Lesego Thekiso grew up in Brits and loved the outdoors all through his childhood there. He later enrolled at North-West University where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Honours in Geography, learning about geographic information systems (GIS).  

He is currently pursuing his Master of Science and has been placed with WILDTRUST in Pietermaritzburg as a GIS technician. In this intern role, he is involved in research support, cartographic map production and data management. He also contributes to report writing and project proposals, and when he’s not at work, he can be found hiking on trails or having a picnic in the park. 

We asked him a few questions to find out more about his work, studies and inspirations: 

What are you passionate about?  

I am passionate about the natural world and everything in it, and how I can use GIS to better understand the spatial relationships between nature and its surroundings. 

What inspired your choice of study? 

I have always loved geography from my primary school days, and I was always fascinated by maps and the globe. I grew up reading road maps of my city, which later inspired me to pursue a career in GIS (cartography). 

What excites you about your internship? 

It is great to be working at one of the leading organisations in the country with regards to conservation and human development. The most exciting part is working with top industry experts on life-changing projects. 

What are your expectations of this internship? 

I expect to gain as much work experience as possible within the field of GIS and conservation, and learn how to apply my academic knowledge to real-world problems in the field. I also expect the internship to enhance my current skills and knowledge.  

What contribution do you hope to make towards a future in which people and nature thrive? 

In relation to the projects I will be working on at WILDTRUST, it will be an honour to see communities benefiting from nature, while doing it in a sustainable manner without harming it. My contribution will involve spreading awareness of sustainable use of resources from the world around us. 

Who inspires you most and why? 

My research supervisor, Dr Nisa Ayob, is my biggest inspiration. I am inspired by the kind of person she is and how she treats everyone around her. She is loving, caring and passionate about her work. She played a big role in my academic career and made me fall in love with GIS even more.