WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2024 65 to establish an active aquaculture consulting and supply company, and also to become a partner for a shrimp farm in Egypt. Many fellow members of the EgAS can also attest to having benefitted immensely from WAS’s deliverables on aquaculture science, education, networking, technological advancements and conferences. In 2018, you were elected as the first and pioneer President of the African Chapter of WAS (WAS-AC). What were your focused key result areas? The membership of WAS in Africa voted for me to lead the Executive Board of the WAS-AC. The process started during the first WAS World Conference in Africa, which took place in Cape Town in 2017. EgAS was probably the largest national aquaculture society in Africa by membership base and also affiliated to the WAS. With my leadership experience, WAS members in Africa encouraged me to take on the task of leading the Chapter. My role was initially and understandably quite overwhelming as it entailed establishing the Chapter structures from scratch, and thinking through on how to best manage it. The clear WAS guidelines on establishing a Chapter, and also the very supportive, result oriented Interim Executive Board of Directors and a functional Secretariat contributed greatly to the success of this task. So, in a way, being a pioneer, I planted and nurtured the seeds for the vibrant and sustainable society we now have today. My next biggest milestone was to co-ordinate the organisation of the first Aquaculture Africa Conference (AFRAQ21) as a key deliverable for the Chapter. Thankfully, this was successfully held in Alexandria, Egypt in March 2022. What were the major challenges you faced as President of the WAS-AC? Africa is a diverse continent culturally, economically and in many other areas. Its aquaculture landscape has many disparities. We decided to organise the continent into five strategic regions of operation (North, West, Eastern, Central and Southern Africa) EDITOR’S NOTE: Aquaculture Africa Media (AAM), one of the leading international networking platforms on African aquaculture, provides us an interview with Dr. Sherif Sadek, a renowned aquaculture professional from Egypt. He was also the First President of the African Chapter of WAS (WASAC) from 2018 to 2022. As a gesture to recognize his service, he received a WAS Exemplary Honorary Service Award at the Aquaculture Africa Conference 2023 (Zambia). You are a long-serving member of the WAS, having joined the organisation in 1991. What enticed or propelled you to join the WAS? I am a believer in organised societies, having seen the power they have to bring like-minded peoples and parties together for cooperation, collaboration and mutual support. Like in many other sectors, societal cohesion has also been seen and encouraged as a strategic pillar for the advancement and strengthening of the aquaculture sector globally. With all this in mind, and many other inherent benefits, I made a decision to join the WAS in 1991. Remember, the WAS was already in existence since 1969. I didn’t want to be left behind on its interesting and progressive journey. As a renowned global aquaculture expert, in what ways has the WAS and its deliverables been beneficial to your profession over time? Since joining the WAS over three decades ago, I can attest to being one of the living testimonies of aquaculture career excitement and advancement. I started with my undergraduate studies at a University in France, then proceeded post-graduating at some WAS affiliated Universities in the USA and elsewhere, to connecting with fellow WAS young researchers and professionals worldwide, most of whom were mentored through the WAS system. I went on to occupying leadership positions as Vice Chairperson of the Egyptian Aquaculture Society (EgAS) and being the first, or pioneer, President of the WAS-AC. This has enabled me not only to build my capacity in aquaculture but also further instigated confidence in me Interview with Dr. Sherif Sadek — President Emeritus, African Chapter, World Aquaculture Society Aquaculture Africa Media As a founding partner of a shrimp farm near Port-Said, Dr. Sadek maintains an active role in the commercial sector. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 66)
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