The D’Aubrey Family
Simon and his wife, Emily, moved to Arcadia Estates in 2013 to learn from Simon's uncle, John Fisher. In 2016, upon his uncle's retirement, they officially purchased the farm along with Jane D’Aubrey. Their vision is to lead the farm into the future by transitioning from conventional farming methods to sustainable, regenerative and organic practices.
The team
Simon D'Aubrey,
Farm Director
Simon grew up on Arcadia with his parents and two brothers. After boarding school in the Midlands, he studied viticulture at Cape Tech in the Western Cape. Though he initially pursued winemaking, Simon later earned a Bachelor’s and Honours degree in Construction Management at UKZN. He began a career in construction, but meeting Emily, his then-girlfriend, led him to refocus on family and the farm.
In 2013, Simon became the farm manager, and by 2016, he was part owner and operations director. Under his leadership, Arcadia has become a more efficient and environmentally conscious enterprise. In 2019, Simon was awarded the KZN ‘Young Farmer of the Year’ award for his contributions to the farm and the community. His goal is to guide Arcadia into the future through regenerative organic practices and develop scalable solutions for other commercial farms.
Emily D'Aubrey,
Business Manager and Sustainability Consultant
Emily grew up in Baltimore, MD, on the East Coast of the United States with her parents and three siblings. She met Simon while volunteering on a public health research project in KwaZulu-Natal in 2010. Although she initially envisioned a career in public health in Washington, D.C., her path took a different turn as she now manages the day-to-day operations of a farm in rural Zululand.
In addition to raising their two daughters, Phoebe and Lucy, Emily pursued a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University in 2021. While Emily continues to support Simon in advancing sustainability initiatives on the farm, she works as the Sustainability Lead for EK Consulting, striving to make sustainable impact in emerging markets, primarily in Africa.
Sanelisiwe Khumalo,
Junior Manager
Sane joins us from Mbongolwane. She holds an Ndip in Crop Science from the Owen Sitole College of Agriculture, graduating in 2016. She became part of the Arcadia team in April 2021 as an intern through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Sanele Mthethwa,
Junior Manager
Sanele joined Arcadia in January 2021 as an intern through the Cane Growers program of the South African Sugar Association. Originally from eNgwelezane, near Empangeni, he graduated from the University of Zululand in 2019.
Bronwyn Pieterse,
Administrator
Bronwyn, born and raised in Eshowe, has built a solid career in administration and HR, with experience across various industries. She joined Arcadia Estates in May 2022, where she has become deeply involved in Organic farming and Regenerative agriculture, leveraging her skills to contribute to the success of Arcadia Estates.
Tommy Sibiya,
Induna
Tommy joined the farming operation as a tractor driver and later became an induna in 1989. In addition to being an exceptional driver and hard worker, he keeps us all smiling with a great sense of humour and real zest for farm life.
Ozius Gazu,
Driver/Weeding Induna
Ozius, another driver and induna on the farm, has been a vital part of our operation since 1996. In addition to being an excellent driver, he has strong family ties to the farm, with several relatives who share a long history here. Ozius lives on the neighboring reserve with his many grandchildren.
Lindamusa Biyela,
Zone Induna
Lindamusa, our zone induna and main Bell driver, is one of the most dedicated members of the Arcadia Estates team. Since joining us in 2012, he has become essential to our operation, tackling the most challenging tasks with a smile. His commitment makes us all proud to be part of Arcadia.
Alex Maceze,
Cutting Induna
Alex has been with Arcadia Estates since 2011. He worked as a cutter for several years before becoming the cutting induna in 2020. Originally from Hemoine, near Maxixe in Mozambique, Alex has four daughters: Nelsa, Jessica, Felicia, and Alice. He is an invaluable asset to our team.
Sibonelo Morris Cele,
Sugarcane and Timber Intern
Sibonelo, from Mthwalume, is interning at Arcadia Estates farm through SA Canegrowers. He holds N2-N5 certificates in Heavy Current Electrical Engineering from Berea Technical College and Esayidi TVET College. His commitment and experience as an electrician makes him a valuable asset to the team.
Nokwethemba (Nox) Ngcobo,
Vegetables and Orchards Intern
Nokwethemba, from Emvutshini, Gingindlovu, holds an advanced diploma in Agricultural Extension and Community Development from Mangosuthu University of Technology. She joined Arcadia Estates farm as an intern from the Department of Agriculture in April 2022 and values the regenerative farming practices she’s learned on the farm.