Better Team

Stephen Wormald

Managing Director TBTC

Stephen holds a BSc in Horticulture and Agricultural Economics and an MBA, and was a visiting scholar to Wharton Business School UN of Penn. He is a fourth-generation African from Zimbabwe who has over 20 years of entrepreneurial business experience in the horticultural export sector, agri-business supply of chemicals and fertilizers, project consultancy, flowers, marketing and investment.

When it comes to the topic of "better", Stephen takes a proudly Afro-centric view, "As an African I am passionate about this continent, about starting and growing successful sustainable businesses, and about making a true difference." He continues, "As a business group we understand Africa, and believe in its people and potential."

Nigel Dorward

Operations & New Business Director TBTC

A proud African from Zimbabwe holding a BSocSc in Politics and Economic History, Nigel also has an MBA and is a Nuffield Scholar. Nigel's career experience centers around running large mixed agricultural operations but also includes textile production, retail and small business start-ups. Most of this experience has been gained in Africa.

He has managed large work forces with wide skill sets from general farm hands to university graduates.

He has spent the last 6 years setting up businesses to market horticultural produce from Africa into the UK, Europe and the USA. His key fields include Operations, Supply Chain Management, marketing and international trade from Africa into Western markets.

Nigel explains further, "I fundamentally believe that this is going to be the accepted norm going forward - not because it is trendy but because it makes solid business sense."

Mike Bailey

Managing Director BAg

Holding a BSc in Agriculture, Michael Bailey has been a leading figure in agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa for over 30 years, not least as a pioneer, in the development of the horticultural industry in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa where he has lead the start-up of a number of new agricultural projects.

From 1981 to 2000, as Managing Director of Claremont Orchards (Pvt) Ltd Mike developed this estate into one of the leading mixed agricultural estates in Zimbabwe. Its activities included deciduous fruit production; nurseries; production of seed and ware potatoes; 30 hectares of export flowers; a trout farm; mobile sawmilling of plantation pine; ostrich and livestock production; property development, business centre and butchery.

As Chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable Growers Co-op, FAVCO, Lindridge Trading and Europort (Pvt) he was responsible for the construction of a fruit and vegetable handling facility and cold store export flower handling facility handling 25 million kilos of cut flowers/annum.

Having resigned from Ariston Holdings and Claremont Orchards in 2000 to pursue his own farming and horticultural businesses he has been involved in export flower operations from East Africa in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa.

Mike firmly believes that a sustainable agri-business model in Africa requires a Better understanding of all the stakeholders' aspirations both within, and surrounding, the business and these being supported by Better technical partners.

Pete Caminada

Technical Director BAg

Holding a BCom (Hons) Financial Management and a BSc Agric in Horticulture from the University of Natal, Pete has over 25 years experience in Southern Africa in agriculture. This experience includes 10 years of experience in consultancy in Southern Africa operating his own consultancy business.

He was General Manager of Mazowe Citrus Estates, the largest producer of citrus in Zimbabwe as well as a large producer of cereals. He is a keen supporter of sustainable farming practices with due consideration for the environment. He has strong people and communication skills.

With his strong technical background, disciplined approach and understanding of accreditations and customer compliance he is highly respected in the industry and adds huge value to the entire range of production projects undertaken by TBTC. This coupled with his experience of out grower schemes makes him a key person in any consulting or due diligence role. His key areas of expertise include all technical aspects from planning through to packing and shipping of horticulture, citrus, deciduous fruit and row cropping.

For Peter, Better means setting up systems and relationships that are balanced and sustainable and are relevant to the world we live in.

Martin Bepete

Agronomy & Production Manager

Martin holds an MSc. Horticulture from Cornell University, New York, and a BSc. Agriculture (Hons) in crop science.Martin has extensive experience in the agricultural sector spanning research, extension and training.

As a senior agronomist at a large agrochemical supplier he used, and developed, his considerable knowledge of commercial agricultural production of the major crops: tobacco; cotton; soya beans; winter cereals; maize and horticulture. Furthermore, he was key to the agrochemical sales and product development departments of this large agrochemical business.

He was part of team that recommended growers in the small scale Tobacco Grower of the year.

He is an accredited to the Agricultural Chemical Industry Association (ACIA) as a qualified advisor in agrochemical usage.

One of Martin’s areas of speciality are the designing and implementing of small holder production models and the complexities involved in people management relating to this, from government and big business, to the farmers themselves.He runs regular training programs from Global Gap to procedures around chemical handling and consults to large scale horticultural projects.

To Martin, “The BETTER concept means continuous improvement of the way we do things, to unlock the vast potential of all involved, from BETTER livelihood for the grower through the value chain to a BETTER product for the consumer”.

Shamema Faulman

Admin & Finance Manager

Shamema’s previous work in printing and travel bring valuable expertise to the business.Her wealth of life experiences adds great dimension and perspective to the Better Team. Her wise head is a great fit for a dynamic company testing new business models.

Being Better is exciting for Shamema as she believes that we continually need to learn how to work with social and environmental challenges. As she says, “It’s all about awareness and being pro-active!”

Shelly Graham

General Manager, United Kingdom

Shelly has a BSc in Horticulture and Agricultural Economics and an MSc in Horticulture. Based in the UK office, Shelly is closely involved in the Better Group of Company's project start-ups, account- and relationship-development and management - where her previous experience in compliance and business research is invaluable.

She is a specialist in post harvest handling of horticultural products throughout the entire cold chain. She has a wealth of experience in key account management with the key UK retailers covering technical, commercial and CSR departments within these retailers.

Shelly believes in Better 100%, "Environmental and people issues are part of the fabric of who I am. This is a better way of business and the way that I feel business should be done."

Stuart Hutchings

Sales Manager, United Kingdom

Stuart holds an honours degree in Agricultural Business Management from Wye College, London University. Having spent 10 years in the Fresh Produce Industry, dealing with UK retailers and working with growers from all corners of the globe, Stuart is well - placed to look after our UK sales

For Stuart, ‘Better’ means delivering great quality produce to customers via sustainable supply chains that deliver benefits to all stakeholders.

Jenna van Niekerk

Administration, Social & Environmental Standards Manager

Jenna holds a BSocSc degree majoring in Environmental Science and Politics and recently finished with an Honours degree in Environmental Management, both from UCT. Jenna has joined the team in the Zimbabwean office and is giving invaluable support to the whole Team and is focusing on baseline studies and the relevant follow-ups.

Jenna explains, "I am very passionate about the environmental issues that we are currently facing - I believe that as a member of the generation that is going to be key to "saving" our world, it is important for people to understand that we are not in a "what if" scenario.

So many changes are happening to the environment NOW and I believe that if people don't start realistically embracing the principles surrounding sustainability (environmental, social and economic) immediately we can only expect the worst to come - that is what "Better" is about."

Marina Pretorius

Accounts and Systems Manager

Marina has been involved in all levels of finance and administration for the last 12 years. Her experience spans different industries including farming, horticulture, manufacturing, transport, retail and investment operations. Marina has managed accounts, admin and logistics departments within these industries, ensuring that all aspects of these areas are meticulously covered to ensure the smooth-running of these businesses.

This robust and varied background ensures Marina is well placed to deal with the challenges of coordinating and implementing the various different projects TBTC is involved in and on which she thrives.

When it comes to the Better Marina says, "I like the Better project models that we are in the process of developing, it definitely makes a real difference to all stakeholders here in Zimbabwe. It is both challenging and exciting being at the beginning of this process and working on the on-going development."