MortgageSA conference proposal for 2005

Conference Facilitators:

Grant McIlrath - the Meerkatman!

Wouldn’t it be great if you could walk with wildlife, without disturbing, without interfering, but still, interacting? To observe. To learn. To appreciate.

Now you can. Grant M McIlrath is an experienced, active research biologist and conservationist, who is the world’s foremost expert on wild meerkat behaviour. Through his intensive research and relentless dedication, Grant now offers you the opportunity to benefit from his unique approach to wildlife conservation. To walk with meerkats. To learn the language of meerkats, discovered by Grant for the first time, based on the foundation of 34 calls. To experience the 51 different behavioral patterns identified by Grant. And to learn the exciting wildlife habituation techniques, perfected by Grant which allows him to walk and interact freely with wild animals.

Like a modern-day St Francis of Assisi, Grant interacts effortlessly with the meerkats, using a completely unobtrusive, yet entirely sustainable nature conservation process. He has spent more time working with wild meerkats than anyone else in the world, and his expertise has culminated in numerous scientific publications, as well as documentary films with such prestigious groups as National Geographic, the BBC and the Discovery Channel.

All of this knowledge, all of his years of experience, can now be witnessed first-hand in Oudsthoorn, where Grant has habituated a group of wild meerkats to the benefit of science, conservation and you.

Mandy Young - the Ecotherapist:

Nature is the best teacher. We all know this. We know this instinctively. So why aren’t we listening to nature? The answer is simple: we’re too busy. Life rushes on relentlessly, bills need to be paid, and stress builds up.

Mandy is a Cape-Town based psychotherapist with 26 years of experience, working with people of all ages: helping them to understand their perceptions of life - often formulated from a very early age, heal from life experiences or inadequate parenting, and discover who they are by gaining a good sense of themselves and their own worth, and out of that awareness working out what they want for their life and how they can make that happen!

She believes that man genetically and spiritually evolved in adaptation to nature, and that we no longer live to our full potential with lifestyles and ways of behaving that work, because we spend so much of our time trying to survive the stresses and strains of city life for which we are not best adapted.

Over the last 10 years Mandy has been passionately involved in teambuilding and self-discovery processes through taking people into wilderness spaces where they can relax, de-stress and be nurtured by the balanced rhythms of nature; whilst observing animals with social behavior that remind them of who they are, and ironically, how to relate in ways that are sometimes more humane. It is through groups discussions after observing these animals, facilitated by Mandy, that people discover a new sense of connectedness with themselves, their place in the world and how to interact more successfully as a team.

She has given many presentations locally and nationally, many magazine (Sawubona, Living and Loving, Odyssey) and news paper articles (Weekend Argus, November 2003 - Personality of the Week) have been written about the work that she does; and she has written a chapter for a German Baby Book entitled, 'Ecotherapy, the Wisdom of Elephants and Continuum Concepts'. Her program has also been featured in a documentary series on animals and healing and most recently Mandy has been requested by Tim Liversledge the film producer of the latest Imax film, 'Roar' about the lions of the Kalahari, to write the script for his next Imax film about the Wild Dogs.

Mandy's psychotherapy experience and animal observation research has culminated into four unique, tailor-made experiences: the Wisdom of Elephants, Dancing with Dolphins, Wild Women, Wild Dogs and Wild Men and now you are about to experience, Mingling with Meerkats!

Estienne de Beer - Motivational Man:

If teamwork equaled profit and shared learning equaled market share, African Meerkats would be a Fortune 500 benchmark.

Our challenges in the marketplace fade in comparison to what these charismatic little creatures have to conquer on a daily basis.

The most famous Meerkat is, of course, Timone who features in the Lion King series, but this powerful presentation is the real-life story of wild Meerkats and how business can benefit from their extraordinary example.

It’s about their side-by-side battle for resources against the competition in a hostile environment.

Every morning they leave the comfort zone of their burrow to risk limb and life in their search for success.

The MEERKAT MOTIVATION FOR THE MARKETPLACE inspirational talk and slide show for the business world will empower you into African wild life where there is no latitude for underperformance, and where implementation and shared learning is the only way of survival.

Meerkats are undisputable masters of teamwork and selfless cooperation. As humans, we can only learn from them – that is if we can put our computers and spreadsheets aside for an hour…

Estienne de Beer is a Professional Speaker and Executive Coach. Over the past 3 years, he has empowered people in 7 countries. You can visit his web page www.leader2leaders.com or e-mail him at estienne@lantic.net

Estelle McIlrath - the Art Therapist:

A unique opportunity to benefit from many years of Estelle's art-equipping experience and a personality that is inspiring, encouraging and able to help you create an image of yourself that leaves you feeling a great sense of worth and competence, even if you have never painted before! Estelle provides the equipment, the skills, the motivation and the teaching. Relax, enjoy yourself, and discover a part of yourself you never previously knew existed. Walk away from the Meerkat Motivation weekend with an artwork that is an indelible memory to be proud of!

Johannes Else - the Snakeman!

Johannes is an experienced ornithologist, snake handler and researcher, as well as a Theta accredited fieldguide and snake handling trainer. He offers guests an educationally entertaining experience about endemic snake species. A variation of different live species of snakes are visually demonstrated, as well as exhibits of preserved and mounted specimens.

During these talks and demonstrations, which vary from 1-2 hours, the audience will be informed about snakes in a way that will change individual fears, negative perceptions and behaviors towards these beautiful reptilian creatures.

Guests may have the opportunity, if they choose, to have a personal and up-close handling experience with some of Africa’s most fascinating snakes, and will even be allowed to take photographs of themselves holding selected snakes. Fancy a picture of yourself entangled by the slippery, muscular coils of a 6-meter python?!

Program Details:

Program Costs:

Contact Mandy: 082 445 4142 | mandy@peace-of-eden.co.za | Copyright © 2010 Mandy Young | Sitemap