WHO are all deeply committed to THE ethical GOVERNANCE, management and operations of the organisation.
Avroy Shlain
Founder of Avroy Shlain Cosmetics, South Africa’s largest direct selling cosmetic company. •Past Chairman Direct Sales Association. •Director of the World Federation of Direct Selling Organisations. •Member of the President’s Council of the Institute of Marketing Management. •Currently C.E.O. of COBB International. Avroy is married to Beryl and they have a married daughter, Joanne, and two grandsons. Avroy’s interests include conservation, flying, fishing and cycling.
Bill de Pinho
Colonel (Retired) Bill de Pinho was born in 1959 in a small town known as Umtali, in the country known then as Southern Rhodesia – now known as Mutare, Zimbabwe. Bill began his school career in Durban, then onto Salisbury and completed his high schooling by matriculating from St Martin’s, as head of school, in Johannesburg. During his high school years he excelled at sport, especially athletics and cross country. This is where his passion for nature and the environment was kindled. His university studies saw him out in the mountains (Barrier of Spears mainly) and this cemented his fervour for both mountains and water. Bill joined the SA Air Force more than 40 years ago and specialised in photo reconnaissance and interpretation, as well as the collection of other information fields. He has served with a number of squadrons and units over the years – 2 Squadron and JARIC (Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre) provided him with a firm foundation. He was also involved in training, strategic planning and acquisition and has served with pride over the last 40 years. Bill completed two tours as Officer Commanding JARIC. He retired from the Air Force in 2019 as a Colonel and is currently serving as a Reserve Force Member.
Sven Kreher
Sven qualified as a Chartered Accountant, but his interests have been more focussed around sustainable development issues, the environment and conservation of natural resources. For the past 15 years he has been the Commercial Director of OneWorld Sustainable Investments, where the focus is on sustainable development with the challenges posed by climate change consuming most of the daily activities. He has been involved in the development of sustainability strategies, risk assessments, due diligence and feasibility studies. He has worked on game farm development projects, conservation projects and has eco-tourism and agribusiness development experience. His other interests revolve around environmental legislation and specifically as they apply to bio-diversity and animal welfare issues and here he volunteers time in interacting with governmental ministries and agencies in trying to influence various norms and standards as they are developed. In addition to this he is a director of ‘The Bateleurs – Flying for the environment in Africa’. This is a Non Profit Organisation, founded by his late mother, Nora Kreher, in 1998. Members are primarily pilots who provide their time and aircraft, for free, to give decision makers an aerial perspective of environmental issues. Sven recently co-founded a business – The Flooring Connection – the primary focus being around the use of recycled tyres in sub-flooring components.
Andrew Aitken
Andrew has spent the most part of his career at RMB. He joined the bank in 2001 and RMB Ventures, the bank’s private equity business in 2005. He has lead the business since 2017, spearheading one of the most successful private equity franchises in Southern Africa. Andrew is a UCT graduate, Chartered Accountant (SA) and CFA Charterholder. Andrew loves finding attractive private businesses to invest into. His passion is to help these businesses and their management teams reach their full potential and he is happiest when helping these teams make sense of the complexities of running businesses in a complex, fast changing world. But this is only one leg of his potjie. He spends as much time as he can with his wife, two children and three dogs. Andrew has an insatiable passion for flying and he holds a commercial pilot’s license. He uses this hobby to get to the bush as often as possible - to rejuvenate the soul and appreciate this great continent. He is passionate about conservation and believes that the key to saving our environment is demonstrating how conservation-done-well is mutually beneficial to the environment, the communities that live within this environment and society in general.
Dr Judy Mann-Lang
Dr Judy Mann-Lang is passionate about marine conservation and has focused her career on helping people to care for the ocean. She has held key positions including Director of Sea World Education, uShaka Sea World Director and CEO of the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) in Durban, and is currently their Conservation Strategist. She is President-Elect of the International Zoo Educators Association. “Human behaviour fascinates me and the social research we do helps us to ensure that our education and communication efforts are more effective. I love working with people for conservation. Inspiring people to care for our environment really motivates me. And getting out into nature keeps me inspired.”
Steve McCurrach
Steve has flown many types of aircraft, mostly centred around the Rainbow Cheetah, where he has >1500hrs on type. After a long and very involved history in Paragliding, Steve transitioned into powered paragliding (PPG). This led to his winning a S.A. PPG champs in 1996 followed by a 4th place in the 1996 World Microlight Champs PPG section. Sharing flying club facilities with the microlighting fraternity inevitably led to involvement in microlighting and eventually moving on to a PPL. Having nourished the flying gogga to the enth, including competitive and Instructional flying, Steve was hungry for something different and challenging and upon hearing of The Bateleurs he was an easy recruit, joining in July 2002 with many happy and contented years contributing to The Bateleurs. As the only Bateleurs Director based in KZN and a very ‘hands on’ operator, Steve has done pilot recruitment, user liaison and the planning, logistics and briefings for countless KZN missions.
Jay van Deventer
Jay van Deventer retired in 2002 from his role as head of research and director for HSBC Southern Africa. He has 42 years experience in light aircraft, he flies microlights, sailplanes, hang-gliders and has national colors and instructors ratings in paragliding and skydiving. Jay has been involved with The Bateleurs for 14 years, 13 of which as a director.
Raymond Steyn
Raymond pursued his passion for aviation after establishing a successful construction and property development company. He joined ExecuJet, South Africa, as Deputy Managing Director during 1998 and is currently the CEO of the Pilatus PC12 Centre in Southern Africa. Professional memberships: •Associate member of The South African Institute of Mechanical Engineers; •Diploma member of the South African section of the British plastics and Rubber Institute; •Commercial Pilots Association; •National Association of Underwater Instructors. Aviation experience: •Commercial License with Instrument ratings on both Fixed Wing and Rotor Wing aircraft; •Ratings: Instrument Multi Turbine Jet Test Flight Authorization; •More than 5000 hours Fixed Wing and Rotor Wing combined; •Involved in game census in the Kruger Park and other parks for the last 15 years.
Donavan Bailey
Born and breed in Pietermaritzburg and matriculating at Hilton College. Went on to qualify as a Cost and Management Account (always wanted to be a pilot). Obtain PPL in 1994 and finally a Commercial License in 1998 (last century). Flew for the UN in Angola for a few years before been attracted back into business. Been involved with Expandasign (textiles and printing) since 1999. First starting based in London then returning to SA in 2001 to take the reins. Missed home badly. I joined the Bateleurs in 2005. Flew a number of missions. The most enjoyable been counting crocodiles at Jozini. Every mission is great. I became a board member in 2018 (they needed some youth to shake things up). Super passionate about our Enviroment and giving back. Bateleurs has inspired me to fight harder for change.
