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Conservation through Research, Education & Collaboration

OUR PATRONS

At The Manta Trust, our patrons are a valued part of our team, whose ability to endorse our work is invaluable. The role of our patrons is to support the work of our charity, by lending their credibility and high profile to help with fundraising, campaigning and public relations. The Manta Trust patrons are instrumental in supporting the conservation efforts of our charity, in ways such as contributing to the public image of our charity, raising funds by encouraging contributions and sponsorship, hosting or attending fundraising or other events, and attracting new supporters.

These passionate individuals recognise the importance of protecting manta rays and their marine habitats and their representation of the Manta Trust helps to promote conservation awareness and advocate for sustainable practices.

 
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STEVE BACKSHALL

Wildlife TV Presenter

Steve Backshall is a familiar face and house-hold name, perhaps best-known for his phenomenally successful Deadly series. The most recent, Deadly Mission Shark for CBBC inspires children to become shark ambassadors. 

An all-action hero, Steve has led overseas expeditions and explored some of the most incredible places on the planet. He recently travelled across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans filming Whale for Sky TV, a ground-breaking programme tracking our most iconic, yet threatened, species. He has also appeared in series two of Our Changing Planet for BBC One, an ambitious seven-year series documenting six of the planet's most threatened ecosystems.

His most recent book, Deep Blue published in 2023, is a blend of memoir, travel, and marine and environmental science that takes us on a tour of the many worlds of aquatic life.

Steve has been a powerful voice for sharks and rays for many years, particularly in changing people’s mindsets behind their unfortunate reputation, and raising awareness of the fisheries threatening them with extinction.

 
 
 
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ROGER MUNNS

Underwater Cameraman

Roger Munns is an Emmy and BAFTA award-winning cameraman. He was one of the principal cameramen on Blue Planet II and has worked extensively on other landmark BBC natural history productions such as Life, Life Story and Life in Cold Blood.

Roger has been a friend and vocal supporter of the Manta Trust for many years, even before becoming an official patron.

 
 
 
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SARAH RICHARD

Founder of Girls that Scuba

Sarah Richard is the founder of Girls that Scuba - now the largest female dive community. A full-time digital nomad, Divemaster and travel blogger, Sarah started Girls that Scuba to connect women who have a passion for the ocean and diving with each other and just three years later Girls that Scuba has over 500,000 members from around the globe. Girls that Scuba share stories of female empowerment, plastic education and ocean restoration as well as encouraging and inspiring more people to start scuba diving. Click the link below to find out more about Girls that Scuba, including their female only dive trips and plastic and waste free online store.

Sarah is dedicated to supporting vital marine conservation, including the work of the Manta Trust. We are delighted to welcome her to the Manta Team and look forward to many exciting future collaborations!

 
 
 
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DOUG ALLAN

Polar & Underwater Cameraman / Photographer

Doug Allan is a Scottish wildlife and documentary cameraman and award-winning photographer. As the recipient of the Fuchs Medal and the Polar Medal (twice), no other cameramen is as experienced filming in polar regions as Doug – whether on the ice or diving under it. He has won countless awards for his photography, on programmes including The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Life, Human Planet and Frozen Planet.

Like all of our longest-standing patrons, Doug has championed the Manta Trust and its work for many years, and we’re fortunate to have him as a patron and conservation ally.

 
 
 
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ZOONA NASEEM

PADI Course Director & Marine Conservationist

Zoona Naseem was one of the first female Maldivians to qualify as a PADI Scuba Instructor in 1996 and went on to become the Maldives’ first woman to obtain the rank of PADI Course Director (which represents just 1% of the diving industry). Having worked for over 24 years as a PADI professional in a number of resorts and dive centres teaching a huge number of local Maldivians to dive, Zoona went on to open her own dive centre and PADI 5 star Instructor Development facility called Moodhu Bulhaa.

Zoona is a diving icon in the Maldives and is much respected for breaking gender barriers as well as being a strong advocate for marine conservation and encouraging the next generation to take the plunge. Her work has been recognised by numerous national and international awards, most recently the Local Hero Award at the Oceans Awards 2019. 

Zoona aims to convince Maldivian parents that the ocean is a safe place and to encourage them to allow their children to enjoy it. For her, in a country like the Maldives, the oceans should be their playground, and their children should be swimming before they walk.

 
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