Dr Rowan Naicker is a geospatial and remote sensing scientist with more than a decade of expertise applying advanced Earth observation and geospatial technologies to ecological monitoring, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable land-use planning. He holds a PhD and MSc in Environmental Science, alongside Honours and undergraduate degrees in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Rowan specializes in applied geospatial solutions for climate-related risks, particularly flood exposure and vulnerability modelling, working across government, academia, and development sectors. In South Africa, he has led the development of flood exposure and vulnerability assessments for KZN CoGTA, integrating remote sensing, machine learning, and spatial modelling to inform land-use guidelines, development frameworks, and disaster risk governance. He has also contributed to research on soil carbon modelling, ecosystem restoration, urban green infrastructure, and food system resilience. Rowan has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications, including papers in several internationally recognised high-impact journals such as ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Science of the Total Environment, Journal of Environmental Management, CATENA, Geoderma Regional, and Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.