Team

Sam is a general Ecologist and Wildlife Management specialist who primarily operates as a Mammalogist, Avifaunal and Botanical specialist in many African countries. As a broad base, Sam has accumulated degrees is Marine Biology, Conservation Biology as well as Wildlife Management (BSc, BSC Hons, MSc Cand.).

Sam formed Enviro-Insight with Luke Verburgt where he operates as a Co-Director and Specialist Zoologist and Ecologist. In addition, Sam is a co-director of the newly registered Enviro-Insight DRC in partnership with Mr Luke Verburgt and Merimee Kalumba. Finally, Sam is a co-director of a registered Non-Profit Organisation named the Wild Lion Trust, an organisation based in Tembe National Park (Kwa Zulu Natal) devoted to the conservation of lions and carnivores throughout Africa.

Sam’s experience covers work on projects throughout Africa (South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Liberia) and has successfully worked with/for numerous local and African and international companies. His experience is very broad and covers general ecological assessments, biodiversity assessments, linear avifauna assessments, linear biodiversity assessments as well as faunal and floral monitoring projects, evaluation of rehabilitation programs, preparation of management plans, health and safety training for dangerous fauna and project management. Sam also has extensive experience in large IFC Performance Standard 6 projects which represents the core focus of Enviro-Insight and Enviro-Insight DRC.

Sam has been awarded the status of Professional Scientist (SACNASP) for both Ecological Science and Zoological Science.

Luke is a general Zoologists (MSc. in Zoology) primarily specializing in the field of Herpetology (amphibians & reptiles). His specialist and scientific research background extends over 13 years and Luke currently maintains strong interests in both environmental consulting and academia. In 2009 Luke formed Enviro-Insight (with partner Sam Laurence) where he operates as a Co-Director, Project Manager, GIS specialists, Software developer and Specialist Zoologist.

Luke’s experience covers work on projects throughout Africa and its islands (South Africa [including Marion Island], Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Madagascar, Uganda, Namibia and Liberia) and has successfully worked with/for numerous local and international companies. His experience is extremely broad and encompasses ecological assessments, biodiversity assessments, linear assessments as well as monitoring projects, preparation of management plans, health and safety training for dangerous fauna and project management. Specialist consulting experience is available upon request.

Luke is registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP member no: 400506/11), is a member of the Herpetological Association of Africa and a member of the expert panel for the Animal Demography Unit (University of Cape Town) Virtual Museum.

Lukas has been working as a consultant in the field of ecology for the past 10 years and is also director of his own consultancy that specialises in biodiversity and environmental matters. His core service includes ornithological (the study of birds) and entomological (the study of invertebrates) assessments.

He has travelled extensively to many remote places as far as Marion Island and has worked on many international projects pertaining to the African continent. He worked on projects earmarked for the urban and mining sector and has been involved in many linear projects, monitoring programmes, biodiversity action plans as well as specific investigations regarding species with rare/elusive life-history traits (e.g. threatened species).

Corné is a general ecologist who primarily operates as a botanist (B.Sc. (Hons) Zoology; M.Sc. Plant Science). His M.Sc. dissertation investigated human impacts on the Critically Endangered Woodbush Granite Grasslands in Limpopo province.

Since 2017 he has been working for Enviro-Insight, where he holds the position of Senior Specialist.
Corné has worked across South Africa where he has been actively involved in ecological assessments since 2012. His experience is extremely broad and encompasses ecological assessments, biodiversity assessments as well as environmental impacts assessments (EIAs), preparation of environmental management programmes (EMPr), rehabilitation plans and project management. He has compiled more than 40 ecological surveys, mostly for EIA developments.

Corné is registered as a professional scientist (Pr.Sci. Nat.) in the ecological science field with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP no: 116598), and is a member of the South African Association of Botanists and International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa

I am the one you need to contact, if you have any queries about Enviro-Insight and our capacity to assist you regarding any environmental or educational projects. I will attend to your queries asap! I am certified to conduct SASS5 (river health) assessments and furthermore support the team hands-on in the planning, preparation and execution of fieldwork.

Marco is a Junior Specialist who primarily works as a botanist. His M.Sc. involved unravelling the pollination biology of the fairly unknown terrestrial orchid genus Bonatea.

Marco has been working for Enviro-Insight since November 2018 where he has been actively involved in ecological assessments and herpetological surveys.

He is currently working towards being registered as a professional scientist (Pr.Sci. Nat.) in the ecological science field.

Alex primarily works in the field of herpetology (B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. in Zoology). His M.Sc. dissertation investigated locomotor adaptations and biogeography of the Pyxicephalidae, a diverse family of African frogs.

Alex started working for Enviro-Insight in 2019, where he has been assisting in herpetological surveys and GIS. Previously, Alex spent a year as an intern at Port Elizabeth Museum, assisting with the herpetofaunal and marine mammal collection; and 6 months identifying, entering specimen data and preparing specimens for accessioning in the herpetological collections at the Port Elizabeth Museum and KwaZulu-Natal Museum.

Alex is a member of the Herpetological Association of Africa (HAA) and a keen citizen scientist on iNaturalist.