Our Team
We are the custodians of natural landscapes that are invaluable in terms of biodiversity, right at Africa’s southernmost tip.
And all our members are committed to conserving and protecting our landscapes and water networks.
OUR TEAM
The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area is a voluntary association, overseen by an Executive Committee, and coordinated and managed by a dedicated team of conservationists.
Executive Committee
Chair – Dirk Human
Dirk is the owner and founder of the Black Oystercatcher Wines. Dirk’s family has farmed in the region for four generations, and he has served as the Chair since the launch of the NWSMA. He not only brings business-savvy to the NWSMA, but also a love for the Overberg and its wildlife.
Treasurer – Pieter Albertyn
Pieter is one of the original members of the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA. He therefore helped to draft the Constitution, and chaired the original Tourism Committee when the NWSMA was still in its infancy. He brings his strong background in finance to the Executive team. Pieter and his family have farmed in the area for generations. As such, he has a close connection with the natural world on the Agulhas Plain and is custodian of wonderful fynbos landscapes and important lakes.
Member – Francis Pratt
Francis became an Executive Board member in 2020. After studying Agriculture at Stellenbosch University (and an apprenticeship in Australia), he farmed on the family farm near Swellendam. In the early 1990s Francis came to the Elim area – after falling in love with the land and the sea here. He bought the farm Moddervlei, and not only continues grain farming, but also started The Berrio wine.
Member – Mick D’Alton
Mick is one of the founding members of the NWSMA. He has extensive conservation knowledge, combined with farming experience. For years Mick worked to raise awareness of the Agulhas Plain, and the need to conserve it. He won the CAPE Fynbos Conservation Award in 2010 – one of the first landowners to win this award.
Member – Jurie Giliomee
Jurie joined the Executive Board in 2020. He and his father, Liohan (a former Board member) farm on Vlooikraal, and also own parcels of land across the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area. This includes natural land containing Critically Endangered fynbos species – which the Giliomee family care deeply about, and work hard to protect. The family are also important grain farmers in the area.
Our Vision
To effectively manage, rehabilitate, conserve and develop the functioning of ecosystem processes and natural and cultural heritage offered within the Core Conservation Areas, Conservation Areas and the greater Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area.
Project Manager
Ross Kettles
Ross has an exciting challenge ahead of him: To design and implement projects to support the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA’s focus on sustainability. And to develop projects that will help to promote the area – including environmental education opportunities for children. Ross has the right experience for the job: He was previously Warden at the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve in Hoedspruit. Here he was instrumental in expanding the reserve to 27,500 hectares (from 6,200 hectares). And having it proclaimed as a Private Nature Reserve. And before that, he served as Managing Director at the Siyafunda Conservation Initiative and the Makalali Lodge in Hoedspruit. He has a Master’s degree in environmental development from the University of KwaZulu Natal.
Conservation Manager – Game & Veld Management
Eugene Hahndiek
Eugene grew up on provincial nature reserves in the Western and Eastern Cape. He completed a 3 year diploma in Game Ranch Management at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, and has been working in the game industry for about 10 years. He started as a guide at various private nature reserves and has been with the NWSMA since 2013.
Conservation Manager – Planning, Monitoring and Development
Erica Brink
Erica joined the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA team in January 2017 in a new position as the Conservation Manager for Planning, Monitoring & Development. She previously worked for the City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management branch, managing two reserves within the greater False Bay Nature Reserve: Pelican Park and Strandfontein Birding Area. Erica completed her B.Sc (with Honors) at the University of Sussex while travelling and studying in England. She obtained her M.Sc in Biological Sciences from the University of Cape Town in December 2016.
Finance and Admin Manager
Liza Luyt
Liza joined the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area team in 2022 – following her move from Johannesburg to the most southerly tip of Africa. Liza has a wealth of financial experience, and has worked as an accountant for various organisations for the past 11 years. She is also currently completing her B.Com Financial Management from the University of South Africa. She tells us that she moved to the Overberg in order to enjoy the country setting, and for her young children to grow up close to nature with the friendliness only the “platteland” can provide.
Ecosystem Services Team:
Denver Engel and his team
Denver, from the town of Elim, has worked with the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA for many years, in different positions. Between 2013 and 2016, he headed up an invasive alien clearing team in the SMA, clearing invasive through the ABI Alien Clearing Project. He then joined Joey Cloete’s Ecosystem Services team. When Joey retired, Denver was appointed the team leader, a position he still holds today. His team members also live in the small town of Elim, which is a member of the NWSMA.
Wetland Rehabilitation and Expansion Team
Gerty Holtzhausen and her team
Gerty and her team are responsible for repairing and rehabilitating a Palmiet and Berzillia riparian wetland along the Nuwejaars River. They are employed thanks to the support of WWF South Africa. Gerty and the team members are from the small town of Bredasdorp. She is no stranger to running her own businesses – having served as an alien clearing contractor since 2005. Since 2017, she has worked at the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA, with the team of six people taking on the physically-tough task of removing invasive species from rivers and wetlands, from hand-pulling, to the chainsaws required to clear adult trees. For Gerty, this job provides financial security year-round, in an industry that is often dependent on funding availability. She also believes that if you don’t love and appreciate nature, you shouldn’t be doing this job.
Fynbos Fish Project team
Supervisor: Paul Koker
Paul grew up in the Western Cape, in a family having a love for the natural environment. He completed a National Diploma in Conservation in the mid 1990’s, and then worked as the first reserve manager at Bijstein Private Nature Reserve in Touwsriver. In 1998 he joined OM, an international NGO, and worked and served locally and internationally till 2004. He then returned to the Cape and worked with the City of Cape Town as an Area Conservation Officer.
From 2007, Paul and his wife worked in Australia and Nepal with OM. But in 2023, he and his family moved to the Western Cape, and chose the Overberg area for their next life season. He now supervises the Fynbos Fish Project, and heads up the Indigenous Nursery and Aquaponics project. Paul also implements an environmental education programme for the local schools.
Environmental Monitor: Breyton Murtz
Breyton attended the Albert Myburgh Secondary School in Bredasdorp, where he matriculated in 2018. At school, he most enjoyed Geography, and was eager to learn more about geospatial software (which he is doing in his current position). After school, he obtained work experience on a farm in the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA – where he learnt about invasive plants, animals and farming techniques. While working on the farm, he studied animal production and reproduction via a government-organised course. He also completed asbestos training and First Aid. As an Environmental Monitor, Breyton now most enjoys learning about the region, finding out about restoration activities and discovering more on the fynbos fish of the NWSMA.
We work with
We work with
We work with
