I am employed by Stellenbosch University's IT division as Director: Institutional Software Solutions, a new role as from January 2016. My role entails technical responsibility for the design, development, procurement and maintenance of institutional (large) software solutions and information systems.
I have led a sustainable IT initiative on campus in line with my convictions about sustainability and environmental protection. Those convictions were also responsible for me being a co-founder of ecoafrica.com – an inbound ecotourism website – way back in 1995 (other web properties included krugersafari.com, krugerpark.com and ecoAfrica's Blog). Ecoafrica and the web properties were sold during and before 2009 and it has been sad to see some of them disappear recently.
Over the last couple of years I was privileged to contribute to the design of our new, green ICT Building, a building that promises to help modernise the division and change its work culture.
I was a member of the Wildlife and Environment Society of SA for a number of years and as I entered what I call the "community phase" of life, I joined Jonkershoek Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) as a volunteer wildfire-fighter, but resigned after 5 years' service. A lifelong love of hiking and mountains led me to (finally!) become a member of the Stellenbosch section of the Mountain Club of SA as well.
Originally I graduated with a degree in electronic engineering from Stellenbosch in 1979 and followed it up with an MBA in 1994. I am something of a permanent student, so in line with my "green" interests completed an MPhil in Environmental Management in 2004 and a BPhil in Renewable and Sustainable Energy at Stellenbosch's Sustainability Institute in 2009. I believe that the twin challenges of our time are the depletion of our endowment of energy sources, mainly fossil fuel, and climate change.
I am married to Marion who hails from the Koo, and we have been blessed with two lovely daughters, Leigh and Heather. Leisure time is spent windsurfing, reading, travelling, sea kayaking and hiking. The university has generous leave conditions and I work hard at exploiting them optimally. Working myself to death is not an option. My motto for this phase of my life is: ¨Play hard, work smart¨.
My father, Felix Pina, is Dutch, from Wassenaar. He emigrated here with his parents and brothers after WWII and settled at Koelenhof near Stellenbosch. There was a romantic theory that we are the descendants of Sephardic Jews, but my brother's recent research into the roots of the Pina family indicates that we descend from French Huguenots who fled to the Low Countries. My mom, Cynthia Pina (Visser), is a Capetonian through and through and I was born on the slopes of Table Mountain as well, but I now call Stellenbosch "home".
I am a football fanatic. World Cup 2010 was an absolute highlight, a spectacular and uplifting experience. I played competitively for almost 30 years, and coached too. I have always followed Ajax Amsterdam, Oranje and FC Barcelona – it's a football philosophy thing.
I would have loved to have been a virtuoso jazz pianist – or a rock star – but sadly the love of music was never matched by raw talent. So although I took piano lessons in my mid-thirties for three years, I ended up frustrating myself no end. There has been a recent, enjoyable re-acquaintance with the guitar, however.
Above Kasteelspoort, Table Mountain (photo by Peter Groves)
Botswana & Zimbabwe safari: Muchenje & Chobe
by Ralph Pina | Jul 16, 2001 | Botswana, Chobe National Park, safari travel
Muchenje Safari Lodge, Chobe 2 - 15 July 2001 Muchenje apparently means "Jackalberry tree" in Lozi. The lodge, built in 1996, tops the ridge above the Chobe River near Buffalo Ridge, commanding a panoramic view of the Chobe and Caprivi. Located just south of the Chobe...
Botswana & Zimbabwe safari: Machaba
by Ralph Pina | Jul 16, 2001 | Botswana, Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, safari travel
Machaba, Moremi Game Reserve 2 - 15 July 2001 Machaba is located on the north bank of the Khwai River in riverine forest, with its tents fronting the river across from the Moremi Game Reserve. The area is rich in game, a veritable menagerie, and the birdlife is...
Groot Winterhoek wilderness
by Ralph Pina | Apr 14, 2001 | Groot Winterhoek Wilderness, hiking, trails, wilderness trail
"To Hell and back": 12 to 13 May 2001 Well, not really. It was more like paradise. A perfect autumn weekend in the Cape mountains above Tulbagh and Porterville.Big Ron and I followed the Groot Kliphuis River down to De Tronk, our mission to experience "Die Hel". We...
Napi Wilderness Trail
by Ralph Pina | Mar 28, 2001 | Kruger National Park, trails, walking safaris, wilderness trail
Southern Kruger Park: 25 to 28 March 2001 Once again Marion and I were privileged to participate in a wilderness trail (FAQ), this time the Napi Trail midway between Pretoriuskop and Skukuza. Napi was the newest of Kruger's seven wilderness trails and its location at...
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