The SAEP Board of Directors are delighted to announce the selection of Donavan Fullard as Chief Executive Officer of SAEP effective in February 2021 when Jane Keen will retire after 18 years of outstanding leadership and service. As shown below, Donavan comes with a wealth of leadership and management experience in education, youth development, community development, and the environment and a genuine passion for the work we do. He will join SAEP in February 2021 and receive Jane's full support to ensure a smooth transition. We hope you will join us in welcoming Donavan aboard early next and give him your support as he leads SAEP in this next challenging and exciting period of growth.
—Isabel Essen, Chair (26 November 2020)
Donavan (55) is a native Capetonian who earned two education degrees from the University of the Western Cape and has taught science in Cape Town high schools for 14 years, the last ten of which as Head of Department (Biology and Science).
In 2003 he moved from the schools into environmental education, playing important roles at the SA National Botanical Institute (SANBI), based at the Goldfields Environment and Education Centre at the world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Gardens, including six years as Deputy Director: Biodiversity Empowerment and Human Capital Development.
In 2011 Donavan interrupted this career for a year, during which he joined provincial government to serve as Director: Community Development in the Western Cape Department of Social Development. He then returned for three years to SANBI as National Programme Manager: Jobs Fund Project in Pretoria.
In 2016, he became a senior manager in the non-profit Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), SA’s largest environmental membership organization based in Pretoria, where he currently serves as General Manager: Schools and Youth and serves as a Member of the Executive Committee.