WHO WE ARE
Christopher Volbrecht
Director
BSc Agric (Hons) Animal Sci & Genetics (UP); Masters- Agricultural Economics (Sydney)
An agricultural commodity trader (CBOT, SAFEX Futures and Physical trading) in both Australian (for ECOM Commodities) and South African (for FR Waring) markets. He also consulted in the grain milling and feedlotting sectors. More recently he has worked as a Country Manager for Pannar South Africa’s subsidiaries, (Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique), as well as developing the Botswana retail and commercial markets. His interests include spearfishing, canoeing and travel..
Mike Jackson
Director
BSc Agric (Hons) Ag Econ & Crop Science, UKZN
Worked at Pannar for 7 years, and was their Business Development Manager for Africa- working in Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, DRC Congo, French Congo, Madagascar, but also contributed Tanzania in their retail sector growth and commercial farmer sector development. In his earlier years, he managed Lesotho and Swaziland subsidiaries, in addition to servicing Zambia’s commercial farmer sector. Prior to working at Pannar, he worked for another South African seed company, Link Seed, where he developed his technical experience in Maize and Soybean breeding and research management. Mike is a keen canoeist, wildlife enthusiast and family man.
Etienne van Rooyen
Director
B.Tech Animal Production- Pretoria
Businessman, farmer, forester, rare game breeder; he has a passion for all things adventurous. Etienne’s hobbies include Squash (local club champion), Deep-sea Angling and Hunting.
Jonathan Martens
Supply Chain Manager
BSc Agric (Hons), MSc Agric
Jonathan joined Pannar Seed in 1995 and has been in the seed business for 25 years. During his Pannar Seed years Jonathan was a Production Research and Sales Agronomist before becoming the company’s Africa Parent Seed Manager and Production Director. With the purchase of Pannar Seed by DuPont Pioneer, Jonathan became the Operations Director and led the integration of Pannar and Pioneer operations functions across the continent up until March 2019. Jonathan brings an enormous amount of experience to Lake Agriculture and will be responsible for production operations on the continent.
His interests in his spare time includes outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and camping. He is a family man and much of his spare time activities includes them.
Dr Mike Barrow
Maize Breeder
BSc, MSc, PhD -University of Natal
Mike worked as a Maize Breeder for Pannar for 37 years. His numerous hybrids are undoubtedly the most sold in Africa, within the small scale sector. He has developed hybrids in all maturities groups, from ultra-quick (3 series) to ultra-long (9 series for Kenyan highlands). He pioneered a MSV screening protocol for maize inbreds and hybrids for more than three decades. In his spare time, he is an avid indigenous nurseryman and landscape artist.
Guy Markham
Finance
Associate General Accountant (SA)
Guy completed his SAICA articles at a small to medium sized firm based in Pietermaritzburg. Guy has since gained 3 years of experience in financial management and has recently joined Lake Agriculture as Finance Manager. Guy is continuing his financial accounting studies through ACCA (Association of Certified Chartered Accountants). He enjoys riding his bike, trail running and is also an active member of a local church.
OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
Directors
MW Jackson (BSc (Agric) Agribusiness Management and Crop Science (UKZN))
ER van Rooyen (B.Tech: Animal Production (Pretoria))
CR Volbrecht (BSc (Agric) Animal Sci. & Genetics (UP); Master of Ag. Econ. (Sydney))
Managers
MW- Jackson- Business Development
ER van Rooyen- Parent Seed
CR Volbrecht – Business Development
JM Martens- Supply Chain
G Markham – Finance