Our Team

Our group of likeminded individuals deliver a unique ‘cradle to grave’ service that is built on long term personal and professional relationships. We are specialists in strategic investment, asset management, project positioning, sustainable design and development management. We are outcome based thinkers, creating long-term value for our investment community.

We have a global network of specialist professionals who have worked with us for over two decades as either consultants or partners on the investment programs we lead. This allows us to be agile and deliver a boutique service to global leaders in the impact investment, real estate and conservation communities.

‘We are pioneers and entrepreneurs with a deep and genuine desire to integrate business thinking with the need to save our planet’s diminishing terrestrial and marine environments.’

Department

Paul Milton

Investor Relations, Development Strategy & Marketing
Paul is a global thought leader and a high-level strategist, dedicated to developing innovative and measurable investment models in conservation and global natural resource management. He is a catalyst, aligning people with common interests to collaborate and integrate natural and social assets to maximize investor balance sheet values, protect environments and integrate community upliftment. Paul is the founder of Milton Group LLC US and Milton Advisors Ltd UK; co-founder of One Planet digital sustainability platform; member of the board of Hart Howerton LLC New York and San Francisco; co-founder of sustainable design firm Sherwood Design Engineers LLC New York and San Francisco; and director of Grumeti Construction Ltd Tanzania. He acts as an advisor to Frankfurt Zoological Society and the African Community and Conservation Foundation (ACCF). He collaborates on conservation with Tusk, Peace Parks Foundation and the Royal African Society. He is a regular speaker on matters of conservation and tourism in Africa.

Tom Palmer

Development Strategy & Marketing
Tom has worked alongside Paul for over a decade, originally as Senior Associate at Hart Howerton, London and at Milton Group since its launch in 2009. He is a development advisor specializing in sustainable tourism and public-private conservation business plans. Tom thinks at a holistic landscape level, integrating a career of large-scale land planning with developing best and highest- use land programs that achieve economic sustainability. As part of our global interests, Tom formed the Sydney office in 2016 with the goal of broadening our reach to include sustainable developments in the Asian region. He is also one of the founding partners of Ngarra; a responsible development company based in Sydney with an active project in Tasmania. He is passionate about outcome-based impact investment and the role of the private sector in protecting the world’s natural and cultural assets.

Hayden Vivash

CFO
Hayden is a leader and commercially astute CFO with a range of international experience. Prior to joining Milton Group, he was a main Board Director for over five years for Philips UK, Ireland and South Africa markets. Hayden manages relationships with investors, African government officials, development agencies, local banks and legal advisors. He heads up project due diligence, including treasury; budgeting and planning; tax structuring; asset and risk management; controls and compliance; and external audits. Consulting to Milton Group and a CFO for conservation, real estate and hospitality development in Africa, Hayden represents several family offices’ interests on projects in Mozambique, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. He leads our financial and management reporting and investor liaison and is a passionate advocate for the African continent’s potential.

Brendan Raubenheimer

Financial Strategy
Brendan holds a bachelor’s degree (Finance & Economics) from the University of Cape Town and is a recent MBA graduate from HEC Paris, where he specialized in Finance. He brings a strong analytical skill set to the team, along with a strategic and holistic understanding of business operations. Prior to consulting for Milton Group, he spent seven years in Johannesburg working in real estate development and finance. Brendan leads the financial analysis, reporting, investor information, production and distribution for the group.

Millie Fyffe

Development Coordinator and Sustainability Analyst
Millie joined the Milton Group team in February 2021, having graduated from the University of Bristol. She has a passion for conservation and sustainability, inspired by her time volunteering at a remote orangutan release site in Indonesian Borneo. Millie’s experience at a London bullion dealer and a design studio, along with her degree in Ancient History, have instilled a strong set of analytical, research and digital media skills, vital for her role in business development and sustainability analytics within the team.

Graham Ledger

Hospitality & Operations
Graham has over 36 years’ experience in the African hotel and leisure industry. Prior to his current position as Managing Director and Board Member for Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania, Graham held leadership roles at various exclusive hotels and game lodges, including Singita Private Game Reserve in South Africa. By constantly employing both lateral thinking and analytical decision making, he holds a strong track record for successfully identifying and implementing market opportunities. His input as Managing Director and Board Member has ensured the comprehensive daily running of operations at Grumeti Reserves, creating an unrivaled wilderness experience. Graham has worked with us for over a decade and been integral to several delivered projects. He has been credited with integrating construction and logistical support and professionalizing field operations, helping to maintain our position as a market leader

Nadine Swanepoel

Hospitality & Operations
Nadine is currently the Logistics and Special Projects Manager at Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania. Her focus is on procurement, project coordination and incident risk management. Acting in a consultant capacity, Nadine has supported Milton Group to both conceive and deliver complex projects in wilderness settings. Her experience in both front- and back-of-house provides excellent insight into all aspects of high-end lodge operations, placing her in a good position to provide the critical support needed to ensure that all teams are well-equipped and prepared for handover during project and installation phases.

Lyle Webb

Project Cost & Risk Management
Lyle is both a Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor and has a background in international real estate development. His 35-year career has seen him lead a variety of projects, from constructing Nomura’s St. Martin’s Le Grand in London to the Parliamentary Building in Tanzania. Lyle’s longstanding links to African hospitality and real-estate offer Milton Group an informed channel of insight into the potential of projects on the African continent with clear results. Since 2009, Lyle has worked with us in leadership roles such as the successful redevelopment of Singita Serengeti House in Tanzania; a private lodge for a philanthropic family at Grumeti Reserves in Tanzania; Singita Kwitonda lodge and Kataza House in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda; and Singita Sabora in Tanzania. Lyle works with our analysts to provide and coordinate project cost management programs that support investor business plans and reporting requirements.

Derrick Nkera

Project Management
Derrick has over 12 years’ experience as a site-based Project Manager, overseeing construction schedules, quality control and overall risk management for real-estate projects in both South Africa and Rwanda. His coordinative responsibilities with Milton Group include ensuring that projects comply to the correct permits and assessment standards, as well as acting as an interface between local contractors and third parties, managing the professional team, and keeping our projects on-schedule and up to best-in- class standards.

Debra Thomas-Levine

Procurement & Logistics
Debra is a specialist in project coordination, procurement and logistics for high-value tourism developments in remote environments. She is responsible for the operational country setup for new developments and heads up pre-opening services prior to hospitality operator handover. Debra’s background is in Hospitality and Hotel Management. Prior to working with Milton Group she spent 6 years as Head of Resources and Logistics at Grumeti Reserves in Tanzania, coordinating all service departments and providing support to the tourism division, which comprised three 5-star lodges at the time.

Jackson Rwakabuba

Land Acquisition
Jackson has been engaged with land management as both a Land Surveyor and Cartographer for over 10 years. He holds a qualification in Urban and Regional Planning from the National University of Rwanda. Jackson’s current role includes working with community resettlement and conflict resolution in Rwanda. His oversight of land transactions supports us in fulfilling our mission within the necessary legal and administrative requirements for land acquisition and management.