Brightness Nonhle Luthuli
Paarl
Summary
Motivated professional demonstrating strengths in partnership development and stakeholder engagement. Adapts to evolving environmental challenges through innovative problem-solving and strategic planning. Eager to contribute to integrated catchment management efforts while promoting climate change awareness and disaster risk reduction. Proactive Integrated Catchment Specialist with expertise in developing information management systems and decision-making frameworks. Facilitates partnerships with stakeholders to enhance climate change awareness and disaster risk reduction strategies. Delivers effective solutions to minimise liability risks and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Integrated Catchment Specialist
CapeNature
01.2024 - Current
- Develop information management systems including decision-making processes, policies, strategies, protocols and guidelines to promote functioning of the entity
- Assist with the prioritisation of catchment for interventions for Alien clearing funding
- Facilitate the development and implementation of strategies to minimise and mitigate liability risks due to fire and natural disasters
- Developing and maintaining partnerships with relevant internal and external stakeholders (Municipalities, Working On Fire, FPA's and other agencies)
- Increase awareness around climate change and its effects on catchment areas and disaster risk reduction
- Conduct and coordinate Pre and Post-fire audits
- Assist with APO planning implementation and monitoring
- Conduct quality assessment on alien clearing and maintenance work (trail, jeep tracks, road) conducted on CN boundaries by FTE and contractors
- Assess and ensure West Region compliance to National Veld Forest Fire Act
- Maintain relevant partnerships in the West Region both formal and informal with external organisations/role-players and ensure signed partnerships are monitored (WOF, FPA NTC, District municipalities, WWF)
- Increase awareness around integrated catchment management, climate change and disaster risk reduction (e.g. fire, flooding)
Section Ranger
South African National Park
01.2016 - 01.2024
- Natural resources management includes implementing invasive plants, alien animals, unnatural soil erosion and rehabilitation management programs.
- Monitoring developments and projects in the National Park and adjacent areas impacting the Park.
- Monitoring and recording of resource management data and facilitation of external research.
- Human resources management and administration.
- Supervision of interns, volunteers and contractors who provide conservation management services to the Section.
- Identification and implementation of personnel development and skills training.
- Fire management, including wildfires and prescribed burns and preparation of firebreaks.
- Visitor Management – including safety and security of visitors, control of visitors’ behaviour and recording, interpretation and dissemination of information.
- Coordinate rescue operations on hiking trails in the Wilderness Section as and when circumstances dictate.
- Responsible for managing and maintaining the Green Flag hiking trails in the Park, both overnight and day hikes of the Wilderness Section.
- Infrastructure Maintenance includes buildings, roads, hiking trail footpaths and track management and signage.
- Development of sound and mutually beneficial relationships with Stakeholders, neighbouring communities, NGOs, and other associated organizations and individuals.
- Financial administration, including budget control and monitoring expenditures.
- Assist in the management of cultural historic nodes in the section.
- Implementation and administration of approved conservation legislation, and policy according to agreed management and operational plans.
Mapper/Project Manager
South African National Park
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Planning and coordinating the implementation of the Ecological Project
- Obtaining all ecological information impacting the project, relevant to the working area
- Determine and identify all work areas regarding the project within and adjacent to the National Park and ensure these areas are mapped
- Identifying operating and biological needs for combating alien invasive species in the National Park and adjacent areas
- Developing a management Unit Plan (MUCP) and Annual Plan of Operations (APO) for the control of alien vegetation within the Park
- Implementation and Monitoring of Approved APO
- Plan and conduct all project management meetings every month
- Manage and Implement all standards and procedures between different Funding organisations
- Managing, monitoring and controlling the implementation of issued contracts
- Manage the tender process
- Conduct site inspections for quality control within the project
- Obtaining, controlling and maintaining all landowner contracts following contractual agreement and APO
- Implementation of Health and Safety procedures within the project
- Manage the Human Resources and logistic resources within the project
- Managing of administration staff of the project
- Providing start-up training to the administration staff regarding the vision and policies of the programmes within the National Park
- Ensuring the audits are conducted following the requirements set out in the asset policy
- Monitor service providers and ensure the implementation of the training programme
- Manage all Finances allocated to the project
- Compiling the budget for the project according to SANParks financial procedures and regulations
- Updating and submitting monthly financial Handheld system
- Ensuring timeous and quality administration of the project.
Gate Official
South African National Park
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Cashier
- Assisted with Reservation Bookings
- Dealt with Tourist Enquiries
Field Ranger
South African National Park
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Law enforcement
- General Patrol, Foot patrol, Vehicle patrol
- Data collection of carcass and animals spotted infield using GPS and Cybertracker
- Handing of Rifle
- Maintaining hiking trail and artificial water holes
- Electric fence maintenance
- Environmental Education
- Youth Education
- School groups and environmental education
- Talks and outings for Local and International visitors
- Horse guiding for school groups and tourists
- Planning and Implementing take a girl child to school programme
- Administration
- Doing weekly infield report
- Compiling of vehicle log books and monthly Sergeant report
- Submitting monthly income flow and audits
Education
Postgraduate Diploma - Nature Conservation
Mangosuthu University of Technology
01.2023
Project Management NQ Level 6 -
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
01.2013
BTech - Nature Conservation
Mangosuthu University of Technology
01.2011
National Diploma - Nature Conservation
Mangosuthu University of Technology
01.2008
Grade 12 -
Riverdene Secondary School
01.2003
Skills
- Risk assessment
- Partnership development
- Project management
- Environmental compliance
- Disaster risk reduction
- Data analysis
- Policy writing
- Budget management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Training facilitation
- Quality assurance
- Fire management
- Resource management
- Climate change awareness
- Audit coordination
- Innovative thinking
- Client engagement
- Information analysis
- Stakeholder management
- Conflict Resolution
- Strategic thinking
- Cultural awareness
- Financial reporting
- Self-motivation
- Public speaking
Personal Information
ID Number: 8508120269083
African Female
Custom Section
Code 10
References
- Ms Farha Allay, CapeNature, Landscape Unit Manager, Fally@capenature.co.za, 0870874170 / 0766995052
- Mr. Ezekeil Kosa, Table Mountain National Parks, Conservation Manager (TMNP), Ezekeil.kosa@sanparks.org, 0217120527 / 0717033311
- Mrs. Jaclyn Smith, Table Mountain National Park, Senior Section Ranger (TMNP North), jaclyn.smith@sanparks.org, 0214221601 / 0615083740
- Mr. Carel Van Der Merwe, Garden Route National Park, Former Senior Section Ranger (Wilderness), 0448770046 / 0828091956
- Mr. Carlo DeKock, Garden Route National Park, BSP Cluster Manager, carlo.dekock@sanparks.org, 0448710058 / 0825411684
- Mr. Walter Mzimba, BSP Implementation Manager: National Programmes, 0605538979, walter.mzimba@sanparks.org
Timeline
Integrated Catchment Specialist
CapeNature
01.2024 - Current
Section Ranger
South African National Park
01.2016 - 01.2024
Mapper/Project Manager
South African National Park
01.2012 - 01.2016
Gate Official
South African National Park
01.2009 - 01.2011
Field Ranger
South African National Park
01.2008 - 01.2009
Postgraduate Diploma - Nature Conservation
Mangosuthu University of Technology
Project Management NQ Level 6 -
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
BTech - Nature Conservation
Mangosuthu University of Technology
National Diploma - Nature Conservation
Mangosuthu University of Technology
Grade 12 -
Riverdene Secondary School