The Team

The Plett Tourism Team is made up of:

• Patty Butterworth – CEO – patty@pletttourism.com
• Liz Phillips – Treasurer – finance@pletttoursim.com
• Cindy Wilson-Trollip – Manager – cindy@pletttourism.com
• Janet Middleton – Social Media Manager – janet@pletttourism.com
• Thandi Mabukane – Membership Manager – thandi@pletttourism.com
• Brendon Morris – IT Systems Manager – brendon@pletttourism.com
• Andisiwe Nonkosana – Administration Assistant – andisiwe@pletttourism.com
• Emily Potgieter – Information Officer – emily@pletttourism.com
• Brayley Booysen – Information Officer – brayley@pletttourism.com
• Porche Saayman – Tourism & Travel Trade Consultant – porche@pletttourism.com
• Alice Evans – Graphic Design & Art Director – alice@designdesign.co.za

CINDY WILSON-TROLLIP // MANAGER

Cindy Wilson-Trollip is the GM of Plett Tourism and heads up the Events and Festivals portfolio, a position she has held for the last 11 years.

Her extensive broadcast, marketing and advertising, film and tertiary teaching career has spanned 45 years, and stand her in excellent stead for heading up her two big projects at Plett Tourism, the Plett Arts Festival and the Plett Ocean Festival; and as part of the management team, with input into strategy and planning for the association.

Day-to-day management of the Plett Tourism business falls within her purview and she has a keen interest in working with college students who annually complete their courses with practical internships at Plett Tourism.

Cindy is a long-time resident of Plett, having lived here for her school and varsity years in the 70’s. She returned 22 years ago in 2002 and was co-opted onto the tourism Plett Rhythm & Roots Festival committee which was her first experience in the tourism space. She continued her day job in furniture retail, interior design and manufacturing. and owned an import furniture business for 8 years.

Plett Tourism has been her sole occupation for the past 9 years.

ANDISIWE NONKASANA // ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT

Andisiwe is originally from the Eastern Cape and has a background in Office Data Processing, Office Practice, Business Practice, and New Venture Creation.

She joined Plett Tourism in 2017 as an intern, where she quickly demonstrated her skills and passion for the tourism industry. In 2018, she was offered a permanent position as an Administration Assistant, a role in which she has thrived ever since.

In her current role, Andisiwe manages a variety of administrative tasks, including coordinating the events calendar, preparing daily diaries and compiling databases to ensure smooth operations.

She is also responsible for assembling gift bags for community and travel trade support and plays an integral part in supporting major events such as the Plett Ocean Festival and Plett Arts Festival. Her attention to detail, strong organisational skills, and dedication to the tourism sector have made her an asset to the team.

JANET MIDDLETON // SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL MARKETING

Janet Middleton manages Plett Tourism’s social media accounts, general mailer and blogs for the Plett Tourism website. Janet is originally from Port Elizabeth and studied IT and Marketing at Nelson Mandela Bay University (then University of Port Elizabeth). Following her studies, she trained as a scuba dive-master and, later, instructor, returning from London to open and operate a new dive centre at the Beacon Isle Hotel. She managed this tourism business successfully for six years before turning her attention full-time to digital marketing, with a strong focus on the tourism industry.

Since 2011, Janet has operated her own digital marketing consultancy, Key Media & Marketing, training and working with a variety of businesses and destinations in the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape ranging from Destination Marketing Organisations, real estate, magazines and private businesses. With a firm background in both traditional marketing and IT, 15 years’ experience in the travel and tourism sector and an ahead-of-the-curve approach to new media, Janet brings a balanced and experienced approach to Plett Tourism’s digital marketing channels.

For more information, please visit: www.keymediaandmarketing.co.za

BRENDON MORRIS // WEB DEVELOPMENT & IT

Brendon handles the IT for Plett Tourism, focusing mainly on the website, web development, hosting, and content management. He manages the association’s email systems, compiles the bulk email newsletters and promotional mailers, and provides general online IT support services.

After growing up and attending primary school in Plett and then high school Port Elizabeth in the 1980s, Brendon studied Civil Engineering in PE before heading to the UK in the mid-90s to work as a surveyor on the construction of new tube tunnels for London Underground. He thereafter joined Thames Water managing large pipeline construction projects around the city.

In 1999 Brendon made a career change by studying IT Networking and qualifying as a Microsoft Certified Professional. This enabled him to work for a UK startup company deploying ethernet networks and developing websites during the Y2K and dot-com boom of the early 2000s, dealing with clients such as Colorama Film and Lloyds of London, amongst others. In 2003, while still in the UK, Brendon started his own web development business and then returned to South Africa in 2004, branching out into web hosting as another of his key offerings.

He has built a large client base in the 20 years that his business has been in operation, with the local tourism sector being one of his main sources of customers, although he continues to serve a number of his international clients in the UK, USA and Ireland.

PATTY BUTTERWORTH // CEO

Patty Butterworth, CEO at Plett Tourism, has held several portfolios under the Plett Tourism Association. She was appointed as CEO in October 2020, and her previous portfolio was focused on Travel and Trade, the Media Management and Business Development.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Media Relations from George Mason University in the United States. She has worked in publishing, marketing, public relations and brand management over the course of 33 years. Her experience is across the board, having worked for industry leaders in the US such as Alston & Bird, CNN, DuPont, Southern Living and The Washington Post.

She moved to South Africa with her husband in 1996 and has worked with industry leaders such as the Border-Kei Chamber of Business, Daimler Chrysler, GA Creative Brands and Johnson & Johnson. She has been involved with tourism over the course of 12 years. She started in the private sector and helped formalise the current board structure of the Plett Tourism Association, having been involved since the Association’s inception and joining the Plett Tourism Team in 2012.

THANDI MABUKANE // MEMBERSHIP MANAGER

Long-standing Plett Tourism employee Thandi Mabukani, joins the Management Team as Membership Manager, recently appointed by CEO Patty Butterworth. Her new position officially started 1 September 2021.

Thandi Mabukane formerly held the position of Membership Coordinator and has been actively involved with the management of the members since October 2020.

Prior to her new role, Thandi Mabukane was first employed by the Association as an information officer, and later accepted the position of Membership Coordinator in October 2020 under the guidance of the Association’s team who work directly with members. Her familiarity with the local hospitality industry products, her experience in administration and her hard work made her the most viable candidate for the position on the Management Team.

EMILY POTGIETER // TOURISM OFFICER

With more than 24 years of experience with the Plett Tourism office, Emily enjoys assisting guests and members with special requests and guidance with activity and accommodation bookings.

Her knowledge of the local restaurants, shopping areas and activities is like a walking talking Plett encyclopaedia. She speaks English, German, Zulu and Afrikaans.

In her spare time, Emily likes to spend time with her family and explore the beaches, activities and coffee shops of Plett, meeting and speaking with local residents. She is an avid Pansy Shell collector.

BRAYLEY BOOYSEN – TOURISM OFFICER / EVENTS & FESTIVALS ASSISTANT

Brayley joined Plett Tourism as an intern in 2020 and accepted an offer to stay on as an information officer in 2022, assisting visitors from around the world with bookings and Plett information. She has gained experience in various areas, including administration of the community hot desk, participation in the conducting of township surveys, and the organisation of Plett Tourism functions.

Brayley has taken on greater responsibilities with the organisation of Plett Ocean and Plett Arts festivals, and you’ll find her running the front of house crew at the events, whilst ordering and erecting signage, and working on the websites behind the scenes.

Fluent in English and Afrikaans, Brayley’s personality and helpfulness extends a Plett welcome to everyone she meets. Born and raised in new Horizons, Plett is home. Within Plett’s diverse communities, Brayley is a constant contributor and respected go-to person. She enjoys attending events and festivals, and in 2025 will work at the World Travel Market in Cape Town as one of Plett Tourism team ambassadors.

Having been with the Plett Tourism team for four years, Brayley has gained a lot of experience in events, motivating her to consider further qualifications in event management, which is where she feels her career passions lie.

PORCHE SEPTEMBER // TOURISM & TRAVEL TRADE ASSISTANT

Plett Tourism is pleased to welcome a new addition to the family. Beautiful and talented Porche September is ready to apply her knowledge and skills as a Tourism & Travel Trade Assistant, working directly with CEO Patty Butterworth on projects that require experience and expertise with tour operators, trade shows and other travel trade projects.

Confident and dynamic Porche insists that her current appointment isn’t her first tourism, betterment rodeo. She cut her proverbial professional teeth in ICT (Information, Communication & Technology) Management, Corporate Services, HR, and Tourism Coordination.

Porche earned her N4 and N5 Tourism certificates in 2012 and is currently in the process of earning a Diploma in Law. She clearly does not lack energy or ambition. As to her professional strengths, she acknowledges her ability to work well under pressure and to execute tasks in a professional and timely manner. Porche is happiest when she is employing her creativity, unique problem solving, and innovative ideas to the task at hand.

ALICE EVANS // GRAPHIC DESIGN & ART DIRECTOR

As a multifaceted graphic designer and art director, Alice embodies a blend of artistic vision and strategic thinking. With a keen eye for aesthetics and a passion for storytelling, she excels in crafting visually captivating designs that leave a lasting impression.

Her expertise spans a wide range of mediums, allowing her to seamlessly create compelling brand identities, impactful marketing campaigns, and engaging user experiences. Through her leadership skills and effective collaboration, Alice inspires teams, while maintaining a strong focus on delivering results.

With a drive for innovation and a commitment to excellence, she consistently pushes boundaries and elevates the art of design.

Journalists and Writers for Plett Tourism

SIHLE NTSATHA // FREELANCE COMMUNITY JOURNALIST AND WRITER FOR PLETT TOURISM

Sihle is a PR & Communications Practitioner who graduated from Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2019 and is currently a freelancer in the field of communications.

Read some of Sihle’s work for Plett Tourism here