People on the move: Wilderness Foundation Africa and Global appoint new Patron

Adrian Gardiner

The Wilderness Foundation Africa and Wilderness Foundation Global recently announced the appointment of Adrian Gardiner as Patron of both organisations.

Gardiner was the Chairman of the Wilderness Foundation Africa for 12 years, and recently served as Chairman of the Wilderness Foundation Global. As Gardiner accepted the appointment of Patron of both organisations, he tendered his resignation as Chairman and trustee of Wilderness Foundation Global.

The Wilderness Foundation Africa was founded 47 years ago by Gardiner’s friend and mentor, Dr. Ian Player, who was a leading conservationist and an environmental statesman, reports IOL.

Over 20 years ago, Gardiner purchased a degraded farm and, after much deliberation, realised that the Big Five had once occurred naturally in this part of the Eastern Cape. He worked tirelessly to restore the land to its former glory and populate it with its natural inhabitants to restore the ecosystem that once thrived there.

Thus, Shamwari Game Reserve was born, making it the first private Big Five game reserve in the Eastern Cape and marking the beginning of the successful ecotourism and conservation that one can see today.

After successfully developing Shamwari, Gardiner went on to establish the Mantis Collection, the only hotel group with a presence on all seven continents of the world. Mantis develops, manages and markets hotels and eco-escapes which function harmoniously with natural environments.

Gardiner continues to hold the position of Executive Chairman of Mantis, Chairman of Stenden University South Africa, board member of the Mandela Bay Development Agency and Chairman of the newly established Community Conservation Fund Africa, which he founded with the merger of Mantis and AccorHotels.

Boldwin Barlow

27-year old Boldwin Barlow has been appointed as the new Executive Chef for Radisson Blu Le Vendome Hotel in Sea Point, Cape Town.

Hailing from the West Coast of South Africa, Barlow draws inspiration from traditional Cape-style dishes and seafood, which he fuses with French elements.

“Radisson Blu Le Vendome Hotel is about elegance. The customers we serve are those with a vulnerable taste bud – an adventurous type that enjoys the finer details,” he says.

Prior to joining the Radisson Hotel Group, Barlow worked in hotel properties across Cape Town, including the Ambassador Hotel and the Lord Charles Hotel, as well as the seaside restaurant Sotano and Hartberg Wine Estate. After joining the Radisson Hotel Group back in 2016, Barlow quickly rose through the ranks from Sous-Chef at Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Newlands to Executive Chef at Radisson Blu Le Vendome Hotel.

source: Tourism Update