With his background in anthropology and trans-boundary community, conservation and economic development, Roelie has profound knowledge and a deep understanding of climate change and socio-economic development.

Roelie holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pretoria and has Masters Degrees in History (Stellenbosch University) and Social Anthropology (Pretoria University). He has published on a wide range of subjects, including environmental refugees, rural development, poverty and transboundary conservation.

After completing his PhD as part of a multi-disciplinary team funded by US Fish and Wildlife Services and the Ford Foundation, he joined the Peace Parks Foundation and later Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as Transfrontier Conservation Area Coordinator. In 2009 he was contracted by Conservation International to lead the development of an investment strategy for the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Global Biodiversity Hotspot. This secured an investment of $6,5million by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, which he led as head of the Regional Implementation Team.

He joined the WILDTRUST in 2010 where is has recently been appointed as Chief Executive Officer leading a multi-disciplinary team focussing on terrestrial and marine conservation through its WILDLANDS and WILDOCEANS programmes.