Professional Profile

I am a South African–based predator specialist with more than 33 years of applied field experience in human–wildlife conflict management across livestock, conservation, and mixed-use production landscapes. My work is grounded in predator biology, behaviour, and ecology, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based decision-making rather than reactionary control.

Over three decades, I have entered thousands of farm gates across South Africa, working directly with livestock producers, wildlife managers, and reserve staff to identify causes of predation, interpret spoor and kill patterns, and design context-specific management strategies. This applied approach integrates ecological understanding with the practical realities faced by land users.

For nearly 20 years, I have been recognised in practice as a predator specialist, providing training, operational guidance, and strategic input to farmers, conservation areas, and wildlife reserves. I regularly collaborate with universities and research institutions, contributing field data and applied expertise to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world implementation.

I am a co-author of the Predation Management Manual: The Farmer’s One-Stop Guide to Identify and Manage Predators, and a contributing author to the first comprehensive scientific assessment of predators in Africa. My work has also extended internationally through research collaboration and training in the United States, and advisory support to producers in Argentina, Australia, Botswana, and Namibia.

My professional philosophy recognises that unresolved human–human conflict often underpins human–wildlife conflict. Sustainable predator management therefore requires not only ecological insight, but also trust, communication, and shared understanding among stakeholders. These principles underpin my work and form the foundation of CoexistAfrica, a platform developed to support informed, scientifically grounded coexistence between people, predators, and production systems.