Marnie Light

Experience

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  Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal

  Oct 1999 - Dec 2009

  Researcher

  Research interests:• The stimulation of germination and plant growth by plant-derived smoke• Testing medicinal plants for biological activity (e.g. antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity)• Bioactivity-guided fractionation leading to compound isolation• Plant tissue culture studiesResponsibilities:• Postgraduate student supervision and training• Laboratory management• Chemicals database implementation and updating• Organization of annual mini-symposium Show less

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  Institute for Commercial Forestry Research

  Jan 2010 - Mar 2016

  In this role, I was responsible for managing the Re-establishment Research Programme within the ICFR (project management / coordination of multiple applied research projects and collaborations; regular progress reporting; projects administration; budget planning; team management). As a Programme Manager, I also participated in the ICFR Management Team, with a more general role in the leadership and management of the whole institute. The ICFR held regular "Field Days" throughout the year for providing feedback to all our stakeholders, usually via presentations on the findings of our applied research trials. Other activities included involvement in the biennial Forest Science Symposium (participation in the Science Committee and adjudication of presentations and posters), as well as publication of reports and articles in peer-reviewed journals.My main research focus (Project Leader) was on Pine and Eucalypt Regeneration Research. This project aimed to:- Investigate environmental, physiographic and plant physiological factors that affect regeneration of pine and eucalypts;- Investigate nursery, silviculture and management issues related to the regeneration of pine and eucalypts;- Understand the impact of poor survival, uniformity and growth on long-term growth and yield; and- Develop cost-effective recommendations that minimize stress and maximize survival, growth and uniformity during regeneration.I was also involved (as Project Co-leader) on other several other research projects relating to:- Coppice Management Research;- Vegetation Management Research; and- Forest Protection Research (insect pests of eucalypts and pines; baboon damage in pines; diseases of pines, eucalypts and black wattle; and fire management strategies, such as undercanopy burning). Show less

  • Programme Manager: Re-Establishment Research

    Jan 2013 - Mar 2016

  • Senior Research Scientist

    Jan 2010 - Dec 2012
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  University of KwaZulu-Natal

  Jul 2010 - now

  Honorary Research Fellow

  Since 2010, I have had an honorary research appointment at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, with academic affiliation to the Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences (where I previously worked as a researcher and also completed my post-graduate studies). I have continued to publish some scientific studies related to my previous research with the department, as well as supervise some postgraduate students (although I am not currently supervising any students).

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  New Britain Palm Oil Limited

  May 2016 - now

  Currently managing the Ramu Research Services department (RAIL R&D) and leading applied research related, but not limited, to:- Sugarcane entomology and plant pathology (IPM solutions against sugarcane pests and diseases to support sugarcane agriculture at RAIL)- Sugarcane agronomy and variety selection trials at RAIL- Oil palm entomology and plant pathology (IPM solutions against oil palm pests and diseases to support oil palm agriculture at RAIL and MFCL)- Oil palm agronomy and plant breeding trials at RAIL/MFCL Show less My role at the Dami Oil Palm Research Station (OPRS), in Papua New Guinea, was as the Research Coordinator / Head of Plant Breeding. I managed all of the plant breeding research for NBPOL for the development of elite oil palm material to ensure continuous progress to maximise profitability. This involved all aspects related to pollen collection, controlled pollinations, field trial design and implementation, data collection, bunch analysis, database management and quality control. This work was carried out in collaboration with an oil palm breeding expert (Frédéric Dumortier) for specific breeding selections on dura, pisifera and tenera. I also coordinated various activities between our Plant Breeding section, the Biotechnology Laboratory (tissue culture) and the Seed Production Unit to maximise outputs of elite material for oil palm seed production. We also collaborated with the PNG Oil Palm Research Association (PNGOPRA) on projects related to plant pathology, entomology, agronomy and oil palm related sociology. I also coordinated other collaborative projects with the Sime Darby Plantation Research divisions in Malaysia and Indonesia, and managed the collaboration and oil palm germplasm transfer programme from Dami OPRS to Verdant Biosciences in Indonesia.In practical terms, my management role involved: Overseeing the Plant Breeding teams (~110 field and office workers); Ensuring full compliance with NBPOL General Regulations, Environmental Policy, OHS, Social Policy and Management Guidelines; Project management / coordination of projects, project administration and budget planning; Regular progress reporting; Team management and training, coaching and mentoring of employees. Show less

  • Research Coordinator / Department Head - Ramu Research Services

    Feb 2022 - now

  • Research Coordinator / Head of Plant Breeding - Dami Oil Palm Research Station

    May 2016 - Jan 2022