IMPLEMENTATION FACTORY
About Debby
About Debby
The what, when, where and how .....
And how it all fits together!
Debby initially started her adult life within the field of conservation working and living in many of the primary game reserves within the Hoedspruit region, such as Manyaleti, Klaserie and Timbavati (including a short stint down at Phinda in Natal). During these years Debby developed a number of skills and understanding related to Conservation (specifically as regards the conservation of Biodiversity) and the overlaying development of Tourism in the region. Being in the environment at the outset of the massive boom, she has been able to personally witness and experience the challenges experienced on both sides of the game - there were as few as 8 commercial lodges when Debby first started in the industry and in the region, compared to the over 400 lodges currently in existence in the greater region today.
As a result, Debby focused on establishing a number of processes to support and assist this development boom, from firstly being involved in the establishment of a framework to help guide development in order to continue to protect the natural environment that was attracting everyone in the first place (through the establishment of the Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere Region) as well as through the establishing of support services to assist developing lodges in communication and marketing needs focused around the unified promotion of the region as a single minded community.
In later years, subsequent to the murder of her brother in 2007, Debby also took to focusing on the mitigating of crime in the greater region and together with her conservation background and contacts, this has naturally included the fight against rhino poaching, as well as the development of a support structure trough the Victim Support Unit, to assist with trauma counselling and mitigation.
Thus Debby has developed many different skills over the years focusing on different core features but all with linking threads and implementation processes - Debby is constantly wearing many different hats but ultimately focusing on 1 single strategy - DOING WHAT IS RIGHT - and using her exceptional organising skills towards contributing towards a better tomorrow, whether it be for her community, for the environment or the country as a whole.
Hoedspruit Victim Support Unit
Debby started the Hoedspruit Victim Support Unit in 2008 as a consequence of the murder of her brother Mike Thomson, in 2007.
During the families traumatic ideal, they were assisted by volunteers from the Parkview Victim Support unit and made such an impact on Debby and proved to be so beneficial to the family, that Debby immediately decided to initiate the same in her own town as soon as she returned back home.
The purpose of the Victim Support Unit is to assist families and individuals with the initial 72 hours after a traumatic event. Apart from just offering guidance and advice on what needs to be done initially, VSU also focuses on implementing processes of "emotional diffusion" with the victims and/ or their family members
Today the Victim Support Unit is a well established voluntary organisation in Hoedspruit and have assisted many individuals and families dealing with difficult, emotional and traumatic situations.
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Hoedspruit Farmwatch
In addition to the development of the Hoedspruit Vicim Support Unit, following the murder of her brother Debby has also taken on the challenge of contributing towards the fight against crime in South Africa and works closely with SAPS both locally and regionally based specialist units to assist and contribute where possible (on a voluntary basis).
Due to the nature of crime in the region, this also includes becoming involved in the fight against rhino poaching and in assisting SAPS and ani-poaching units in taking their anti-poaching abilities to a new level and bringing in the use of technology and in depth analysis as much as possible .
Debby is currently on the Management Team for Hoedspruit Farmwatch and has been responsible for building up processes and platforms focusing on the collection of crime related data that assists and contributes towards a greater understanding of crime dynamics in the region and is further used to guide SAPS with conducting their various investigations and enquiries .
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K2C Biosphere Region
Before turning her focus and passion towards fighting crime in South Africa, Debby initially studied and is qualified as a conservationist. In her earlier years, Debby lived and worked in a number of the prominent private reserves in the region. During this time, it became evident to Debby and a number of her colleagues in the region that there was a sudden interest and potential development focusing in the region and if this is not managed effectively could be detrimental to the natural beauty that was attracting everyone in the first place. As a result, in 1996, Debby together with a group of committed colleagues initiated he registration of the region under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Concept, which assists in establishing frameworks that will guide responsible development within the region (while still protecting the Conservation of Biodiversity). Today the K2C Biosphere Is exceptionally well established and highly successful having been listing by UNESCO in 2019 as the 11th most successful Biosphere in the world (currently almost 700 registered biospheres globally)
Debby is no longer involved on a daily basis but assists K2C with their communication and branding needs.
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Rotary K2C Cycle Tour
During the years as Project Manager within the K2C Biosphere, one of the projects identified was the establishment of a corridor reserve stretching from the Kruger National Park through to the Blyde River Canyon. Initial Implementation plans and strategies were developed in this regard. As part of this process and to assist in developing an acceptance of the concept and idea with the public, Debby had envisioned the development of a cycling event which took cyclists from the edge of the `Kruger through to the Blyde River Canyon, traversing the primary reserves that would be the core of a proposed corridor reserve.
In 2015 when the newly establishing Rotary Club in Hoedspruit approached Debby for ideas and assistance in developing an annual fund raising event, her envisioned concept of the cycle tour fitted in perfectly with their requirements.
As a result, Hoedspruit Rotary Club became the very proud parents and hosts of the Rotary K2C Cycle Tour where 100 cyclists are taken 100km's through Big 5 reserves from the edge of the Kruger, into the Blyde River Canyon.
Debby is still a primary organiser and assists Rotary every year in running and managing this event.
Smart Communities
Within her tasks within Hoedspruit Farmwatch, Debby has identified the need for the collection, collation and analysis of basic crime data in order to establish a clear understanding of the crime dynamics within a region. With this deeper knowledge and understanding, it is easier for a community to know how best to address crime in their area and to establish effective crime mitigating strategies.
As a result, Debby has developed the concept of Smart Communities that is based on the establishment of a collection platform that allows for the information to be collated in a standardised and uniformed manner using a platform established initially for conservation management and dealing with the illegal wildlife trade called SMART Conservation Tool. Due to the flexibility of this platform, it was very easy for it to be adapted to deal with general community crime as well as high level poaching incidents.
Further to the collation of data, the platform also allows for the development of report templates which enables communities to develop regular reports and analysis processes at the touch of a button.
My Beloved Country Made me Cry
In December 2019, Debby launched her first book, published by Woodrock Publishing and titled: My Beloved Country Made me Cry.
The book is non-fiction and is focused on the many systems in South Africa that are letting the citizens down daily while contributing towards the high crime levels in the country.
Following the thread of her brother's murder, Debby takes the reader on a journey exploring the many shocking and mind blowing realities behind what is really happening within the policing and judicial systems in South Africa
In addition to this, Debby also focuses on creating an understanding behind crime in South Africa specifically the occurrence of violent crime in South Africa with the intention that by truly understanding the situation only then can we begin to find the right solutions.
The book is already being haled as a masterpiece and is receiving reviews way beyond anything that Debby ever expected. Readers are commonly commenting that they are unable to put it down and that this is a book that ALL South Africans should read.
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