The ArtSy team
We are a team from different fields and backgrounds, who care about the state of the world and its inhabitants. We recognize that there are likely billions of other people who do as well. We acknowledge that mankind’s ability to improve the world is incredibly high, should a collective decision be made amongst ourselves. We believe there are enough people who want a better world, to make it a reality. Are you one of us? Join our community.
Meet the Founders
Shamiso Banda (Co-Founder & CEO)
With a background in natural sciences, I’ve learned a lot about the state of the world and human history. The learning continues as I grow into my PhD research which focuses on contributing to improving science communication to build a more informed and engaged public.
I thought of starting ArtSy because I am profoundly committed to contributing to a better world for all—using communication as my tool. Over the years, my growing love for public speaking (through academic conference presentations, public lectures, and panel participation), combined with a desire to share the sustainability-related knowledge I’ve acquired, has driven me to explore how we can facilitate global cooperation.
In a nutshell, I am a researcher, conservationist, and communicator with a goal to bring a message of collective action to the forefront of humanity’s attention. I want to invite everyone into a figurative room, give a brief talk on the history of unsustainability and how we can be changemakers today, ultimately asking: are we ready to unite and tackle global challenges together? I want to see that result. I believe that achieving the SDGs will be a gamechanger for humanity—and that journey starts with strategic communication leading to collective action. With that in mind, I gave Natasha a call.
Natasha Shilubane (Co-Founder & Chief Communications Officer)
I’m a scientific researcher by training and a science communication connoisseur by choice. I pursued my passion for conservation science by enrolling in a general BSc at Wits University and eventually earned an MSc in Marine Biology. Throughout that journey, I explored my obsession with social media and realized I could use it as a tool to spread awareness about the wonderful and important work I came across and participated in throughout my academic and professional career. I created content for and managed the social media pages of various scientific projects and NGOs I worked for. I believe that the solution to our world’s problems lies in effective communication between all parties, but it’s up to the changemakers to initiate that conversation.