PROF WILLEM VAN RIET

Vice-Chairman

Prof Willem van Riet | people [© 2009 Erhardt Thiel]Professor Willem van Riet, CEO of Peace Parks Foundation from 2000 - 2008, was in April 2008 appointed Vice-Chairman: International Relations responsible for fundraising and providing support to specialist projects such as GIS and park planning.

Also a keen canoeist who represented South Africa for several consecutive years, Prof. Van Riet has explored many of the rivers of the world. This exposure to the wild, combined with his love of nature, influenced his career choice. He trained as a landscape architect and further developed his environmental planning skills.


One of his particular fields of interest and expertise, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), resulted in the Foundation developing its own GIS laboratory. Its expertise is widely used to assist all those involved in the development and management of TFCAs.


Prof. Van Riet is a board member (and past chairman) of South African National Parks (SANParks). He has never lost his love for canoeing and still regularly explores the world's rivers in his canoe.