about conserve eden
Who we are
Living on the Garden Route is unique. It is special. Surrounded by natural beauty, pristine ecosystems, and a more “relaxed” sense of lifestyle is an absolute privilege. As a group of committed and passionate people who have lived here for many years, we are committed to understanding the biodiversity in the area, measuring and mitigating the impact we have as people on it, and contributing to education, awareness and conservation efforts to ensure generations to come can experience what we get to do every day. We strongly believe in teamwork, where ordinary everyday people can work together alongside the many NPOs and environmentally conscious businesses in the region to ensure sustainability.
The People
DR MARK BROWN
Mark is a conservation biologist who is passionate about sharing his career experience with budding ecologists. With over 20 years field experience mentoring conservation students, almost 40 postgraduate students supervised, and close to 100 scientific publications under his belt, Mark is an experienced biologist and conservationist. As a practicing researcher, he is able to ensure our programs give relevant and topical experience to our clients, ensuring they get hands-on exposure to some of the best conservation work being done in the region. More about Mark’s research.
KELLYN WHITEHEAD
Kellyn is a dynamic force within Conserve Eden, leveraging her expertise and passion for conservation to drive meaningful change. Armed with a Master’s degree in Fynbos ecology, Kellyn possesses a deep understanding of the delicate balance within our ecosystems. Her hands-on experience coordinating conservation programs and leading environmental education initiatives has made her a respected figure in the field. Kellyn’s commitment to fostering a deeper connection between people and nature fuels Conserve Eden’s mission, ensuring our efforts are impactful and sustainable.
ELTON DU PLOOY
Elton has always had an absolute love for nature. He grew up in South Africa and started his career studying business and working in banking in the UK. After 5 years living abroad, he realised he missed his home country and its amazing wildlife too much. In 2012 Elton and his wife Melissa headed up the conservation efforts on a game reserve through a conservation volunteering program and started educational tours, specifically in wildlife veterinary science. Elton then started a separate ecology program, and this is where he met Dr Mark Brown and where Discover Eden was born.
DR KELLY BROWN
Kelly has over two decades of experience as an educator and researcher. Having worked on a range of species, from white-eyes to dassies, for her early postgraduate years, she started focusing on education and how science is taught. With experience in the education sector, including running Environmental Education programs, teaching in high schools, and lecturing in Education and Biology faculties at the University level, Kelly brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. As a qualified bird ringer and passionate biologist, she oversees our research and internship programs, ensuring students are well cared for, and research standards are high.
With a combined 50+ years of experience introducing the conservation landscape to students, our dedicated team is passionate about making a difference in the area we live in and sharing this experience with others.
Our conservation, research, and internship programs are designed to impact locals, visitors, and biodiversity in the region, enhance conservation efforts, train students, and provide catalytic opportunities for the sustainable utilisation of our natural resources.