Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together. ~ James Cash Penney

Rein van der Horst (Chairman)

I have 25 years working experience of which 15 have been as an entrepreneur. In my current job I am working for a large corporate and responsible for Africa. During my career I have worked in Taiwan, Spain, the Netherlands and currently in South Africa.

Why connected to the foundation as Director?

I am a Director of the foundation because my wife Arnie and I are passionate about wildlife. We have travelled through Africa extensively and have seen the beauty of its people, nature and wildlife but we have also seen the tough challenges the continent is facing in these areas. I decided to join this initiative (I call it venture) as I strongly believe that we can make a difference. Both the foundation and my focus will be on implementation and looking for opportunities to team up with some of the many other foundations which have the money but not the capability to implement projects.

Personal Note

I believe in collaboration and partnership – that is when you make a difference. There are a lot of foundations that have the right intensions but if we do not collaborate and implement we do not achieve our goals. Gondwana Conservation Foundation will make a difference if we are successful in doing this.

David Amos

I am a retired Chartered Accountant having held various positions in both the profession and in commerce and industry. My career commenced in Zimbabwe and then to the UK, South Africa and Australia.

Why connected to the foundation as Director?

My wife Caroline and I are totally committed to wildlife and its preservation and we have spent many months over the years travelling throughout southern and central Africa. We are motivated to protecting endangered species in any way in which we can and believe that the Gondwana Conservation Foundation is an ideal vehicle in which to travel this road.

Personal Note

There are a vast array of wildlife trusts and fund raising entities throughout the world but I am convinced that we have an added advantage in that we are able to actually implement protection of endangered species on our home turf. I also believe that education is of paramount importance to the future wellbeing of our wildlife heritage and this is another exciting facet of the Foundation.

Simon Van Zuydam

I was born and educated in Durban, South Africa however have resided in Europe over the past 15 years. I have over 20 years experience in both the corporate and consulting sectors and worked in Europe, North America and Asia. I am currently the Group Commercial Director for an international housewares company and based out of Switzerland.

Why connected to the foundation as Director?

In 2006, I (along with two close friends) was one of the first to invest in a game lodge on the reserve and every year I have visited Gondwana with my family. We have always been very connected to the conservation development and progress at Gondwana and more recently I have been extremely concerned on the plight of our Rhinos in South Africa. After ongoing discussions with the other directors on how we find solutions to save our rhino from further demise, I was delighted to be appointed a director of the Gondwana Conservation Foundation and be part of the team that will be executing our strategy to fight this cause.

Personal Note

I believe that this immoral destruction of our Rhino is a global issue and citizens from all over the world need to fight this cause. We need to engage everyone, including the youth! The statistics show that this crisis is accelerating at a rate which may result in our Rhino becoming extinct very soon and it is our duty to stop this immediately. Our strategy is a good one and if we execute well we will see a difference. We all know that these illegal syndicates will employ the most horrific tactics to secure the supply of Rhino horn to Asia so we have to be prepared for whatever they throw at us.

Jono Berry

I am the Conservation & Sustainability Manager for Gondwana Game Reserve and have worked within the African Conservation & Tourism Industry since 1997.  Specialising in building connections between people and the wilderness areas I have lived in, I am one of the fortunate few who get to live out their dreams every day.  Elephants are my all-time favourite but my true passion is working towards understanding the myriad of interactions which allow for ecosystems to function.

Why connected to the foundation as Director?

One of the toughest challenges for conservation today is to determine the fine line between ethical & responsible land management and viable business sustainability.  Joining the GCF as a Director allowed me to focus on my conservation aspirations without the financial limitations of economic viability.  Partnering with our many donors who share our vision and support our projects reminds me of the good in humanity and inspires me to work even harder to achieve our goals.

Personal Note

The stories of Delagorgue, Gordon-Cumming, FC Selous and others enchanted me as a child with their wild tales of adventure in territories new but even then, I knew something wasn’t quite right.  I desperately wanted to emulate their skills and knowledge and fortunately found a new set of heroes to idolise.  Col. Stevenson-Hamilton, Laurens van der Post and Dr Ian Players are but some of these and my greatest wish is to match their passion and leave a legacy of my own.  To inspire the next generation who will fight to secure these wild spaces I love and the beautiful animals therein.