Meet the Team

We are a small team of passionate and professional conservationists actively protecting the future of endangered animals. The founding members of Wildlife ACT are Dr Simon Morgan, Chris Kelly and Johan Maree. Together they have over 30 years of ecology experience.

Knowledgeable and competent wildlife monitors conduct the monitoring sessions and run the day-to-day activities on the reserves. They are charismatic conservationists who are mostly from research or field guide backgrounds. We all share a love for animals, adventure and preserving the unique South African environment.

Chris Kelly - Wildlife Conservationist

Co-Founder and Executive Trustee
After working on a fair number of reserves across South Africa, I realised the need for properly managed and funded monitoring programs on reserves which had priority species. Following this Jo, Simon and I got together and established Wildlife ACT in Zululand in 2008.

Johan Maree

Co-Founder and Chairperson
Growing up in rural Africa, I have always been aware of the fact that wildlife conservation efforts and community development needs did not always meet. This is when I made the decision to leave the 9 to 5 world and help establish Wildlife ACT. You can call me Jo!

Dr. Simon Morgan

Co-Founder and Executive Trustee
After completing a degree in Zoology at Stellenbosch University, I moved to Zululand where I was employed as a Black Rhino monitor. It was during this process that we noticed the need for the enhancement and outsourcing of existing monitoring programs, now called Wildlife ACT.

David Ryan

Wildlife ACT Trustee and Founder & CEO of Rhino Africa
I was born in the old-world seaside suburb, Fish Hoek, Cape Town. Living in close proximity to the ocean, I was incredibly lucky to always have an interaction with nature and the outdoors. At the end of the day, I am motivated by my passion for conservation.

Mark Gerrard

Managing Counsel
In Africa, many people living near wilderness areas rely on natural resources. There's a strong connection between the health of the environment & these communities. By exposing people to the work being done to protect these areas I believe that we can generate support for their conservation.

Nicole Copley

Wildlife ACT Trustee and NGO Lawyer
Nicole works for a wide range of types and sizes of organisation. She aims to provide a pragmatic and efficient service to all of her clients. She has been working for NGOs for 24 years, and has seen many changes in NGO legislation and the NGO environment, in that time.

Scott Christensen

Wildlife ACT Trustee
I grew up in Minnesota, home of the great outdoors. Drawing upon 4 years in public policy research, a 25-year career in investment banking, and a decade of board service in the education field, I am fortunate now to spend more time on conservation issues I care deeply about.

Di Botha

Wildlife ACT Trustee
Wilderness and my place in it have guided my life’s journey. I grew up in a family that spontaneously took off into the bush in an old Willy’s Jeep station wagon; the dustier the road and more remote, the better. Challenges facing the natural world continue to engage me...

Roslyn Greeff

Bookkeeper
A Capetonian now but a farm girl by heart. I grew up on a farm in the KZN Midlands and some of my fondest childhood memories are from my time in the Drakensberg. I'm an avid wildlife enthusiast and love being outdoors. Getting the opportunity to work for Wildlife ACT is hands-down a highlight...

Katie Bradley

Bookkeeper
I have been bookkeeping in the tourism industry most of my life, so it’s great to work for a company that employs this for such a great cause. This is definitely the greatest (and most interesting) job I have ever had and I’m gaining knowledge that I love sharing with my kids.

Bronwen Kelly

Reservations Manager
I have been working for Wildlife ACT since 2010, and I have come to know some amazing people over the years! Wildlife ACT is very lucky to have such incredible supporters. My husband and I are currently based at the Ranger’s Outpost in the remote Wilderness section of iMfolozi.

Megan Whittington

Marketing and Communications
Born and raised in KZN, I grew up enjoying annual trips to local and national reserves with my family. With an innate love for the written word and animal kingdom, Wildlife ACT is the ideal space for me to use my skills for an exceptional cause.

Galen Schultz

Website Administrator
I was lucky enough to have been born in Zululand to bundu-bashing parents who love to travel. Being piled into the back of a Land Rover with my brother and waking up in a different country is certainly a major highlight of my childhood.

Zama Ncube

Community Conservation Manager
I grew up next to a game reserve and listened with fascination to the stories my granny and father shared about the bush, but the decision to become a Rhino Monitor came to light when I was lucky enough to help with the introduction of Black Rhinos to a game reserve as part of the WWF Black...

Sboniso Mazolo

Community Conservation Liaison: KwaNgwenya
Sboniso has been involved in conservation for many years. Even before joining the Wildlife ACT Team Sboniso had started a few of his own wildlife ambassador clubs. Here he teaches community members about conservation which involves discussing ways to encourage sustainability and reduce...

Anel Olivier

Operations Manager North, Research Coordinator & Vulture Conservation Programme Manager
Ever since a passionate, young female ranger took the 11-year-old me on an unforgettable night drive in the Kalahari, my eyes have been opened to the possibilities of my future and there was no turning back.

Pippa Orpen

Fundraising & Partnerships
I joined the Wildlife ACT team in July 2014 after spending nine years as a winemaker on my family farm in Stellenbosch. I am particularly lucky to be a part of a rather large pack of African Wild Dogs.

Megan Hudson

Operations Manager South, and Conservation Course & Training Manager
Since childhood I’ve had a powerful pull towards the wild. Growing up visiting reserves has been one of the most eye-opening experiences and has had a huge impact on my becoming a conservationist.

PJ Roberts

Human-Wildlife Coexistence Programme Manager & Applied Research Unit Coordinator
Growing up in Cape Town with the mountains, valleys and ocean surrounding you, it is difficult not to have a real appreciation for the intrinsic value of nature. Inspired to ensure that the natural world continues to function, I embarked upon an adventure I’ve never looked back on.

Mike Staegemann

Wild Dog Species Programme Manager
I completed my Undergraduate & Honours degree in Marine Biology and later my Masters in Terrestrial Ecology. After completing my Masters I was fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to realise my dream by working as a priority species monitor for Wildlife ACT - a real privilege.

Julia Elliott

Monitor Trainee: Tembe
My experience working at a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary, solidified the idea that I was meant to work with wildlife and do what I can for Africa's wild places. I am therefore ecstatic to be working as a Priority Species Monitor with Wildlife ACT in Tembe Elephant Park.

Kayleigh Webber

Operations Manager: Tembe
I studied at the University of Pretoria and obtained my undergraduate degree BSc Zoology in 2015. The following year I obtained my postgraduate degree BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Management. South Africa is such a wildly beautiful country and I feel so lucky to live in the thick of it, whilst doing...

Musa Mthembu

Priority Species Monitor: Tembe
I have recently joined the Tembe Monitoring Team and I’m so happy to be part of Wildlife ACT. I've committing myself to having a positive impact on saving our endangered and priority species.

Phillip Swart

Southern Drakensberg Conservation Project Priority Species Monitor
Since I've started at Wildlife ACT, I have already learned so much in my time here and my appreciation for nature and the great people I get to work with, has grown exponentially.

Danielle Theron

Leopard Program Manager & Manyoni Operations Manager
I decided there was nothing else I would rather do than preserve our beautiful land and chose a career in Nature Conservation. My third year was a real eye-opener which I spent in Senegal.

Jabulani Nkwanyana

Priority Species Monitor: Manyoni
I am so passionate with my current career as a Priority Species Monitor thanks to Wildlife ACT. My dream has came true! Let's keep the good work rolling and save our precious species we have on earth.

Corrie van Greune

Priority Species Monitor: Manyoni
After Volunteering at Shamwari Game Reserve and the Pre-Vet Program in Chintsa, I was ready to start my career in conservation. Wildlife ACT invited me for an onsite interview, and I jumped straight at the opportunity to work for the company and all the good they are doing.

Kaylon Minnaar

Priority Species Monitor: Hluhluwe
I am grateful to be in this position as a staff member of Wildlife ACT where I can be hands on, in the field, on a daily basis contributing to the conservation of wildlife. 

Alexandre Nieman

Management Assistant
After school I graduated from Centurion Academy with a National Diploma in Nature Management and Tshwane University of Technology with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Nature Conservation.

Tegan Goldschmidt

Wildlife ACT Relief Monitor
How fortunate I am to have been given the incredible opportunity to work for an organisation I have spent so many years dreaming to be a part of. An organisation which is making a considerable difference each and every day in the conservation and preservation of endangered species.

Marumo Nene

Priority Species Monitor: Hluhluwe
I was born in Hlabisa, a town in Northern KwaZulu-Natal (Zululand). I grew up and attended school there, after which I moved to Durban to study Public Relations through UNISA. Public Relations was not what I really wanted to do - my real desire was to work in the outdoors.

Chris du Toit

Senior Monitor: Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
After high school I volunteered with Wildlife ACT and could not believe that you could have a job where you spent your days out in the bush looking for Painted Dogs and other endangered animals. I loved the experience so much so that it motivated me to pursue a career in conservation.

Gareth Robinson

Priority Species Monitor: iMfolozi
Ever since I was a child, I have spent every moment dreaming of working in the bush. It’s very exciting for me be to be joining such an amazing team of people and I look forward to meeting you all along the way.

Wesley Price

Priority Species Monitor: iMfolozi
After completing my diploma in Nature Management, I explored different career paths. I had the opportunity to gain great experience at a prestigious Safari Lodge, but it wasn’t until I applied to be a monitor for Wildlife ACT that I knew this is what I was destined to do!

Wihan Pretorius

Priority Species Monitor: Lapalala
Wildlife ACT called and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to join the team. Being in the field everyday and seeing the animals is such an amazing privilege and experience that makes everything worthwhile.