I am an experienced Ranger and Farming & Agricultural Manager in the Conservation Sector and Farming Sector. I am passionate about conservation at all levels and pride myself in my leadership and team management skills as well as my project management, communication and interpersonal skills.
Throughout my career I have always had a passion for nature and animals, working in national parks and reserves to promote conservation efforts and to protect endangered species (plants and animals). I am experienced in working with African big game wildlife such as Black and White Rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, African Lion, African Leopard, African Elephant, various antelope species, Mountain and Grey Rhebok, Blue Cranes, etc. as well as working with locals and land owners in the area to monitor and manage game numbers and protect native flora. A big part of my career has been implementing anti-poaching initiatives and pest eradication and control, through managing various projects and utilising my Commercial Helicopter Pilot License (500hrs flying time in R22, R44 and Bell 206L) to carry out observations, surveying and managing the delivery of pest control in hard to reach terrain such as mountainous areas.
I have a wide range of farming experience as a farm owner where I successfully farmed cattle, sheep, pig, river trout as well as smaller scale farming of chickens, geese and vegetables. Pasture management, stock management, financial management and fire management is a large part of my role as a farm owner, as well as monitoring staff health and safety and environmental obligations.
I am in the process of planning a trip to New Zealand within the next two to three months.
Please indicate if you would like to meet me in person, I would really appreciate it and am looking forward to it.
I am now in the process of permanently relocating to New Zealand, eligible for a skilled migrant visa on securing a relevant job offer, working with a licensed immigration adviser and currently available for interviews and opportunities.
More information about my skills, qualifications and interests can be viewed on LinkedIn.
Please do not hesitate to ask if there are any further details needed.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Paul Venter
+27 82 660 2701 | paulventergknp@gmail.com | LinkedIn
General Reserve Manager and Ranger
May 2004 - Present
Osebeni Nature Reserve
Reserve Conservation and Promoting Conservation Efforts
- Monitoring Game, Pest and Alien numbers
- Management, Conservation and monitoring of Reserve Flora
- Feed management and production
- Game captures – individual and mass capture and game counts
- Hunting operations and effective Animal Pest Control
- Isolated anti-poaching, high mountain operations, back country operations and observations
- Utilisation of mobile devices and GPS
- Fire management: establishing firebreak trace lines, burning firebreaks and emergency fire management
- Vehicle and fleet management: operations, repairs, service and maintenance of tractors, small and heavy trucks including 4 WD vehicles, ATV’s and motorcycles
- Alien plant management: Destruction and removal of alien plants including removal and prevention of invading alien plants. Machinery
- mostly used includes chainsaws, brush cutters, slashers, woodchippers and Herbicide Sprayers
- Staff management and training, safety & risk compliance training of 17 staff members
- Maintenance and construction of reserve infrastructure:buildings, stores, warehousing, sheds, houses, staff quarters, game handling, facilities, dams, rearing ponds, roads, tracks, stables etc
- Lodge management and marketing operations including bookings, guest relations and quality control
- Financial management: adherence to budgets and maintaining set targets
- Maintenance of good relationships and regular meetings with Local Communities as well as surrounding landowners
Obtained the skill to communicate, interact, interpret and understand the Local Siswati and Zulu Communities- fluent in both Languages.
Cattle Farmer
Apr 2004 - Present
Own Farms
- Cattle Farming: - Managemet of 550 head Brangus Cattle - Achieving 90%+ reproduction rate and resporoduction targets
- Sheep Farming: - Management of +/- 1000 head of wool merino and Dohne Merino Sheep - Achievment of 95%+ reproduction rate and reproductions targets - Disease and parasite prevention on cattle and sheep - Feed production in summer for hard winter periods - Management in producing A+ quality carcasses - Production of excellent and well sought after weaners, breeding heifers and bulls, as well as breeding ewes, weaners and breeding rams
- Pig Farming: - Small sized piggery - Breeding and rearing of quality landrace type pork
- Trout Farming: - Breeding and rearing of +/- 2 tons of rainbow, brown and golden trout per annum for the recreational and fly fishing industry
- Smaller scale farming of chicken, geese and vegetables
- General Farm Duties: - Keeping records up to date of all aspects on the farm and monitoring health and safety and environmental obligations - Pasture management - Establishment of new fences, maintaining of existing fences - Fire management: establishing firebreak trace lines, burning firebreaks and emergency fire management - Vehicle and fleet management: operations, repairs, service and maintenance of tractors, trucks etc - Alient plant management - Staff management: Training on safety and risk management in 14 staff members
- Financial management - Formulate and monitoring financial budgets, ensuring business is running smoothly
Commercial Helicopter Pilot
Nov 2009 - Present
Leo Air
Dates: 30/11/2009 - Current
Employer: Leo Air - Danie Terblanche
Position: Commercial Helicopter Pilot (part-time)
Responsibilities:
• Game capture and counts
• Flights for recovery of stolen vehicles for SA Police Service and private security firms
• Security assessment flights for SA police and security firms
• Charter flights and transfers
• Industrial aerial photography and surveying for construction companies
Honorary Ranger Wildlife Services (Volunteering)
Jan 2005 - Jan 2014
South-African National Parks
Dates: 01/06/2005 - 01/05/2014
Employer: South-African National Parks
Position: Honorary Ranger Wildlife Services (Volunteering)
Responsibilities:
• Standby/Part-time staff member for Veterinary and Wildlife Services Skukuza Kruger National Park
• Game capture and game camp maintenance
• Vehicle operations
• Aerial surveying
• Game transport
• Tractor and implement maintenance and repairs
• Educational and Conservation awareness efforts and project management
• Tourist patrols
• Staff training
• Public Relations
Food & Beverage Manager/Duty Manager
Jan 2002 - Jan 2004
The Swan Hotel England
Dates: 01/05/2002 - 01/04/2004
Employer: The Swan Hotel England
Position: Food & Beverage Manager/Duty Manager
Responsibilities:
• Management of hotel, restaurant, staff and bar
• Maintaining sales targets
• Ordering of stock, stock take and maintenance problems
Credit & Sales Manager
Jan 1997 - Jan 2002
ABSA / UNIBank
- Maintaining sales targets
- Sourcing new business
- Client liaison
- Managed UNIFER credit book of approx. 6500 accounts
- Collections for ABSA / Bankfin Vehicle Finance accounts
- General management of UNIFER offices, staff and human resources management in Nelspruit, Malelane and Hazyview Offices
Practical Game Ranger, Sabie Sand Game Reserve
Jan 1999 - Dec 1999
Eco Training
Commercial Helicopter Pilot
Jun 2006 - Dec 2009
CAA SA
Level 2 Firt Aid
Jun 2019 - Present
OHS Academy