GKEPF is pleased to welcome two new faces to the team this month, with Julie Bryden joining as Wildlife Crime Mitigation Manager and Willem du Preez beginning a new role that will strengthen environmental crime investigations and collaboration across the Greater Kruger landscape.
Both bring extensive experience in conservation and law enforcement, adding valuable skills and perspectives to the partnerships that support wildlife crime mitigation across the region.
Willem du Preez
Willem joins the wider GKEPF team bringing more than three decades of policing and investigative experience.
He served as a police officer for 33 years, reaching the rank of Captain, with the final six years of his SAPS career focused on investigating rhino-related cases around Kruger National Park. Willem has now been appointed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), where his work will focus on the investigation of environmental crimes.
Before formally becoming an Environmental Management Inspector (EMI), Willem will undertake the required EMI training. Once qualified, his role will provide an important link between investigations across the Greater Kruger landscape and DFFE, while drawing on his extensive law-enforcement experience.
For Willem, one of the priorities in his new role will be building strong working relationships across the Integrated Wildlife Zones (IWZ), particularly with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“I am looking forward to building a special relationship with all role players in the IWZ, especially with SAPS and the NPA, to see case dockets successfully through court.”
This is an important part of wildlife crime mitigation. Successful investigations depend not only on what happens in the field, but on ensuring that information and evidence are carried effectively through the criminal justice process.
Julie Bryden
Julie has joined GKEPF as Wildlife Crime Mitigation Manager, bringing more than 20 years of conservation experience and a long-standing connection to the Greater Kruger landscape.
Her career has taken her through research, ecological monitoring, wilderness, ranger training, protected area operations and wildlife crime mitigation. Rather than following a deliberately mapped-out career path, Julie describes conservation as something that has always been part of her life.
“There was never really one defining spark or moment when I decided that conservation was what I wanted to do. It has always just been there, a roaring fire somewhere in my soul.”
Working across so many different aspects of conservation has also shaped how Julie approaches wildlife crime. Research taught her the importance of good information and evidence, fieldwork gave her an understanding of what happens on the ground, while training and management reinforced the importance of people, communication and relationships.
In her new role, Julie is particularly looking forward to reconnecting with Management Authorities and partners she worked alongside during her time in Kruger. She sees one of GKEPF’s greatest strengths in the considerable knowledge and experience that already exists across the landscape, and an important part of her role in helping connect it.
“I have often seen myself as the hydraulic fluid in a machine, or the grease in the bearings — helping things move, connecting people and information, and hopefully making the whole system work a little more effectively.”
That practical approach extends beyond Julie’s professional life. She has a passion for traditional and primitive skills, experimental archaeology and understanding how people historically worked with natural materials. More recently, this has developed into artisanal leatherwork and sustainable tanning.
For Julie, these interests are not entirely separate from conservation. Both involve curiosity, practical problem-solving and learning through doing, including being willing to fail, reassess and try again.
We are delighted to welcome both Julie and Willem and look forward to the experience, knowledge and perspectives they will bring to GKEPF and the wider Greater Kruger partnerships.
Thank You, Sean
As we welcome new members to the team, we also say goodbye to Sean Morar, who has served as GKEPF’s Wildlife Crime Mitigation Manager.
Sean has been a valued part of GKEPF and has contributed his experience, commitment and knowledge to strengthening wildlife crime mitigation and collaboration across the Greater Kruger landscape. We are incredibly grateful for everything he has contributed during his time with GKEPF and for the relationships he has built with colleagues and partners across the region.
We wish Sean every success in this next chapter and thank him for everything he has brought to the GKEPF team!
