Versatile conservationist and educator with over 7 years of hands-on experience in bush environments, performing diverse roles including game farm management, nature guiding, ecotourism coordination, wildlife monitoring, and environmental education. Backed by 6+ years as a lecturer and module lead in wildlife management, with a strong focus on game reserve and game ranch operations. Author of two children’s books promoting ecological literacy, currently developing a Master’s research proposal on human–wildlife conflict. Founder of an emerging consultancy aimed at supporting lodges and game farms with ecological reporting, staff training, and hospitality strategy. Combines field expertise, academic depth, and creative communication to deliver sustainable, guest-centered conservation solutions.
Hi, I’m
Stephen Michael Panagos
Lecturer Nature Management
Cape Town,WC
Summary
Overview
15
years of professional experience
2
Languages
7
Certificates
Work History
Newbridge Gradate institute
Lecturer
05.2024 - Current
Job overview
- Deliver lectures and tutorials; Design, prepare and develop courses, modules and teaching materials;
- Develop and implement new methods of teaching to reflect changes in research;
- Assess students' coursework;
- Set, mark and moderate examinations and assessments;
- Support students through an advisory role;
- Carry out administrative tasks related to the department, such as student admissions, induction programmes and involvement in the companies committees;
- Contribute to professional conferences and seminars in your field of expertise;
- Participate in staff training activities.
- Increased student interest by incorporating real-world examples into lessons and connecting material to relevant experiences.
- Developed strong relationships with colleagues, collaborating on curriculum development and sharing best practices in teaching strategies.
- Evaluated student progress through regular assessments, providing detailed feedback for improvement and growth.
- Mentored and advised students to explore career pathways based and amplify knowledge, skills and strengths.
OUTsurance
Commercial broker
08.2023 - 05.2024
Job overview
- Providing insurance advice to clients;
- Maintaining client and business relationships;
- Providing insurance cover for business as well as personal clients;
- Advising clients on risk management initiatives;
- Utilising various marketing strategies to obtain and maintain new and set clients;
- Preparing reports for underwriters and management;
- Supporting clients in claims on their insurance and business offerings;
- Researching insurance policies;
- Updating and upselling of existing policies and products;
- Keeping detailed computer records;
- Scheduling and attending various meetings;
- Generating and sourcing of my own clients;
- Processing of accounts and all general admin that applies to the position;
- Achieving sales and other targets set by the company.
Letsatsi Game Farm
Game farm and general manager
04.2023 - 08.2023
Job overview
- Managing the Animals on the game farm and animal breeding programmes;
- Guiding hunters during hunts and follow up of hunted animals;
- Guiding guests ecotourism guests on the farm;
- Managing and facilitation all of the tourism based programmes;
- Herd management and the improvement of genes;
- Management of the various teams of workers on the farm;
- Record keeping for all financial transactions and movement of livestock;
- Managing of animal feeding programs;
- Management and prevention of poaching;
- All general maintenance (Farm, Fences, and facilities);
- Supervise staff with regards to farm duties;
- Ecological management of the game farm;
- Manage the capture/relocation of animals, as and when required/ and /or the supervision or oversee the process when conducted by professionals;
- Assist with the lodge and lodge management;
- Allocating of daily and weekly duties as when and when required by/ or otherwise instructed by the owner;
- Have meetings with staff and owners;
- To perform duties according to the Millvale farm watch;
- Administrative tasks
- Formulated policies and procedures to streamline operations.
Centurion Academy
Lecturer and programme coordinator, Department of Nature Management
01.2019 - 04.2023
Job overview
- As lecturer: Deliver lectures and tutorials;
- Design, prepare and develop courses, modules and teaching materials;
- Develop and implement new methods of teaching to reflect changes in research;
- Assess students' coursework;
- Set, mark and moderate examinations and assessments;
- Support students through an advisory role;
- Carry out administrative tasks related to the department, such as student admissions, induction programmes and involvement in the companies committees;
- Contribute to professional conferences and seminars in your field of expertise;
- Participate in staff training activities;
- Health and safety officer for the campus;
- Assisting in the management of the Faan Meintjies nature reserve;
- Assisting in the marketing of the company through open days and school visits.
- As programme coordinator: Assist with planning and coordination of programs and their activities;
- Monitor implementation of program policies and practices;
- Work to keep programs on schedule, within stated budgets and functioning smoothly;
- Support program growth and development as necessary;
- Coordinate program communications;
- Manage staff work, workloads and work schedules;
- Administer or oversee community outreach;
- Coordinate interactions/relationships between staff within the department and management;
- Schedule and organize program-related meetings and events;
- Create and maintain program records, reports, presentations and proposals;
- Facilitate positive relations between the program team, the public, the media, other departments within the organization, and all other involved parties.
Matswani Private Game Reserve
Tourism and Security Manager
05.2017 - 12.2018
Job overview
- Planning of all tourism activities on the reserve and all activities off the reserve (external trips);
- Booking all excursions for the guests of the lodge;
- Booking guests stay at stay easy in Pretoria;
- Scheduling of staff rosters and duties;
- Training of guides with regards to their work;
- (Nature based and hospitality based training);
- Purchasing of all equipment and clothing for my staff compliment;
- Weekly meetings with my staff compliment;
- Update of all notice boards for all lodges regarding tour and bar information for each tourist group coming in;
- All HR and admin functions pertaining to my staff compliment;
- Making sure all vehicles are maintained (both cruisers and external activity vehicles);
- All licensing of the fleet of vehicles;
- Executing visa applications for translators;
- In charge of all first aid on the reserve;
- Weekly reports for the owners and other management;
- Assisting or standing in for the other mangers of the various lodges on Matswani;
- Duty manager;
- Hosting of guests;
- Assisting with purchasing and stock (F and B);
- Interim Lodge Manager for Rhino Lodge November'17 till March 2018.
Kololo Game Reserve
Ranger
02.2016 - 05.2017
Job overview
- Game drives on Welgevonden Game Reserve (big 5) as well as on Kololo;
- Game counts bush clearing and dealing with problem/alien plants;
- Liaising with and hosting of guests;
- Manging the lodge and its operation in the absence of the general manager;
- Stock counts, general maintenance of all vehicles and equipment on the farm;
- Technical advisory with regards to ecotourism and nature conservation;
- Transportation of staff and guests;
- Assisting with Front of House and back of house functions and duties;
- Fence patrols and ecological work on the reserve;
- Assisting in game capture and assisting the reserve manager with the game found on the farm;
- Assisting in kitchen where needs be.
Phelwana Game Lodge
Head Ranger/Duty Manager
05.2015 - 02.2016
Job overview
- Guided Bush walks and game drives;
- Liaising with clients;
- Promoting the company through various marketing techniques;
- Hosting of guests;
- Educating of guests from a ecotourism and nature conservation perspective;
- Performing the management of the lodge in the absence of the general manager or owner;
- Managing junior staff;
- Stock counts, general maintenance of all vehicles and equipment forum on the reserve;
- Technical advisory with regards to ecotourism and nature conservation;
- Delegation of duties and responsibilities;
- Transportation of staff and guests;
- Front of House and back of house assistance;
- Fence patrols and ecological work on the reserve;
- Barman, waiting on guests;
- Assisting in kitchen where needs be.
Cellucity Cavendish Square
Assistant Branch Manager
12.2013 - 05.2015
Job overview
- Overseeing the retail and sales function of the branch;
- Helping with all branch administration;
- Assisting in contract sales and upgrades of contracts;
- Performing monthly stock takes;
- Customer liaison and customer relations;
- Assisting the manager in overseeing staff members and their performance.
Camp Jabulani Relais and Chateau
Senior Guide/Ranger
12.2012 - 12.2013
Job overview
- Guided Bushwalks and game drives;
- Liaising with and hosting of clients;
- Promoting the company through marketing campaigns;
- Assisting in management of the lodge;
- General maintenance of lodge equipment and vehicles;
- Technical advisory on tourism related or nature conservation related aspects of the lodge;
- Assisted with safety and risk management of lodge and its surrounds;
- Interpretation and educating guests on wildlife, natural history, ecology and other tourism aspects and activities in and around the area.
Chain Saw Mecca
Sales, management, retail
12.2011 - 10.2012
Job overview
- General administration;
- Performing human resource functions for the shop;
- Helping with product placement and marketing of the shop;
- Advisory assistance to clients;
- Assistance with general maintenance of equipment;
- Management of stock and monthly stock takes;
- Serving and assisting clients.
Ndumo Game Reserve
12.2010 - 12.2011
Job overview
- Performing Environmental education programmes for schools in the area;
- Conducting game counts;
- Performing buffalo, rhino and crocodile capture and monitoring;
- Assisting community work and liaising with community members attached to the programme;
- Nature conservation, ecotourism and reserve work;
- Performing research on the reserve;
- Performing hospitality and tourism functions for the reserve;
- Assistance with general maintenance and upkeep of reserve facilities (fencing, repairs to reserve facilities i.e. causeway repairs, maintenance and repairs to bird and animal hides, bush clearing of alien vegetation and bush encroachment);
- Assistance in maintaining of water supply;
- Maintain and establishment of fencing and general maintenance of Ndumo schools vegetable gardens;
- Assisting in culling operations and abattoir work;
- Assisting in the feeding programme in the Ndumo community.
National Zoological Gardens Pretoria
Experiential training
06.2010 - 12.2010
Job overview
- Assisting the zoo with signage, branding and product placement;
- Assistance with general maintenance of the zoo;
- Assisting in research projects and statistic capturing for the zoo;
- Cleaning of and maintenance of the zoo enclosures;
- Assisting in feeding of the various animal species kept at the zoo.
Education
Tshwane University of Technology
Bachelor of Technology in Ecotourism Management
01.2011
University Overview
Tshwane University of Technology
National Diploma in Ecotourism Management from Cum Laude
01.2008
University Overview
Tshwane University of Technology
National Diploma in Graphic Design
01.2006
University Overview
Pretoria Boys High School
Matric
01.2002
University Overview
Skills
Microsoft suite
Ethnicity
Ethnicity
CaucasianPersonal Information
Personal Information
- ID Number: 8403255004085
- Date of Birth: 03/25/84
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: South African
- Driving License: Code 10
- Marital Status: Married
Certification
FGASA level 1
Timeline
Lecturer
Newbridge Gradate institute
05.2024 - Current
Commercial broker
OUTsurance
08.2023 - 05.2024
Game farm and general manager
Letsatsi Game Farm
04.2023 - 08.2023
Lecturer and programme coordinator, Department of Nature Management
Centurion Academy
01.2019 - 04.2023
Tourism and Security Manager
Matswani Private Game Reserve
05.2017 - 12.2018
Ranger
Kololo Game Reserve
02.2016 - 05.2017
Head Ranger/Duty Manager
Phelwana Game Lodge
05.2015 - 02.2016
Assistant Branch Manager
Cellucity Cavendish Square
12.2013 - 05.2015
Senior Guide/Ranger
Camp Jabulani Relais and Chateau
12.2012 - 12.2013
Sales, management, retail
Chain Saw Mecca
12.2011 - 10.2012
Ndumo Game Reserve
12.2010 - 12.2011
Experiential training
National Zoological Gardens Pretoria
06.2010 - 12.2010
Tshwane University of Technology
National Diploma in Ecotourism Management from Cum Laude
Tshwane University of Technology
National Diploma in Graphic Design
Pretoria Boys High School
Matric
Tshwane University of Technology
Bachelor of Technology in Ecotourism Management
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