Dr. Adriana Marais

Pioneering Off-World Living and Sustainability
Dr. Adriana Marais is a visionary on a mission to redefine human resilience, sustainability, and community spirit through Proudly Human’s Off-World Project. This groundbreaking initiative aims to demonstrate the strength of human innovation and imagination by preparing for life on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, while also empowering those living in harsh conditions here on Earth.
In 2019, Adriana left her role as Head of Innovation at SAP Africa to found Proudly Human, driven by her vision of a future we can be proud of, no matter which planet we call home. Her leadership and dedication have taken her to some of the most extreme environments on Earth, including Antarctica, Norway, deserts across the US, Middle East, and Africa, as well as the Aquarius Reef Base underwater habitat and various submarine naval bases. These expeditions have been vital for scouting locations for Proudly Human’s Off-World Project.
Leveraging her extensive global network, Adriana has assembled teams of advisors, technology partners, and community members to drive the Off-World Project. This series of off-grid habitation experiments in the most extreme environments on Earth is not only a preparation for interplanetary living but also a step towards a more sustainable future here at home.