Jeremy Wiley is the current chair of the Kirstenbosch Branch Committee and a longstanding member of BotSoc. He is a businessman with an interest in commercial property and other investments. Jeremy enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle. BotSoc’s conservation and bio-diversity objectives align well with his personal philosophy.

Jeremy has a BSc and Post-graduate Diploma in Future Studies from Stellenbosch, amongst other qualifications.

I suppose growing up on a farm was always going to nurture an appreciation of all things natural. As a youngster, I started out raising ducklings. Then, wildlife became a big interest. More recently, though, I started learning about our indigenous trees – probably because I have been battling far too long (and without much success) to establish a Fynbos garden.

My day job keeps me busy with numbers in the financial services industry. But living in Hout Bay is a real luxury and a bit of an antidote to all those hours spent in front of the PC. Not much beats watching those last rays of the evening sun light up the ‘back’ of Table Mountain.

My wife and I have two teenage boys.There are also a couple of dogs, chickens and geese in the backyard. So, dull moments are few and far between.

It is indeed a privilege for me to join the Kirstenbosch branch committee as treasurer, and I hope I can contribute in some meaningful way during my tenure.

Mmei is an Environmental Advisor for Eskom Distribution in the Western Cape. He has 20 years of experience in conservation and environmental management on both government and provincial levels with Table Mountain National Park, CapeNature and the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. His experience includes project management, stewardship and conservancies, contract nature reserves, island management, the Millennium Seedbank Project, biodiversity offset and spearheading the Fire Protection Association and other restoration projects. Donald has been part of the Western Cape Wetland Forum Steering Committee and a member of the Fynbos Forum Committee since 2014.

Mmei has an MSc in Project Management from UCT, business management qualifications from both the University of Stellenbosch Business School and UCT’s Graduate School of Business, an MPhil in Environmental Management from Stellenbosch, and a BTech in Nature Conservation from Tshwane University of Technology, amongst other qualifications.

Chris worked for over seven years for The Sunflower Fund which gives hope to sufferers of blood disorders such as leukaemia, whose chance of finding a matching donor is 1 in 100 000. As a donor recruitment specialist she helped create awareness, educate and recruit donors for this worthy cause.

One of her favourite pastimes – hiking – opened up a new plant world for Chris, and so began a process of learning and involvement in this unique opportunity for her to ‘know, grow, protect and enjoy’ our indigenous flora. Whilst her recent NGO experience was involved in saving human lives, she has now found herself learning how to save plant lives. Chris sits on our Conservation, Outreach and Fundraising Subcommittees.