Simon Gear is the environmental and science correspondent for Primedia Broadcasting and the anchor presenter for 50/50 on SABC 2. He was a senior broadcasting meteorologist with the SABC from 1999 to 2011. He is an air quality change specialist and has worked on a wide range of private and government projects in South Africa. Simon works as a professional speaker and MC, focusing on various environmental and climate change related topics, and thoroughly enjoys bringing his passion for science and the environment to the fore at functions. Simon is also an accomplished writer. You can currently read him in his monthly columns in Runners World SA and in Khuluma, the Kulula.com in-flight mag. His first book, Going Green, contains simple environmental advice for day to day living and is currently on its first re-print.

Andile Hesperus Sangqu is a seasoned entrepreneur, visionary and well-rounded business leader. He has been deeply involved in business financial restructuring, financial systems development, implementation, budgeting, strategic planning, organisational transformation and many change management processes. Mr Sangqu is an accountant and tax expert with a string of qualifications. He was past Group Executive Director at Kagiso Trust Investments and is currently Executive Director Xstrata South Africa. Mr Sangqu also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director for Pioneer Food Group Limited; Non-Executive Director for Kagiso Treasury Services (Pty) Ltd; Executive Director for Kagiso Hedge Trading (Pty) Limited; Non-Executive Director for Kagiso Asset Management (Pty) Limited; Non-Executive Director for Kagiso Securities Limited; Non-Executive Director for Kagiso Property Holdings (Pty) Limited; Non-Executive Director for Metropolitan Asset Management (Pty) Limited; Non-Executive Director for Metropolitan Health Group; Non-Executive Director for Metropolitan Life (Pty) Limited; Deputy Director-General, Finance and Corporate Services at the National Department of Public Works; Chairman of Audit & Risk Committee at Pioneer Food Group Limited, Cape Town. Mr Sangqu holds the following qualifications: INSEAD Graduate Business School, France – Advanced Management Programme(AMP) completed in 2008; University of South Africa Graduate School of Business Leadership – Master of Business Leadership completed in 2001; University of the Witwatersrand (Wits Business School) – Executive Development Programme (EDP) completed in 1998; University of Transkei – B.Compt Hons CTA; Rhodes University - Bachelor of Commerce; Rand Afrikaans University - Higher Diploma in Tax Law. His wife Nolleen Sangqu is the TV talk show presenter of 3 Talk.

Braam Malherbe is an extreme adventurer, conservationist, youth developer, motivational speaker, TV Presenter and author of the best seller “The Great Run”. At age 16, Braam ran 532 km in 11 days, from Plettenberg Bay to Cape Town to raise funds for WESSA's conservation work with the protection of the Langebaan Lagoon. For this remarkable effort, Braam was Awarded Life Membership of our organization. He is also an Honorary Ranger for SANParks and has been involved in training rangers for counter poaching operations. He co-founded the Table Mountain National Park's Volunteer Firefighting unit in 2000 which he headed as CEO for 6 years. For the past 15 years, Braam has worked extensively as a youth educator through outdoor leadership camps teaching children about nature and survival skills. His motto is that the greatest gift in life is giving and that nothing is impossible if you have big dreams. In 2006, he put his conviction to the test. Against our country's top medical and sport experts' advice, Braam Malherbe and running partner David Grier achieved a world first by running the entire length of the Great Wall of China, at a pace of a marathon a day for 98 days. This expedition funded the inaugural mission for Operation Smile in South Africa, an international charity organization providing corrective surgery for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate disfigurements. Only two years later in 2008, after serious knee surgery and his doctors saying he'd never run again, Braam and David completed another world first by running a “Smile around South Africa”, following the entire coastline from Namibia to Mozambique, a distance of 3278kms. Through these achievements, over R2.5 million was raised for Operation Smile. He currently presents on the SABC2 nature programme 50/50, was named the “Men's Health Unsung Hero for 2010” and just recently became the Woolworths “My Planet” Ambassador!

Keith Kirsten has been a household name for decades across Southern Africa. He was born and raised in Durban. Often called "South Africa's favourite gardener", Keith Kirsten has informed, entertained and inspired gardening enthusiasts for more than 30 years through radio; television shows; articles; publishing over 7 books; and giving lectures. Keith studied for a Diploma in Horticulture in Pretoria whilst doing his practical at the Durban Parks, Recreation and Beaches. In 1978, together with two friends, he started the first “Keith Kirsten” in Waterkloof, Pretoria. Soon there were 5 Keith Kirsten's Nurseries and Garden Centres across Gauteng. Keith has since channelled his energies through Keith Kirsten Horticulture International (Pty) Ltd (KKHI). Unbeknown to many this organization was responsible for the smooth transition of the SA National Exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1993/94 when the government asked him to ensure that the show was staged that year in co-operation with SANBI and it has successfully continued since then. Keith served several times as President of the South African Nursery Association (SANA), and was the first National Chairman of the Green Industries Council. He remains the Chairman for the SANA Bursary Fund, which allows needy students to be able to study horticulture. He is also active in the World President's Organization (WPO). Always the community and environmental activist, Keith has raised millions for the sick and needy as well as playing key roles in worthy organisations. such as the National Water Conservation campaign under the Department of Water affairs and Forestry (Patron); The Green Trust and Peace Gardens (of former years); Food and Trees for Africa (Founder Director and now Patron); Business for Arts South Africa (BASA - Founder member). Talk to Keith Kirsten today and he is as emphatic as ever, "I am an outrageous Africa optimist. Let us roll up our sleeves, clean up the litter, plant trees & flowers, while we get the African Renaissance to work." Which doubtlessly explains why Keith is a passionate contributor to the "Proudly South African" campaign.

Penny Heyns has established herself not only as the world's greatest breaststroke swimmer, but also a successful world renowned business woman and professional speaker who co-owns Omnishare Holdings (PTY) LTD with business partner Zelda van Vureen. Her aim is to inspire, motivate and empower and challenge those to whom she presents “to fulfil their potential and live a life of purpose”. She was born in Springs, Gauteng Province, attended the local primary school and later Amanzimtoti High School in Kwa Zulu Natal where she matriculated in 1992. At school Heyns was sporty but swimming was her first choice. She did tertiary studies at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA. She has featured as International Director: American College Connection where she was identifying and recruiting international sporting talent for US Colleges. She is also a Member Of The Eminent Group: South African Sports Hall Of Fame, responsible for nominees and inductees, criteria and selection process.

Kevin Duncan is an ardent “broad based” environmentalist who likes nothing more than to hook up his off-road trailer and go camping with his family for a week or two, preferably in the solitude and beauty of the pristine Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Being a dedicated canoeist and having paddled on most of our major river systems for the last few decades, Kevin has become increasingly concerned with the water quality that he and other canoeists are forced to paddle in. Through initiating WESSA's co-sponsoring of Gauteng's premier canoe race, the Vaal Canoe Marathon, Kevin was able to get WESSA to sensitise this key target group to the broader environmental problems that are confronting us. He was instrumental in facilitating significant funding for the Kruger National Park's Counter Poaching Unit's “Cybertracker” pilot project. This pilot was successful and “Cybertrackers” today are a permanent and essential feature of the Field Guides' equipment while out on patrol. He was also fortunate enough to be able to assist in providing Kruger Park's Veterinary Wildlife Services with two bungalows to be used primarily by visiting researchers or Honorary Rangers while doing duty in the Park. Kevin is a graduate in civil engineering and commerce and holds a post graduate qualification in company direction and an AEP. He is currently a Director of Property Development with a listed construction company. He was previously Managing Director of a business unit in one of the major banks, and prior to that, the Chief Executive Officer of a public entity. His major business challenge is seeking alternative energy solutions for the “mega” housing projects that his company is involved in.

Sango Siviwe Ntsaluba, B.Com., B.Compt. Hons (Unisa), CA(SA), HDip Tax Law (UJ), has been Executive Chairman of Amabubesi Investments (Pty) Limited since 2006. Mr Ntsaluba has wide experience in various areas of business acquired over a period of more than 20 years. He has been a Director of Basil Read Holding Ltd. since July 2006 and of Barloworld Ltd. since July 2008. He is a founding Member of SizweNtsaluba VSP, a successful firm of accountants and auditors, and Neotel, the second fixed line operator in South Africa. He serves on various public sector boards, including the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC). He is a Founding Member of Amabubesi Investments (Pty) Limited. He moved to Transnet as General Manager in Group Finance and then became an Executive Director responsible for Restructuring and various operations which included Telecommunications, IT, Rail activities and Road freight businesses. During his time at Transnet, he was seconded by the then Minister of Public Enterprises, where he was advising government on the setting up of the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) targeting the previously disadvantaged persons. He also served on the Black Economic Empowerment Commission, thus implementation of the BEE Codes. He serves as a Director of Neotel (Pty) Ltd. Mr Ntsaluba holds a B.Com. from UNISA and a CA from South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Prof. Brian Huntley born in 1944 in Durban, is former chief executive of the National Botanical Institute and then the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) based at Kirstenbosch, which he spearheaded its transformation into a world-class organisation of high credibility. He founded the Southern African Botanical Diversity Network and was involved in multi interdisciplinary and research programmes resulting in numerous publications. Now retired, he acts as senior policy advisor to the governmental Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and a consultant. Brian and a group of like-minded individuals created “Trees for Africa”, a programme which continues to promote the greening of the sprawling townships of the Witwatersrand. He worked in Angola, for the Portuguese government to help plan and develop the National Parks; was the Scientific Coordinator for the Savanna Ecosystem Project, a large, ambitious, multi-disciplinary study of an African savanna. Its success led to the development of other ecosystem projects, in Fynbos, Karoo, Forest, and Grassland. He also spent 14 years with the CSIR and FRD.

Michael Judin is a lawyer in Commercial, Competition Law, Corporate, Intellectual Property, International trade laws & treaties, Internet Law / E-Commerce, Joint Ventures and Acquisitions , Labour Law, Licensing, Litigation (Commercial), Litigation (Corporate), Media , Property Law, Trade and Industry. Michael is currently a director of the Johannesburg-based law firm Goldman, Judin Inc. He is legal advisor to, and a director of the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa. He is the non-executive director of Privest Group Limited, Nu-World Holdings Limited and also a director of several unlisted companies and trustee of several trusts.

Jason Hartman, born and raised in the Kwazulu-Natal Midlands in South Africa, is popularly known as a singer and songwriter. Idols 2009 truly put Jason on the map as one of South Africa's finest acts. He has recently ventured into acting with a leading debut role in “A Million Colours”. Key to being a WESSA patron is Jason's passion for the environment, in particular gardening. In keeping the world a greener place, he teaches disadvantaged communities on how to grow sustainable green gardens and planting trees. Jason heads up an NGO called The Men of Trees NGO (www.motto.org.za) and is driving several ‘green' projects such as sustainable vegetable gardens in schools. Sustainability in the garden is very important to Jason and he proudly shows underprivileged people all over the country how to plant crops in tyres in order to feed their families. A visit to his website www.jasonsgarden.com will delight all plant lovers and everyone who wants global warming and poverty to stop. Jason has been able to build up a lot of support from some of Europe's most influential people – he will be joining them in a drive to end global poaching and will incorporate awareness and a very serious message into his shows and the new music he is working on.