Having grown up on a farm in the Natal Midlands and holidaying in wilderness areas all my life, my passion for the outdoors and wildlife started at a young age. I started working in the Ecotourism sector in 2000 whilst guiding at the Al Maha Desert Resort in the United Arab Emirates from where I relocated back to South Africa and began guiding at Mala Mala Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin. I also worked for &Beyond (CCAfrica) at Phinda Private Game Reserve as General Manager of Phinda Mountain, Rock and Zuka Lodge. After Phinda, I realised the need for a formal degree in Environmental Management. I completed my M(Phil) Environmental Management at Stellenbosch University where I graduated Cum Laude.
I am currently based in Knysna where I run Conservation Matters which is an environmental consultancy. I provide research, advisory and assessment services in the conservation and environmental sector to NGO’s and other stakeholders. I sit on the Africa Committee of the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) and manage their Media and Awareness, Business Management and Finance Portfolios. I have drafted position statements and media releases for the GRAA on the recent rhino poaching epidemic being experienced in South Africa and have conducted interviews with various media outlets on the matter. I have recently presented a paper entitled ‘Does South African legislation provide adequate protection for threatened and protected Species?’ at the International Wildlife Management Congress (IWMC). One of the focuses of this was how this relates to the plight of our rhino.