About

Prior to his career as a politician, Andrew managed several award-winning projects. His projects won both a Gold and Silver at the Responsible Tourism Awards 2023 African edition. Andrew was a runner up in the Tourism & Leisure category at the prestigious Rising Star Awards 2023.

Andrew is a skillful writer and speaker. He has been published in Daily Maverick, Getaway, and African Birdlife and has been invited to give addresses to several international conferences including the World Travel Market Africa expo (2022 and 2023) and the International Ornithological Congress (2023). In September 2024, Andrew will be releasing his first children’s book, The Twins’ Big South African Bird Tour, which teaches children about South Africa’s natural and cultural diversity.

Andrew is an avid sports fan and co-hosts a podcast called ‘Elite Rugby Banter’. He is also one of the country’s top birders with over 750 species seen in the country. Additionally, he is an accomplished bagpiper, having competed locally and internationally. He performed with the Cape Town Highlanders for the royal family at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations in 2016, at the Edinburgh Tattoo in 2012, and while living in Edinburgh, he performed for the Pope on his visit to Scotland and alongside Sir Paul McCartney of the Beatles in Glasgow during his 2010 tour. Andrew’s Scottish flair extends to a deep appreciation of good whisky.

Andrew was schooled at St Andrew’s College in Makhanda (previously Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape and attended the University of Cape Town for his Bachelors, Honours, and Masters degrees. He was born in the Netherlands, raised in Cape Town, schooled in the Eastern Cape, and has been resident in Johannesburg, Gauteng since 2020.