Unique Experiences

Item Description

Lunch or Dinner with Lesley Rochat — Shark and Marine Conservationist, Filmmaker, Underwater Photographer, Writer, Inspirational speaker and Activist —  in Fish Hoek, South Africa

Lesley graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where she studied dramatic arts, followed by studies in Environmental Science. She had a diverse background, which included modeling, acting and television presenting, to running a financial advisory business for many years before dedicating her life to marine conservation.

In 2003, as result of her growing concern for the ocean environment, she founded AfriOceans Conservation Alliance (AOCA), a non profit organization based in South Africa. AfriOceans achieved major success through a shark conservation project she designed that involved the satellite tagging and releasing of captive sharks. Lesley continues to lead AfriOceans in all its education, awareness and lobbying initiatives.  

She is an avid diver, a PADI Divemaster, a travel and environmental journalist, and the author of educational and children’s books about the oceans. She has been an underwater photographer for more than 15 years, and has traveled the oceans to capture its beauty to raise awareness. Lesley is also the CEO of Blue Pulse Pictures, a production company which has produced numerous marine related documentaries. Her work has been credited with two Panda Awards. She holds many other awards for her campaigns, as well as for her documentary film, Sharks in Deep Trouble. Lesley continues to actively produce awareness films which highlight the plight of our oceans and in particular of sharks – see her latest awareness film FREEDIVING WITH SHARKS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHB5W6RluBo&list=UUOG1lWIoAK92KIQEehMiVzw&index=1

Lesley is the Shark Research Institute’s Director of Media Productions and as a passionate activist she is fondly called the Shark Warrior . Her work in marine conservation is fast becoming recognized internationally; she has been inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame, the International League of Conservation Photographers and the Ocean Artists Society.

www.lesleyrochat.com

www.sharks.org

Item Special Note

Being auctioned are dinners or lunches with the world’s foremost shark experts and celebrities. It is a unique opportunity to “talk shark” face-to-face, one-on-one, with a real authority on sharks. 

How it works:

1. Bid on a celebrity, shark scientist or conservationist that lives or works in your area, unless you are willing to drive or fly to meet them in their area.

2. The winning bidder pays for the lunch or dinner and may bring as many guests as he or she wishes.

3. We will introduce the winning bidder to the celebrity, scientist or conservationist. The two of you then set a mutually agreeable  date, time and place to meet within one year of the close of the auction.

All winning bids are charitable contributions deductible from US Federal 2013 income taxes.  Funds raised by the auction will be used to support shark research and conservation programs.