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Meet the Team
Dr Brylyne Chitsunge is one of South Africa's most successful commercial farmers and an internationally acclaimed expert in agribusiness.
With multiple awards under her belt, including the One Africa Award for Innovation in Agriculture and Farming 2020, she is continuously leading the way forward for women in agriculture. Alongside the iconic President Nelson Mandela, she is the only other African to have received the Legion of Honour Bronze Medallion, in recognition of her service to all people regardless of race or faith.
Brylyne was educated in the UK where she graduated with a PhD, specializing in Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, but turned to farming as a result of her passion to secure food supply on the African continent.
As the founder and CEO of El Passo Farms, she has successfully transitioned from a small-scale farmer to a commercial breeder of Kalahari Red goats, Nguni cattle, Bonsmara cattle, ostriches, free range poultry, indigenous pigs, rabbits, tilapia fish and quail production. She also farms hybrid crops and a wide range of quality vegetables which she supplies to national supermarket chains and restaurants.
Dr Brylyne Chitsunge is the Pan-African Parliament's Ambassador for Food Security in Africa.
With a potent combination of medical and agricultural experience, Dr Chitsunge is well placed to guide and assist in the development and progression of the medical cannabis industry, both locally in South Africa, and across the globe.
Paul Duncan has more than 25 years’ experience in organic farming and agriculture, with a passion for the natural ecology and properties of medicinal plants and herbs.
In 2000, Paul started Dovehouse Farm - a small scale, organic farm using permaculture design principles, with a focus on growing organic fruit and vegetables. The site also became home to an inspirational education and training centre where Paul would teach permaculture and organic farming techniques.
Paul has since worked with many NGO's and government organisations in developing training programmes to empower local communities across South Africa to become self-sustainable and food secure. He also founded Dovehouse Organics Shop in 2004, which supplies a range of organic foods and health products to the community in which they live.
With his extensive experience in organic farming and vast knowledge of cultivation, he is well positioned to lead his very experienced team in cultivating the highest quality medical cannabis.
Yvonne Messenger is a Chartered Accountant (SA) with more than 15 years of experience in senior financial management, business leadership and corporate strategy.
After having worked in the corporate world for various companies in the mining sector with complex local and offshore reporting structures, she was appointed CFO of a Financial Services Group based out of Dubai, with operations spanning across various regions of the Middle East and Africa.
In 2013, Yvonne founded her own consultancy, where she focuses on providing strategic financial direction and advice to a more diversified client base. She currently retains a number of local and international clients and is committed to maximizing long-term shareholder value, ensuring strict financial control, and maintaining a high level of integrity and transparency.
