I am the owner and CEO of Apex Conservation Services. I am a Natural Resource Ecologist with over 18 years of experience in the Biodiversity Conservation Sector. I gained invaluable experience working in prominent National Parks within South Africa and more recently providing environmental consulting services. I am a passionate conservationist who believes in the conservation of our natural resources through sustainable utilization. My team and I provide services locally and internationally and work with private businesses, governments, NPOs, universities, and other tertiary institutions. I have extensive experience in ecological restoration, invasive alien plant ecology and control, development of feasibility studies for climate mitigation and nature-based solution programs, ecological assessments and management planning, development and management of biodiversity social projects, and the facilitation of restoration and conservation-based skills development programs. I hold a National Diploma (Cum Laude) which I attained from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

I was invited to join Conservation Management Services as a partner in the firm during 2015. Conservation Management Services is essentially an environmental consultancy that provides ecological and environmental services to the formal conservation sector, private landowners, developers and educational institutions in Africa and internationally.Core areas of involvement over the period include:• Habitat and Vegetation Assessments• Ecological Baseline Assessments• Wildlife Introduction and Management Planning• Landscape Restoration - technical support and implementation• Environmental Project Management • Specialist Studies for Environmental Impact Assessments• Environmental Feasibility Studies• Nature-Based Solution project development• Invasive species control planning and implementation aligned with NEM:BA• Skills development - course development, facilitation and moderation

I was employed as a Regional Manager within SANParks Biodiversity Social Projects division responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of projects and programs within Addo Elephant, Mountain Zebra, Camdeboo and Karoo National Parks. Core areas of responsibility included ; Strategic Planning, Project Feasibility and Development, Implementation, Human Resource and Financial Management, Skills Development and Mentorship. Myself and team established and implemented 18 projects across five prominent programs including; Working for Water, Working for Ecosystems, Working for Wetlands, Working for the Coast and Biocontrol. The annual combined budget consisted of approximately R52 million and was able to extend employment opportunities to more than 1500 participants annually.

I was employed as a full time project manager within SANParks Biodiversity Social Projects division responsible for the Invasive Species Control Unit, Biological Control, Restoration of Wetlands and Working for the Coast programs.Core areas of responsibility included:Project feasibility, Strategic Planning, Project Development and Implementation, Human Resource Management, Financial Management, Occupational Health and Safety, Skills Development and Mentorship.

Conservation Guardianship and Resource Management, Law Enforcement, Animal Husbandry, Infrastructure Maintenance.