Michelle

TV Reporter, Exec. Producer, Award Winning Journalist, Author, Conservationist & Game Ranger

Award winning conservation journalist, Michelle Garforth-Venter, has become synonymous for her pioneering educational television productions and newsprint articles have brought sustainable living, eco, wildlife and conservation issues to the fore of the public's mind – by creating a much needed platform of awareness in mainstream media.

Through her travels and passion for the natural world, while working for the world's best known channels - The Travel Channel, Fox Family, ESPN International and Discovery Channel - Michelle inspires others to become everyday activists and help solve the plight of our Planet.

As Executive Producer of various TV shows, Bush Radar Kids, Wild Ltd, Love & Mortar: eco-construction' and the current series Greenline, plus the plethora of articles that have appeared across the globe, written for a majority of main stream publications, as well as authoring her first book, 'The green line: a South African guide to green living', Michelle has successfully secured her name on both sides of the Atlantic.

As an 'Eco Warrior for Sustainability', Michelle presents updated information as to how each one of us can make day-today choices with Mother Nature at the fore of our minds – helping indicator species listed as critical and endangered to increase population numbers.

Wanting to engage on a more personal level with the people, she created easy to follow green workshops that have toured Southern Africa educating the public, corporates, companies and schools on how each one of us can effect a difference to our environment.

In 2011, leading from the pioneering South African reality TV series Love & Mortar, aired 2010, is Greenline, an exciting 26 part series which premiered Sunday 20 February 2011, on SABC 3 at 16:30. In the show Michelle and husband Riaan, both 'eco-warriors' share the latest information available about green consumerism in South Africa.

Her first book, 'The green line: a South African guide to sustainable living' co-written with husband Riaan hit South African bookstores in May 2011.

2010 was a pioneering year for Michelle, her husband Riaan and indeed South African television with the launch of a first ever South African produced 30 part half hour television reality series of this kind called 'Love & Mortar' on the DSTV Home Channel (#182). The show invited audiences into their lives as they built their ultimate bio-climatic family home and educated one and all on eco-friendly cost saving initiatives.

2010 also saw Michelle become a first time Mom on Friday 9, April, her birthday, welcoming a baby boy, Rainn. In March 2010, Glamour magazine voted Michelle 'Woman of the Year' in the media category and later during the year, she became the Patron of the Wildlife Education Foundation (WEF).

At the 2009 Kudu Awards, Michelle was presented with the prestigious 'Environmental Media Contribution to Conservation, Best Journalist Award'.

Also during 2009 and after 3 wildly successful seasons, viewer ratings soared for her television show 'Wild Ltd 4', on SABC 2 for 26 episodes. On the show Michelle continued to explore the plight of animals under threat and also recognised the growing and urgent public concerns for the planet. She raised public awareness of planetary needs and showed conservation management tools and the people behind the scenes.

When she is not in the bush, on assignment or strategising television productions that make the public sit up and think, her and her husband, Riaan Garforth-Venter are educating and campaigning for conservation education, both with animals and eco - environmental issues.

Michelle believes that it is all about starting with self in order to save the planet and indeed saving ourselves. Each positive action, no matter how small creates a positive ripple effect. She does her utmost to live an environmentally aware and green lifestyle and was initially surprised to learn just how easy it is.

States Michelle, "To be part of an effort to raise awareness about the plight of wildlife, their natural habitats and the environment that we all share, is incredibly rewarding and humbling. People are now realising that change cannot wait until tomorrow - it all starts with today and with self – we can all do our bit to make a change!"

2008 was a big year for Michelle when she married TV DIY guru Riaan Venter, now Garforth-Venter, on 12 April 2008 in the middle of the bush with a mommy elephant and her two babies as bridesmaids walking Michelle to the aisle..

In 2004 the catalyst to her founding not one but three production companies was seeing the planet; wildlife and ecosystems deteriorate throughout her international travels. So the two tv series 'Wild Ltd' (for adults) and 'Bush Radar' (for children) took South African television and audiences by storm. Both with a message to inform and educate viewers what we've done to the world and how we can make a difference to hopefully repair 'some' of the damage. This was the first time in South Africa that a platform of this kind, in main stream media, was created.

2003 saw Michelle return to her native South Africa from the USA where she spent five incredible years working on a wide spectrum of TV shows. Taking up the position of Host of SABC 2's 'Morning Live', the nations primary current affairs, news and information show, she was live on-air each day from 6am to 8am.

The launch of the cable channel "Fine Living" premiered in 2002 with the series "Luxury Adventures" – Michelle co-produced and hosted a 6-part production of premier destinations in Southern Africa.

From 1998 to 2003 Michelle was the Anchor for Northwest Airlines/KLM in-flight entertainment programme, putting travellers at ease with her articulate presentation.

In 1998 she was relocated to Los Angeles by the Travel Channel, to co-host with Peter Greenburg, the daily show "Travel Daily". Michelle reported on the plight of wild animals worldwide, for the popular "World Gone Wild" series - Fox Family Channel.

She gained notoriety by co-hosting the national American magazine show, "Inside CART" - taking a "behind the scenes" look at North Americas' premier open-wheel motor sport. She co-hosted the shows from each of the 20 race venues spanning five countries and four continents airing to a staggering 72 million viewers with further coverage in South America and Europe via ESPN International.

Michelle has also worked on Game Wardens "Wildlife Journal" as a Field Reporter and Segment Producer, a show dedicated to the men and women who protect the great outdoors of America and invites viewers to "get inside the great outdoors.

The springboard for her international career was conceptualising and selling a thirteen part, half hour T.V series to Discovery Channel International in 1997 – 'African Adventures' - the first time a South African team had been commissioned by DCI (Washington). The series combined eco-travel – long before it became fashionable, action adventure and wild animals. Twenty five adventures combined skydiving, kayaking, off-road motor biking, camel safari's, scuba diving with and without sharks and summating on the roof of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.

As a former classically trained dancer she initially redirected her career to commence broadcasting as one of the original hosts for "Top Billing" - 1991 - 1998 covering the globe shooting various entertainment, fashion, wildlife and culinary stories. She has interviewed politicians and stars such as, The Rolling Stones, Cindy Lauper, The Beach Boys, R.E.M, Pavarotti and Patrick Swayze, putting them at ease with her professional ability combined with an infectious personality.

Michelle believes it's not about preaching it, but about living it!

Organisations that Michelle and Riaan work with include:

Patron of the Wildlife Education Foundation (WEF).

SANWILD (Patron)

SANCCOB

Free Me

Cart Horse Protection Unit

C.A.R.E

C.R.O.W

Earth Hour (WWF), Ambassador

SPECIAL SKILLS:

1) Voice Over artist