For the past nearly 30 years, I've worked as a researcher and development practitioner specialising in forests, people and trees. My work has taken many different forms, from sacred forests to indigenous tenure rights to timber plantation labour.

I have kept up an amateur interest in botany and I have a special love for the Cape's indigenous flora, fynbos. I also come from a long line of devoted women gardeners, and as I get older, I'm spending more and more time in my own garden.

I take advantage of living in beautiful Cape Town, by swimming in the sea and hiking in the mountains as often as I can. I've been here for 17 years now, and I'm still amazed at my good fortune!