ceo@birdlife.org.za
Mark’s main responsibility is to grow BirdLife South Africa into a leading conservation organisation, and one in which all aspects of the organisation’s work is done professionally and on a scientific basis.
accounts@birdlife.org.za
Fanie oversees the activities of the Business Division, consisting of bookkeeping, administration, events, membership, publications and the Wakkerstroom Centre. He is responsible for the financial management of the organisation, including financial reporting to the Board of Directors and the Audit and Risk Committee. Fanie serves on several organisational committees, including the African Birdlife Magazine Management, Marketing and Fundraising Committees. He is also responsible for the financial management of the BirdLife National Trust and the Middelpunt Wetland Trust.
hanneline.smit-robinson@birdlife.org.za
Hanneline recently took up the position as Head of BirdLife South Africa’s Conservation Division. Her key responsibilities include oversight of the Terrestrial Bird and Seabird Conservation Programmes, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area/Key Biodiversity Area Programme, Policy and Advocacy engagement, regional support and avitourism projects. For the past nine years, Hanneline spearheaded the programme responsible for the conservation of the country’s most threatened terrestrial (landbird) species.
info@birdlife.org.za
Kathleen is responsible for all the front office reception duties and also provides administrative support to the membership programme.
Julia is responsible for BirdLife South Africa’s day-to-day financial administration and bookkeeping functions.
subscriptions@birdlife.org.za; officeadmin@birdlife.org.za
Janine is responsible for the administration of the subscription data base of African Birdlife as well as day-to-day administration at Isdell House.
membership@birdlife.org.za
Shireen is responsible for the overall management of BirdLife South Africa’s membership programme. This includes the administration of current members and, at various events, the recruitment, of new members.
Isabel oversees the full spectrum of Human Resource Management services and Governance, ensuring strict adherence to labour legislation, occupational health and safety standards, internal governance policies, and all other relevant regulatory frameworks.
mpho.magidi@birdlife.org.za
Mpho is responsible BirdLife South Africa’s internal and external marketing, media and communications, including writing, website administration, newsletters and social media.
keneilwe.makalela@birdlife.org.za
Keneilwe is a Bookkeeper. Keneilwe is born and raised in Hammanskraal, Stinkwater. She is a proud graduate of the University of Johannesburg with a BCom Accounting degree. She is currently studying a bridging course to the CTA with Milpark Education. Previously she was working as a bookkeeper for Khulisa Social Solutions.
Kurt is our Head of Communications, dedicated to bringing the wonder of birds, birding, and BirdLife South Africa’s vital work to a wider audience. He is responsible for our communications and marketing strategies, and using various forms of media to highlight conservation success stories and bring attention to the challenges faced by our precious birds. When out of the office, Kurt can reliably be found hiking and rock climbing around the country, always with a pair of binoculars close at hand.
Ntombi Mbuli has been an integral part of the BirdLife South Africa team since 2018 and is responsible for the professional housekeeping and cleaning of Isdell House and the R.J. Downie Conservation Wing.
Tarryn.McKechnie@birdlife.org.za
Tarryn is the Philanthropy Officer at BirdLife South Africa, where she works closely with donors to build meaningful partnerships that safeguard the country’s birdlife and natural heritage. A qualified Social Worker, she began her career in HIV & AIDS prevention within the tertiary education sector before pursuing a Master’s degree in Management and Development, with a special focus on Corporate Social Responsibility. Tarryn’s love for the outdoors and passion for birding inspire her daily work, where she combines her people-centred background with her dedication to conservation.
Clare.Neall@birdlife.org.za
Clare Neall, our Events Manager, is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). Her career has spanned many years in the global events, conference, incentive and exhibition industry. Clare will be working with the team at Isdell House in Johannesburg and be responsible for coordinating the Virtual African Bird Fair and Flock to Marion voyage.
baile.sechabe@birdlife.org.za
Baile is responsible for administering membership applications, the renewal of existing memberships, printing of membership cards, and administering payments.
andrea.angel@birdlife.org.za
Andrea is a Chilean national, but a Capetonian at heart. She is responsible for managing the Albatross Task Force team in South Africa and lead BirdLife International policy and advocacy at the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation. Her role also includes engaging with BirdLife’s Common Oceans project and assisting with the upcoming project to eradicate mice from South Africa’s Marion Island.
Charlotte.Boyd@birdlife.org.za
Charlotte is a spatial ecologist with a particular interest in understanding the dynamic distribution patterns of highly mobile marine vertebrates (especially seabirds, cetaceans and sharks) and identifying important sites for safeguarding species and ecosystems in the context of broad-scale conservation strategies. She holds a PhD in marine ecology from the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle WA; an MSc in Conservation from University College, London; an MSc in Economics for Development from New College, University of Oxford; and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from New College, University of Oxford. She has 25 years of experience in marine science and international biodiversity conservation, with a long-standing focus on Africa and Madagascar. Prior to joining BirdLife South Africa, Charlotte served as Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) Expert at IUCN, co-leading development of the KBA training programme and building capacity for identifying and mapping KBAs around the world; and Africa Oceans Fellow at Conservation International, leading CI’s oceans work in Africa, with a particular focus on Mozambique and the Western Indian Oceans Region.
cassie.carstens@birdlife.org.za
Cassie is responsible for monitoring nesting behaviour and distribution of the Secretarybird and he will engage extensively with farmers and other stakeholders. He has been involved in bird research and conservation work for almost a decade, having previously worked with Southern Ground-Hornbills and Cape Parrots. A highly qualified bird, field and cultural guide with more than 20 years’ experience, Cassie also holds a BA Honours in Heritage and Cultural Tourism and a BSc Honours in Geography.
As Programme Manager for Policy and Advocacy, Kirsten is responsible for liaising and maintaining BirdLife South Africa’s relations and partnerships with the BirdLife Africa and BirdLife International secretariats, various government and academic institutions and other NGOs in the conservation sector. She oversees BirdLife South Africa’s inputs to relevant legal and policy initiatives, and is responsible for the development and dissemination of various position statements and guidance documents. She also directs BirdLife South Africa’s responses to development applications where there may be a threat to priority species and habitats. Kirsten has an MPhil in environmental law and a PhD in environmental risk response.
Philip Faure has a diverse conservation background, with field experience across Africa and the Middle East. His work includes camera trapping for species such as the Critically Endangered Arabian leopard in Saudi Arabia, GPS-collaring mammals, and deploying PTT trackers on Asian houbara to study movement patterns. Skilled in R programming, Philip has developed software for processing camera trap data and conducts ecological analyses using large datasets. He holds an MSc from Nelson Mandela University, where he studied carnivore densities and habitat use in mixed-use landscapes. Captivated by the ocean, he is deeply committed to making a meaningful contribution to seabird conservation.
philipp.grundlingh@birdlife.org.za
As part of the Landscape Conservation Programme Team and the Western Cape Estuaries Conservation Project, Philipp is tasked with tackling conservation issues facing the Berg River and Verlorenvlei estuaries, with a specific focus on the restoration and safeguarding of sensitive estuarine habitats. He has a BSc (Hons) degree in Zoology from Nelson Mandela University and is currently completing his MSc in the ecology of the larval fishes of the Swartkops Estuary. Philipp is passionate about conservation and when he’s not working, likes to free dive, spearfish, garden, play chess and birdwatch.
christina.hagen@birdlife.org.za
Christina Hagen is responsible for BirdLife South Africa’s attempt to establish new African Penguin colonies. She has worked on the African Penguin for almost 10 years, focusing on a lack of food as the key threat to the species. Christina has an MSc in Conservation Biology from the University of Cape Town’s Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology. Her thesis on the foraging ecology and physiology of the Cape Gannet kickstarted her career in seabird conservation.
Lorinda is the Birds and Agrochemicals Project Manager at BirdLife South Africa. She has extensive experience in avian research, with a special interest in the fields of ecotoxicology, ecophysiology, and urban and invasive ecology. Lorinda will oversee pioneering research on the impact of agrochemicals on South Africa’s agricultural bird species, which will inform effective and long-term mitigation strategies. The project, the first of its kind South Africa, will once again place BirdLife South Africa at the forefront of research with real-life conservation application.
Justin is the Vulture Project Manager. Growing up on a farm in Gauteng, Justin’s interest in the natural world was nurtured from a young age. After completing an Honours degree in Conservation Ecology from Stellenbosch University he worked in various conservation positions within South Africa. In his new position, Justin will be tasked with expanding the reach of the lead advocacy project and increasing the shift to lead-free bullets. He will also be involved with the Vulture Safe Zones by maintaining and expanding existing sites under BLSA’s management
John is the Avitoursim Project manager. John has always had a deep-rooted passion for nature. Qualifying as a professional specialist bird guide straight out of school, John took a gap year to travel southern Africa to record 800+ species within a calendar year and share his love for our country’s avifauna with as many people as possible. Whilst continuing to lead tours across the globe, John completed his LLB degree and worked as a candidate attorney, where he practised in various fields of law. The necessity to complete his articles in contribution toward his admission as an attorney was primarily COVID induced, and it was not long before he accepted the call to return to conservation, exchanging his suit and tie for much preferred khakis and vellies. John has continued guiding specialist birding tours, served as an avifaunal consultant for proposed wind farms, and explored his passion for TV presenting through the channel “Wild Earth”.
Alan.Lee@birdlife.org.za
The Science and Innovation Programme Manager will build and sustain a Programme dedicated to the design and execution of high-quality peer-reviewed scientific publications, including conservation and spatial models and population viability analyses, that will benefit the conservation of birds and their habitats. The Programme will develop innovative and pioneering approaches to solve challenging research and conservation problems across BirdLife South Africa’s projects. He will also oversee and be actively involved in the Red List review of South Africa’s birds.
Kyle oversees the research and conservation of the Critically Endangered White-winged Flufftail (WwF). The WwF serves as a flagship species for safeguarding South Africa’s peat-based wetlands that are inhabited by a diversity of unique animals and plants. Kyle’s responsibilities are broadly divided into (1) conducting research on WwF population dynamics, breeding biology and movement patterns; and (2) protecting WwF habitat by engaging with local landowners, improving habitat quality and identifying potential threats which can be mitigated through effective conservation measures.
Ntuthuko.Mathe@birdlife.org.za
Ntuthuko is the Ntsikeni Conservation Officer who is based in the Ntsikeni area between Underberg and Kokstad. Ntuthuko currently holds an MSc. degree in Animal and Poultry Science. He has a multidisciplinary Master’s degree with a thesis focused on how people, nature, and ecosystems can coexist without interference. Ntuthuko has worked with rural farming communities with a focus on community engagement. As the Ntsikeni Conservation Officer, Ntuthuko will be responsible for facilitating the establishment of the Sustainable Livelihoods Development Project in the Ntsikeni community.
Steve’s main responsibility is to facilitate and oversee the implementation of the OECM project in South Africa. He holds an MSc in Ecology and has a background in sustainable resource use, natural resource management, and incentive-driven approaches to conservation. Steve has over 30 years’ of experience in conservation and was one of the initiators of the KZN Biodiversity Stewardship Programme in 2005/6. More recently, Steve has facilitated the formal declaration of several new Protected Areas through the Biodiversity Stewardship mechanism.
alistair.mcinnes@birdlife.org.za
Alistair is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the core seabird projects including the Albatross Task Force and Coastal Seabirds projects. Alistair has a background in applied marine ecology with a special interest in solution-driven approaches to seabird conservation.
keenan.meissenheimer@birdlife.org.za
Keenan is an intern with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), working on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). Keenan will be working with Dr Charlotte Boyd to support KBA identification and mapping in southern Africa, primarily as part of the Spatial Biodiversity Assessment, Prioritisation, and Planning regional project. Keenan previously worked on IUCN Red List assessments of freshwater taxa and in a molecular lab sequencing samples of reptiles, amphibians and insects. Before that, he was a demonstrator for practicals at the University of the Western Cape while he was working on his M.Sc. in genetics on the phylogeography of the single-striped mouse.
BirdLife South Africa has appointed Zoleka Mkhize as the new Grassland Community Conservation Officer under the Empowering People Programme. Originally from iXopo in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Zoleka’s passion for environmental conservation was inspired by her uncle, a game ranger. She holds an Honours degree in Ecological Sciences from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on the impact of alien grass species on native grasslands.In her new role, Zoleka will build partnerships with local communities in Wakkerstroom, Daggakraal, and Groenvlei. She will lead environmental education programs centered on biodiversity conservation, using the Botha’s Lark as a flagship species, and oversee sustainable livelihood initiatives for subsistence livestock farmers. Zoleka is honored to contribute to restoring South Africa’s biodiversity while empowering local communities
marlize.muller@birdlife.org.za
Marlize is the Steenkampsberg Conservation Officer under the Wetland Conservation Project within the Landscape Conservation Programme. Her primary role is to expand the protected area network in the Steenkampsberg mountains of northern Mpumalanga and provide landowners with post-declaration support. Marlize completed her PhD in Environmental Sciences from North-West University.
giselle.murison@birdlife.org.za
As the Project Manager for BirdLife South Africa’s Western Cape Estuaries Conservation Project, Giselle is responsible for facilitating improved protection and appropriate management of priority estuaries within IBAs in the Western Cape, in partnership with government organisations, other NPOs and local stakeholders. This includes relevant policy input and support, and the initiation, implementation and support of conservation initiatives to benefit estuarine ecosystem health, including habitat management and rehabilitation projects, such as alien clearing, saltmarsh restoration and fynbos management, environmental awareness and education, and scientific research and monitoring in key estuarine IBAs.
thandulwazi.ndaba@birdlife.org.za
Thandulwazi holds an Honours degree majoring in Curriculum Studies and has a strong background in the development of learning material. She believes that education is the foundation upon which we build our future, so she is excited to be part of BirdLife South Africa’s Empowering People Programme. In her role as an intern, Thandulwazi assists in environmental education and awareness, avitourism, an approach to sustainable livelihoods and programme administration.
Lucky has been with BirdLife South Africa for many years, and has been based at the Wakkerstroom Centre. He spends most of his time with guests out in the field where he puts his birding skills into practise. He has earned the name ‘the lark whisperer’. Lucky also supports the Centre with maintenance and gardening tasks. When required, Lucky also assists with education programmes taking place in the area.
reason.nyengera@birdlife.org.za
Reason is responsible for our multilevel engagements with South African fisheries by working directly with fishers at sea, collecting scientific data, conducting port visits and developing Bird Mitigation Plans tailored to the various types of fishing vessels within the fleet. He assesses the level of seabird by-catch in our target fisheries, conducts at-sea experiments and promotes the use of seabird bycatch mitigation tools. He also works in collaboration with the Ocean View Association for Persons with Disabilities (OVAPD) on the manufacturing of bird scaring lines.
Matthew.Orolowitz@birdlife.org.za
Matthew is the Birding Ecotours Fellow of Grassland Conservation at BirdLife South Africa, based in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga. In this role, he is dedicated to the long-term preservation of the Wakkerstroom region, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding endangered and endemic species, including Botha’s Lark and Rudd’s Lark. His responsibilities encompass conducting scientific research, implementing monitoring programs, and fostering community engagement through biodiversity stewardship initiatives. Matthew has an MSc in Conservation Biology from the University of Cape Town’s Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology. His MSc thesis delved into how larks adapt their behaviour to survive in hot and arid environments.”
carina.pienaar@birdlife.org.za
Carina Pienaar is largely responsible for providing scientific input into and coordinating ecological monitoring and research at Ingula Nature Reserve, including avifaunal-, breeding- and habitat monitoring. For the national Southern Bald Ibis project, she researches the species and coordinates the volunteer monitoring programme. Furthermore, she is acting as the contact-person for the Wilge Stewardship Initiative in the Greater Wilge Catchment area, assisting the BirdLife South Africa IBA team with acquiring formal protection for this critical water area.
energy@birdlife.org.za
Samantha works with government, the renewable energy industry, environmental assessment practitioners, consulting bird specialists and academics to help renewable energy develop in harmony with nature. She has an MSc in Conservation Biology and over 13 years’ experience in environmental management. She is passionate about environmental sustainability, and likes to challenge herself, and other people, to have a more positive impact on the planet.
Ernst’s main responsibility is to support the staff within the Landscape Conservation Programme. The focus of the programme is the implementation of biodiversity stewardship projects in South Africa. Ernst is a keen birder and supporter of citizen science projects, such as the Southern African Bird Atlas Project. He has been working at BirdLife South Africa for more than 13 years. During this time, he co-authored the revised Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas Directory and supported the declaration of the new Key Biodiversity Areas network. He is passionate about Geographic Information Systems and using spatial tools to inform conservation planning. Ernst has a MSc in the social sciences.
Roy Robertson is the Grasslands Conservation Project Manager within the Landscape Conservation Programme. Roy will be based in Wakkerstroom, and his work will focus on protecting and restoring Southern Mpumalanga’s high-altitude grasslands, with a particular emphasis on the incredible bird species it hosts. Roy has completed an MSc degree in Organic Agriculture from Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, an MBA in Agribusiness from the University of São Paulo, and has a legal background as an admitted attorney holding a BA LLB from the University of Pretoria. Over the years, he has gained diverse experience in environmental management, law, agriculture, and sustainability. His work has spanned managing agricultural enterprises, collaborating with conservation agencies, and supporting initiatives that bridge the gap between agriculture and biodiversity. Having spent time in various countries, he has gained valuable insights into international standards and sustainable agricultural practices.
steven.segang@birdlife.org.za
Steven is primarily tasked at conducting avifaunal surveys, guiding of visitors, and assisting with environmental awareness and education at the Ingula Nature Reserve. Steven is well qualified, holding various certificates such as a Tourist Guide Certificate from Unisa and a Community Based Natural Resource Management Certificate from the Southern African Wildlife College. Steven is passionate about bird watching.
david.ehlers.smith@birdlife.org.za
David’s position bridges the gap between detailed scientific data and effective conservation action. The role includes supporting the Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 and the BirdLasser project, maintaining and developing BirdLife South Africa’s conservation data repository, the checklist of South Africa’s birds, and contributing to the Red Listing process. In addition, Dave provides scientific support across BirdLife South Africa’s programmes. Dave conducted his PhD in the jungles of Indonesian Borneo, has over 16 years’ experience in ecological and academic research, and is a passionate conservation ecologist and avid birder
nandi.thobela@birdlife.org.za
Nandi Thobela is BirdLife South Africa’s Empowering People Programme Manager. Nandi is responsible for the implementation of BirdLife South Africa’s northern KwaZulu-Natal community conservation project and oversees all other related projects within the Empowering People Programme, including the Avitourism Project. Having worked in the field of conservation for over a decade, Nandi has spent the bulk of her career managing many aspects of community conservation, protected area management, environmental education with a strong focus on training and learning material development.
linda.vdheever@birdlife.org.za
Linda has conducted extensive research on lead poisoning in South Africa’s Cape and White-backed Vultures, successfully linking the source of lead poisoning to lead-based ammunition, as well as providing the first definitive evidence of the negative physiological impacts lead may have on these endangered birds. Linda manages the Species Conservation Programme, which incorporates BirdLife South Africa’s Vulture Project, the Secretarybird Project, the Birds and Agrochemicals Project, as well as several Species Guardian projects. Linda represents BirdLife South Africa on the national Lead Task Team (with the aim to minimise the threat of lead poisoning to South Africa’s wildlife), the National Wildlife Poisoning Prevention Working Group, the National Vulture Task Force and the Bearded Vulture Recovery Programme.
jessica.wilmot@birdlife.org.za
As the Flyway and Migrants Project Manager, Jessica works within BirdLife South Africa’s Regional Conservation Programme to support regional and global conservation initiatives that align with the strategies of BirdLife International and the Royal Society for the Protection of Bird’s East Atlantic Flyway Initiative. Her responsibilities encompass various tasks, such as identifying threats to key bird species and sites along the East Atlantic Flyway and providing assistance to BirdLife partners to ensure the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas, Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures and supporting the East Atlantic Flyway Coordination Group. Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management from Central European University.
christie.wooding@birdlife.org.za
In her role as Conservation Assistant, Christie works closely with Dr Hanneline Smit-Robinson in the Conservation Division and in the Regional Conservation Programme. She assists mainly with administrative tasks, events and social media, making use of her experience of more than 15 years in online education, project management, administration and wildlife television.
https://mousefreemarion.org/
Robyn is responsible for producing and coordinating relevant communications for the Mouse-free-Marion project, including social media content, website updates and informative graphics. She also assists with administrative and management tasks for the Mouse-Free-Marion project
https://mousefreemarion.org/
John is a voluntary member of the Project Team, and the one with most experience of Marion Island. A globally respected seabird biologist, John first visited the island in 1978, with a total of 31 visits under his belt. He was responsible for setting up several of the long-term seabird monitoring studies on the island in the 1980s, nearly all of which have continued to be implemented ever since.
tarryn.havemann@mousefreemarion.org
https://mousefreemarion.org/
Tarryn actively supports the fundraising component of the project, including its administrative, financial, logistical and management aspects. She also manages the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database and maintains communications with project donors and sponsors.
Beate.holscher@mousefreemarion.org
https://mousefreemarion.org/
Beate is responsible for various fundraising activities relating to institutional funding, foundations and trusts. As a member of the fundraising team, she also supports the MFM Project team in a range of administrative and reporting functions related to fundraising.
Liezl.pretorius@mousefreemarion.org
https://mousefreemarion.org/
Liezl forms part of the fundraising team and her role is to support the development of the fundraising pipeline through varied activities including corporate engagement, fundraising initiatives and providing support to the MFM Project team.
Minky.Shabalala@birdlife.org.za
Minky is the Admin & Finance Officer for the Mouse-Free Marion NPC.Minky is passionate about the finance and accounting field, with 13 years of experience in the industry. She is an all-rounder and has dealt with everything from front office all the way to Trial Balance.
Keith.Springer@birdlife.org.za
https://mousefreemarion.org/
Keith is the Operations Manager for the Mouse-Free Marion Project. In this role he works with Anton Wolfaardt to deliver the planning phase of the project. This includes progressing regulatory requirements and the procurement of project components such as helicopter services, bait, staff and shipping. Keith has a background in conservation and forestry and has been involved with a number of eradication projects on sub-Antarctic islands. He is based in New Zealand.
https://mousefreemarion.org/
Sue’s role is to support the MFM Project Manager, Project Team, and Management Committee in developing and delivering a range of activities associated with the planning work for the project. Sue will also assist with logistics, procurement, and the ongoing development and refinement of pre- and post-eradication monitoring programmes.
anton.wolfaardt@birdlife.org.za
https://mousefreemarion.org/
Anton is the Project Manager for the Mouse Free Marion project (www.mousefreemarion.org). The project is being implemented to help save Marion Island’s seabirds and contribute to its restoration by eradicating introduced House Mice that were accidentally introduced in the early 19th century. Anton is employed by the Mouse-Free Marion Non-Profit Company (NPC), an entity that has been set up specifically to undertake this important work. The project is a joint endeavour between the South African Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) and BirdLife South Africa, with support from a number of other organisations, such as the Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Anton has worked for more than 25 years in the field of seabird and marine conservation, a journey which started on Marion Island in 1994, where he spent a year working as a seabird field researcher.