Andrew de Blocq
Andrew de Blocq | |
|---|---|
| Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 14 June 2024 | |
| Constituency | Gauteng |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 January 1992 Alkmaar, Netherlands |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance |
| Residence(s) | Johannesburg, Gauteng |
| Education | St. Andrew's College |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town (BSc, BScHons, MSc) |
| Profession | Politician, ornithologist |
| Committees | Portfolio Committee for Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment |
| Website | www |
Andrew Dirk de Blocq van Scheltinga (born 22 January 1992),[1] known as Andrew de Blocq, is a South African ornithologist and politician who has been a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since 2024, representing the Democratic Alliance.
Early life and education
[edit]De Blocq was born in Alkmaar, Netherlands on 22 January 1992. He attended Rondebosch Boys' Preparatory School in Rondebosch for his primary education.[2] He spent his high school years boarding at St. Andrews College in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.[3] After high school, he spent a gap year in Edinburgh, Scotland.[3] De Blocq returned to Cape Town thereafter and began studying at the University of Cape Town from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary biology and Applied Biology in 2013, a honours degree in Biological Sciences in 2014, and then a Master of Science in Biological Sciences in 2017. He conducted his honours degree thesis on the spotted hyena and his master's degree thesis which focused on the effects of boat-based tourism on waterbirds was conducted through the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology.[4]
Career
[edit]De Blocq worked as a research project manager at the University of Cape Town between October 2015 and March 2016 and also as a freelance professional bird guide from October 2015 until December 2017.[2] He joined BirdLife South Africa in 2018, working as a coastal seabird conservation manager before becoming an Avitourism Project Manager in 2020.[5]
Political career
[edit]De Blocq was a participant of the Democratic Alliance's Young Leaders Programme in 2023.[3] He stood as a parliamentary candidate for the party from Gauteng in the 2024 general election and was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa.[6] De Blocq was elected as the top candidate from the province on the regional ballot. Since becoming an MP, he has been a member of the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and has been appointed as party spokesperson for the portfolio.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ NPE2024 - National Candidates List as on 10 April 2024
- ^ a b "Andrew de Blocq". Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "Democratic Alliance Young Leaders Programme Class of 2023" (PDF). Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Andrew de Blocq". Biodiversity Intactness for Africa. 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
- ^ "Andrew de Blocq | PANORAMA". panorama.solutions. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
- ^ "The 400 MPs elected to the National Assembly - IEC - DOCUMENTS | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
- ^ "Announcements, tablings and committee reports" (PDF). Parliament of South Africa. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
External links
[edit]- Mr Andrew Dirk De Blocq Van Scheltinga at People's Assembly
- www.andrewdeblocq.com