African Wildlife & Environment Issue 80

GENERAL

WESSAWELCOMES NEWCEO

Andrew is a non-executive director on the boards of the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, African Habitat Conservancy and (up until August) the Cape Leopard Trust, which he co-founded in 2004. Andrew’s professional experience lies in strategic re-alignment, business development and people management. He has spent many years in the non- profit sector, working with organisations such as the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), The Cape Leopard Trust, and others, to develop sustainable income strategies and to run efficient and credible organisations. Andrew draws experience from many years in the corporate sector. He founded CAPESTORM, the outdoor apparel and equipment company, and built this into a household brand. He has served as an executive with Cape Union Mart and has, more recently, consulted for technology companies including some of the largest solar PV projects in Africa, and a South African company developing ground-breaking technology solutions for Silicon Valley tech giants. Andrew holds a PhD in palaeoecology from UCT, and he has special interests in landscape ecology, predator conservation, the climate emergency, and human origins (with special reference to southern Africa). Andrew Baxter was appointed as the CEO of WESSA on 1 September 2021. Andrew was formerly consulting for organisations on strategy and leadership development. Hismost recent assignments have been in the non-profit sector, with the Pedal Power Association (a national membership-based organisation) and the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust.

Cycling has been part of Andrew’s life, since a child and he has ridden more than 280,000km – (he has since stopped counting). He enjoys rock climbing and mountaineering and is an avid amateur photographer. His unique low-light pictures of fynbos entitled ‘Floristic Fireworks’ have been widely shared and appreciated. Andrew loves spending as much time as he can in nature. He and his partner Jen recently came across an undescribed spider on Table Mountain which has become affectionately known as the ‘Strawberry Widow’ due to its remarkable colouration.

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