Qualified as a Horticulturist and holds a Masters degree in Agriculture from the University of Stellenbosch. He has worked in agricultural research, retail and development. Lectured in Horticulture and Environmental studies. The latter part of career was slanted towards the public sector and spent the last four and half years as CEO of a state-owned entity responsible for agriculture and economic development programmes. The goal is to strive for development and sustainability in endeavours and creating partnerships aimed at augmenting initiatives. An outdoor person who enjoys nature, sports and reading.
Calla du Toit completed his Master Degree (M.Sc Agric) at Stellenbosch University. He honed his skills working for a fruit importer in the UK and developed a keen interest in commercial agricultural marketing.
Currently, Du Toit is the Procurement Manager at Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, the largest exporter of South African apples and pears. Calla is an experienced pome fruit producer in the Witzenberg Valley near Ceres. He has extensive experience in the Pome Fruit Industry and was appointed as the Chairman of the Bigbucks Grower Association. He is also the Chairman of Pink Lady SA and serves as the Financial Director of IPLA (International PLD Association). He also founded the FPA (Forelle Producer Association) and served as the first Chairman. His expertise span across Horticulture and plant breeding and he currently serves on the Boards of Hortgro Pome (Vice Chairman), Ceres Fruit Growers, Ceres Fruit Processors and New Stuff (A Varietal Development Company).He also served as a Trustee of Sapo Trust for the past ten years.
AJ Griesel holds extensive experience in the agricultural industry, is well-versed in commercial operations and believes that a values-based culture supports the delivery of long-term excellence. As the CEO of the South African Table Grape Industry, AJ and his team focus on initiatives that will maintain South Africa’s position as the preferred table grape country of origin. Prior, AJ held senior commercial positions at Kaap Agri for more than 7 years. AJ also prioritises his family time with his wife, Chantel, and 3 boys.
Sixteen years ago Ismail exchanged the corporate world for a farm in Wolseley. He has played a significant role in the transformation of the agricultural sector in the Western Cape for the past ten years. Working with farmers from across the province in a range of commodities and understanding the needs and challenges that black farmers face has been part of his daily routine. He is currently the chairperson of AFASA-WC and the Deciduous Fruit Development Chamber amongst a range of other development organizations that assist in transforming the agricultural sector. Besides farming in Wolseley, he is the MD of a black-owned company as well as Stargrow Development – that does business in the plant improvement sector and supply of a range of fruit trees throughout the country. The company also assists in developing black producers in the citrus and deciduous fruit regions by raising funds and providing technical expertise, marketing of fruit and supply of plant material.
Tshililo is a well-known and respected agricultural economist who serves as CEO of an Agricultural Investment Company, Olive Black Invest (Pty) Ltd. He also serves on the Boards of Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), TerraSan Group (Pty) Ltd, Citrus Growers Association (CGA) Development Company and the Chris Hani Development Agency (CHDA). He previously served as the CEO of the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC). In this role, he advised the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on issues relating to the marketing of agricultural products, exports, competitiveness, and transformation. He regulated the functioning and funding of industry organisations such as Vinpro, Hortgro, Citrus Growers Association, SATI, Subtrop, etc.
Rico Basson is the Executive Director for VinPro since 2012. Prior to this, he was involved in various departments of the commercial banking industry, with specific focus on the agricultural industry (including wine). He has been instrumental over the past seven years to not only refocus the VinPro group and associated businesses with the wine industry value chain but also initiated a comprehensive strategic framework for the SA Wine and Brandy industry, with ten key projects and targets towards 2025. Closely linked with this framework has been a sound advocacy role with key national and provincial government departments and international stakeholders as well as close collaboration with labour, including trade unions and civil society. He also serves on various industry boards as a director and/or chairman and also plays an active role in his community.
Louis started his career in 1980 as a cost accountant. In 1998 he joined the Deciduous Fruit Producers Trust (DFPT) as Financial Manager. Since then he has been an important role-player and forms part of the senior management to help ensure the continuous transformation of the industry structures to adapt to an ever-changing environment. He was the first CFO of the DFPT and is currently the General Manager of HORTGRO (which evolved out of the DFPT in 2008) and a Director/Trustee/Company Secretary of a number of industry and private entities, guiding and directing their affairs. He continues to play a leading role in facilitating industry functions via a range of industry sub-structures and service entities.