior-management strategy and implementation processes.
Ayanda Mkhwane
Training Manager
Ayanda has vast experience working in aquaponic farms around South Africa. She has a great passion about growing good and healthy food! Her teaching style is bubbly, contagious and fun!
Walter Lawrenz
Senior Manager
Walter Lawrence is an experienced aquaponic farm manager and team leader. Driven by his passion for nature and the outdoors, he takes pride in providing the best eco-friendly and sustainable farming solutions possible, hence aquaponics. Additionally, as a farm manager, his goal is to push the boundaries of conventional farming practices and more importantly, finding innovative ways to help other aquaponic farmers reach their full potential.
The Team
Priscar Sithole
Sales Manager
Princess Sithole
Finance & HR
Omphile Moche
AgriHub Farm Manager
Ayanda Mkhwane
Eastgate Farm District Manager
