August 2025, South Africa.
Sayari Earth is thrilled to share news about several new joiners to our ‘swarm’. The dung beetle is our emblem, and a group of dung beetles is called a swarm! Dung beetles are incredible ecosystem engineers that benefit many other species and ecological processes.
We are pleased to share that Dr. Jaco Olivier joins as Project Manager of the Karoo Sustainable Landscapes Program (KSLP), Sayari Earth’s landscape level project in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Jaco joins us from BeZero Carbon, a London-based carbon ratings agency.
Ané Venter joins Sayari Earth as Project Manager, bringing experience in carbon project development and landscape restoration. She previously worked at Reforest’Action, a French nature-based project developer, and will now be working on the KwaZulu-Natal Sustainable Landscape Program (KZNSLP) and project development.
Pieter van Niekerk joins from Anthesis as Partnership Building Manager of the Karoo Sustainable Landscapes Program (Verra ID: 5689) in the Western Cape. Pieter previously led farmer engagement and support at the AgriCarbon program: Africa’s first VM42 verified project in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces of South Africa.
New Advisors
Professor Dan Brockington has joined the Technical Advisory Board at Sayari Earth. Professor Brockington is a Research Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He is an international expert on community-based livelihoods and social impact in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems in Africa.
Dr. Romain Pirard has joined the Technical Advisory Board where he brings his recent experience in biochar value chain development, invasive alien trees in South Africa and CDR (during his time at Stellenbosch University) and long-term experience in forestry and conservation. As Sayari Earth’s strategy addresses related issues in our project landscapes through a durable CDR approach, Dr. Pirard’s expertise will be invaluable.
Professor Gerry Bodeker, Chair of the TAB said: “We are excited to welcome Dan and Romain to the Technical Advisory Board. We are assembling a powerful group of independent international subject matter experts directly related to Sayari Earth’s mission. Our role is to point out blind spots, ask the hard questions, and ensure Sayari Earth programs follow best practice.”
Professor Brockington added: “Sayari Earth is focused on impacting people at scale and problems like invasive species which can have significant impacts on livelihoods. I much appreciate its dedication to channeling new finance streams to communities who could benefit most from them. I am glad to have an unfiltered inside view of project development and to support its governance and strategy.”
Sayari Earth COO and Co-Founder, Ms. Joke Hoffman shared: “Restoring with purpose needs top international talent and support. Our mission of partnering with people to sustain life on Planet Earth is strengthened by this new capacity. We are hiring and invite driven and purpose focused professionals to consider joining our swarm at www.sayari.earth”.
