Our Team

Ashleigh Lawrence

Terra Nova Co-Founder & Managing Director

Ashleigh, the founder of Terra Nova, is an accomplished and results-oriented professional with a solid history of success in leading negotiations on multiple master planning projects in the eco- hospitality space, as well as overseeing financial and business development strategies.

Prior to joining Terra Nova, Ashleigh was the lead business development manager for the Mantis Group (part of the Accor Group) in the UK focusing on securing global eco- lodge opportunities outside of Southern Africa with particular emphasis in the Middle East region, where she secured multiple hotel management deals.

Ashleigh completed her Business Science Degree & Honours specialising in Finance and Accounting at the University of Cape Town and qualified as a South African Chartered Accountant at Deloitte in London.

Her love for Africa, people and travel encouraged her to leave Deloitte and to join the Mantis Group in 2018 which is where she started a global master planning division built around sustainability and innovation. Her team comprises of well-established independent consultants which each bring their own level of expertise and experience to each project.

Paul Gardiner

Terra Nova Co-Founder

Paul's journey in eco-tourism commenced with Shamwari, a game reserve his family developed in South Africa over 30 years ago. They successfully revitalized a once-degraded piece of land, establishing one of Africa's most prosperous eco-tourism ventures. The replicable model shaped at Shamwari forms the cornerstone of Terra Nova, with the goal of exporting this success globally.

In collaboration with adventurer Bear Grylls, Paul also co-founded the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, and today, they integrate this intellectual property and experience into their tourism products, collaborating with other talents to elevate the guest experience. Conservation is Paul's true passion, dedicating himself to preserving wildlife and championing the vital message of protecting our planet's last wild places—an integral aspect of what Terra Nova brings to the table.

Terra Nova is redefining the landscape of eco-friendly travel by specializing in crafting distinctive eco lodges for investors eager to make their mark in this transformative sector. Join Terra Nova and Paul Gardiner, where sustainability and innovation converge to create thriving, eco-friendly destinations. Let's embark on a journey together to redefine the possibilities of responsible tourism."

Bruce McNicol

Terra Nova Co-Founder

Bruce McNicol co-founded Terra Nova SA in 2024 after an eight-year tenure leading the Development and Technical Services division for the Mantis Collection. With over 20 years of international experience, Bruce has a track record of managing high-value, complex projects in the hotel and lodge sector, including boutique hotels, golf estates, game reserves, and eco-lodges. His focus on sustainability and innovation has positioned Terra Nova SA as a premier partner for luxury hospitality investors and property owners.

Bruce’s portfolio includes numerous high-value developments, ranging between $2m and $20m. Current projects include the St Francis Links Villas and Apartments and an Eco Lodge within Addo National Park, a pioneering off-grid project in partnership with SANParks that supports a strategic wildlife corridor within Addo National Park and reflecting Bruce's expertise in both luxury and sustainable development.

Recently concluded project highlights include leading the development of Hazendal Wine Estate Boutique Hotel in South Africa and the Pearl Valley Hotel on the prestigious Pearl Valley Golf Estate. Other notable projects include the development of the Mantis St Helena Hotel on St Helena Island and the Kalba Kingfisher Tented Camp in the UAE.

In addition to his recent work, Bruce’s experience includes six years at a prominent South African PQS firm, and six years in the UK as a Senior Quantity Surveyor, where he contributed to projects such as Heathrow’s Terminal Five and Transport for London’s Head Office.

This background, combined with extensive experience in high-value, complex developments, enables Terra Nova SA to provide unparalleled expertise in creating successful and impactful hospitality ventures.

Ignus le Roux

Commercial Director

Ignus has been in the Tourism and Hospitality industry for nearly 3 decades. He started his hospitality career at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the late 1990’s as a financial controller and gradually worked his way up in the business. His commercial career started to take off, when he joined Mantis in the mid 2000’s as the Group Sales and Marketing Services Manager.

Over time as Mantis grew its worldwide footprint, his role evolved to oversee the overall Sales and Marketing division of Mantis, balancing the ever-changing needs and wants of the market, with the needs and wants of the operations on the ground.

He obtained his MBA in 2015 from the Nelson Mandela Bay Business School and successfully completed a Hospitality Leadership Course at the UCT Graduate School of Business in 2017.

Currently Ignus is overseeing and plays an active role in the private property portfolio and group of companies of Adrian Gardiner, which includes hotels and lodges, residential property developments, shareholding in the Pearl Valley Golf Estate, and the formation of a Big 5 game reserve between 2 cities.

With a strong foundation in both business and hospitality, Ignus brings a unique blend of strategic insight and hands-on experience to each project.

Terra Nova Key Consultants

Millennia Architects is an architecture and design focused studio based in South Africa operating globally.

Specializing in the hospitality and eco-tourism industry, Millennia Architects provides innovative design solutions based on 2 key aspects; bespoke designs that are authentic to each unique region and integrated sustainable eco-systems that make it possible to develop projects in challenging locations with great potential.

The practice comprises a team of skilled professionals with the collective expertise to handle projects of any type and scale, spanning the lifespan of a project from inception to successful completion. The range of services includes master planning, project appraisal, design development, detail design, project documentation, project management, 3d visualization and rendering as well as drone imagery and data processing.

MEL Entertainment is a diversified company with roots in talent management and adventure brand licensing. Innovators in the ‘Experience and Leisure’ industry, MEL Entertainment’s areas of expertise include live events, branded entertainment experiences, strategic partnerships, digital content production and location based entertainment solutions for clients around the world. The company seeks to proactively identify strategic opportunities in these key areas and to harness untapped value in themarketplace by bringing together best-in-class players with unique synergies.

MEL Entertainment thrives on a commitment to excellence, consistently pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the realm of experiential entertainment. Through a fusion of creativity, innovation, and strategic thinking, we navigate the intricacies of the industry to create unparalleled experiences that resonate with audiences globally.

MI Designs Established in 1982, is an international design company that specialises in hotels, lodges, resorts, residential projects as well as retail and corporate design.

With over 30 years’ experience in architectural and interior design, MI design employs a diverse group of talented architects, interior designers, graphic designers, photographers and 3D artists. Our Interior Design is rooted in modernist planning principles but is expressed in a timeless aesthetic.

We offer a full house service from conceptualisation, manufacturing and procurement through to and including on-site project management and project completion.

Our approach to interior design encompasses a creative customised and flexible deign service. Our expertise and project management skills allow us to successfully undertake and offer a full turnkey design service.