mployment Record
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Manger Conservation Planning (previously titled - Head of Integrated Environmental Management and Protected Area Planning: Scientific Services).
October 2013 to date.
This position directs three units of staff covering the review of environmental impact assessments undertaken in the Province, Environmental Management Systems (applying best practice in protected areas), Protected Area Planning and development of management plans and co-ordinating the assessment of management effectiveness for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife protected areas (including world heritage and Ramsar sites). The position also involves co-ordinating the establishment of communal nature reserves and associated tourism industry (in partnership with the private business sector) and the incorporation of these incorporation into the existing state-protected areas as a means of creating viable conservation-based rural economies, providing environmental law advice, drafting conservation legislation, policies, norms and standards and co-management agreements and reviewing the same when generated by other organs of state, commenting on wildlife permit (domestic and international) permit applications, assisting with the organisation’s protected area Stewardship programme, and undertaking and co-ordinating ecological and legal research. The duties of this position also include liaison with other organs of state and non-governmental organisations on matters of overlapping environmental competencies as well as (on an ad hoc basis) neighbouring states with respect to the implementation of South African multilateral agreements, establishment and operation of trans-frontier conservation areas and environmental impact assessment processes which travers the international boundary with the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Eswatini and Mozambique. During this period, I represented Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife at regional and international IUCN meetings/COPs.
Co-ordinator Integrated Environmental Management
January 2000 to October 2012.
This position co-ordinated Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s comment on provincial environmental impact assessment and undertaking or co-ordinating environmental impact assessments required within this organisation’s protected areas, commenting on proposed environmental legislation, directing Environmental Management Systems programme and the concept development (tourism) plans for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s protected areas, ad hoc cultural heritage co-ordination and permitting within Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife protected areas. During this period, I have provided specialist environmental impact assessment and biodiversity and tourism development advice to specialist task teams set in place by the secretariat to the Convention of Biodiversity.
Natal Parks Board (predecessor to the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife)
Regional Ecologist – Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (now iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site).
January 1997 to December 1999.
Nature Conservation Scientist – Southern section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site).
January 1990 to January 1997.
These positions involved conservation undertaking and co-ordinating research and conservation monitoring, expansion of protected areas through partnerships with neighbouring landowners, specialist conservation advice to Park managers and neighbouring game farm owners.
Other Professional Experience
• Research Officer and Lecturer. University of Witwatersrand. 1987 – 1990.
• External Examiner Environmental Law, University of KZN – Howard Collage 2007 – Present.
• Chair of Council Botanical Society of South Africa 2014 – 2017.
• Council Member of the Botanical Society of South Africa 2013 – 2014.
• Executive Member of the Botanical Society of South Africa 2013 – 2017.
• Specialist Conservation Advisor to the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association committee 2015- present.
• KZN MEC for Environment