Like many conservations minded people, growing up in a city like Johannesburg is enough inspiration to move out. A 1995 matriculant from St Davids Marist Brothers, Inanda, followed by a BSc in Zoology and Botany, Neil went on to complete his BSc Hons in Botany, both with the University of Witwatersrand. Spending vacations on research programs at the Wits Rural Facility in Acornhoek, exposed an opinionated young man to what was science and conservation in practice.
Completing a Field Guides Course in his final university years, game ranging was a passion to be embraced. Neil worked as a ranger in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve, and conducted walking trails, and ran an intimate lodge in the Pilanesberg National Park for six years, before moving to the Waterberg to open Marataba Safari Company as General Manager, which he managed for three years until 2008. Having developed an interest in hospitality and tourism business, he moved back to Johannesburg to work for Southern Sun, gaining insight in large luxury hotel management as the Executive Food & Beverage Manager at the Palazzo, Montecasino.
Appointed as General Manager for Gondwana Game Reserve, in the Western Cape for four years until 2015, Neil left the fynbos environment of the Garden Route and moved back to Limpopo to continue his career in luxury Lodge management at Lapalala Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park. Almost eight years on Welgevonden were enjoyed running one of the luxury commercial lodges with his partner from 2016 until early 2024, Neil was rekindled with his passion for the Waterberg environment.
A short stint in the lowveld, early 2024 could not keep him away and he took up the challenge of his new appointment as the COO of Welgevonden Game Reserve in November 2024, embracing a role that would require the experience of a multi-faceted twenty-four-year career in hospitality, business, and conservation. Coming back to Welgevonden was just like coming home.