SABIO Board Members
2017– 2018
MIKE MILES (CHAIRMAN) (082 456 4177) (Johannesburg, Gauteng)
Mike Miles is a Hobbyist / Small Scale Beekeeper residing in Johannesburg, Gauteng. He is a Labour Relations Consultant by profession, running his own Consultancy practice to corporate clients throughout South Africa. He has a legal background, formerly a magistrate in Zimbabwe where he grew up and where he commenced his interests in beekeeping as a teenager. Although not a full time beekeeper he runs a sideline business selling beekeeping equipment and runs training courses on Beekeeping for Beginner and Hobbyist Beekeepers. As Chairman of SABIO he liaises and negotiates with Government on all national Beekeeping issues, ensures the smooth and efficient administrative functions of SABIO, controls the finances and sits on the editorial Board of the SA Bee Journal.
JACO WOLFAARDT (083 301 5165) (Swellendam, Southern Cape)
Jaco is a Commercial Beekeeper residing in Swellendam, Southern Cape. He has been keeping bees since his teenage years and currently services an expansive commercial enterprise focusing on both honey production and pollination services. In addition he runs one of the largest Beekeeping Equipment Sales outlets in the Southern and Westerrn Cape. Over the years since his involvement in national Beekeeping affairs he has travelled widely throughout Africa and overseas to make valueable contacts with other beekeeping organisations and personalities. He is well connected in respect of international liaison and has links to the Apimondia Organization which hosts international events and Api-Trade Africa which co-ordinates the continent’s apicultural interests.
CRAIG CAMPBELL (084 774 8692) (Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal)
Craig Campbell is a commercial bee farmer from Kwa-Zulu Natal with extensive knowledge of the bee industry, both in honey production and pollination services. He currently operates over 7500 colonies mainly in KZN and the Free State and has been involved in the beekeeping industry since 1988. He has also gainedextensive commercial beekeeping experience in both Australia and New Zealand and returned to South Africa in 2010 to recommence his commercial beekeeping interests from the Natal Midlands. He has recently become a co-owner of Peels Honey, based in Howick, KZN and services the marketing needs of many small scale beekeepers in the area. He is currently Chairman of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Bee Farmers Association and represents their interests on the SABIO Board.
PHIL WALKER (084 510 1556) (Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal)
Phil is a “small scale” beekeeping operator running ±1000 beehives in a joint-venture with his son from their small holding in Pinetown. He also runs a beekeeping equipment retail outlet. He is an ardent member of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Bee Farmers Association and has been active on their Board for the past 9 years. He has a wealth of knowledge on provincial affairs having been involved in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Wildlife and has a growing interest in pollination services particularly in the expanding Macadania Nut Industry in KZN.
DANIE VORSTER (072 363 9478) (Stanford / Hermanus, Western Cape)
Danie has been actively involved in the beekeeping industry since 2009 having gained invaluable experience while working on commercial beekeeping operations in Canada and with a large commercial beekeeper based in Douglas, Northern Cape. He has been a commercial bee farmer in the Western Cape since 2010 focusing on both pollination services and honey production having taken over another well-known beekeeper’s business. Together with his wife he also runs 2 well-known Honey Retail outlets on the tourist route in Hermanus and Stanford promoting the local Fynbos Honeys as well as other Western Cape honey varieties. Having been involved in local industry structures from 2012 he iscurrently Chairman of the Western Cape Bee Industry Association and represents their interests on the SABIO Board.