US
Vision
To become the most trusted and consistent global supplier of the highest quality cannabis.
- Be the preeminent cultivator of medical grade cannabis across Southern Africa.
- Produce a range of top-grade cannabis products and further develop our brand as best in class.
- Be a reliable supplier of the best cannabis and cannabis products globally.
- Have the White Lion brand become a trusted name for highest quality cannabis products.
- Protect the biodiversity for future generations by focusing on crop uniformity and stability crop resilience and overall yields, whilst benefitting the health of humanity and the planet at large.
mission
Growing cannabis is not just something we do, it’s who we are.
White Lion Holdings is passionate about skills development and is dedicated to contributing towards healing our planet by assisting, teaching and uplifting all participating communities.
It is a priority for us to build sustainable operations to protect the environment as well as our country and her people.
Objectives
To become the most trusted and consistent global supplier of the highest quality cannabis.
- Expand partnerships with additional international cannabis companies in countries where cannabis cultivation and consumption is legal and then leverage these relationships to ensure that best-in-class cultivation, extraction and production facilities are developed on additional licensed sites in South Africa.
- Secure additional product offtake agreements for medical cannabis products.
- Ensure the secure handling and reporting of the product from the growth stage all the way through to its departure from South Africa.
- Adhere to the highest international standards and certification required by the buyers to produce medical grade cannabis with a verifiable audit trail of the product, on a continuous basis, from inception to sale.
- Ensure that the latest, internationally developed systems and designs are implemented at the facility to serve as a local benchmark for the African region.
- Provide the best medical cannabis genetics in line with the medical grades required and to develop additional markets, extraction capabilities, new product development and research opportunities using the latest international production techniques.
- Add value to local communities in respect of job creation, training and support.
OUR
TEAM
CORNEL VAN DER WATT, "THE WHITE LION"
DIRECTOR l CHIEF CULTIVATION OFFICER
With over 30 years of international, large scale cannabis cultivation experience under his belt, Cornel van der Watt is in a class of his own. His knowledge of all aspects of the cannabis industry and his connections in the global cannabis community are unparalleled. He has also been at the forefront of the cannabis movement in South Africa since inception.
Every path he has walked in his professional and personal life has led him back to the cannabis industry. This path traces back to his qualification in chemical engineering, experience in chemical glassblowing, expertise in cultivation abroad and locally, studies in tissue cultivation, cloning and genetics, his community upliftment work as well as training and consulting.
While Cornel has become a scientist, a geneticist, a businessman and Cannabis Supremo, at the heart of his consultancy lies a deep and spiritual connection with the cannabis plant.
GEORGE MARAIS
DIRECTOR | HEAD OF OPERATIONS (COO)
George completed his undergraduate degree in Investments and Financial Management at the University of Stellenbosch. He then attended University of Cape Town where he completed his Honours degree in Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management. After this, he spent a year in San Francisco at Hult International Business School, where he completed his Master’s degree in International Business.
George is Head of Operations (COO) in White Lion Holdings, focusing mainly on regulatory affairs, expansion opportunities and product distribution for the company. Since starting at the company in 2021, George and the WLH team have pioneered the retail space, being the first company to sell cannabis-specific retail goods in large agricultural wholesalers in the Western Cape. George’s extensive networking capabilities and financial knowledge play an important role in keeping White Lion Holdings at the forefront of the industry.
KAYLEE SMIT
MASTER GROWNER & HEAD OF CULTIVATION
Kaylee is an ambitious female commercial cannabis horticulturist with experience in indoor and greenhouse grow environments. The multi-facetted methods and procedures in cannabis cultivation and manufacturing feeds the passion she has for the green industry. She holds a BSc degree in Agriculture from the University of South Africa with certifications in Quality Assurance and ISO9001:2015 to assist with concise procedures in the workplace.
As a dedicated team member of White Lion Holdings, she has had many opportunities to be involved in multiple large-scale licensed facilities. In addition to being the Head of Cultivation, she also has a small footprint in an international project. Her devotion to skill-development and uplifting her female colleagues is paving the way forward for women in the gender-biased agricultural field.
CHRIS ADAMS
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
Chris earned an Honors degree in finance from the University of Stellenbosch and is a registered Chartered Accountant CA(SA).
Chris is White Lion Holdings Financial Director (FD). Having joined the company in 2021 to lead the expansion of the retail business prior to being named Financial Director, Chris’s deep knowledge of the financial sector has been integral in shaping White Lion’s overall commercial strategy and guiding the company’s engagement with the financial community.
His financial knowledge was built through auditing various industries ranging from asset management to commercial agricultural activities.
NIEL VILJOEN
DIRECTOR l NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Niel was born in 1965 in Essex, England and was schooled both in England and South Africa where he matriculated cum laude at Paarl Boys High School. He attended the University of Stellenbosch where he obtained his degree in engineering B.Eng.Ind, completed his national service as an officer in the South African Navy before starting his career as an entrepreneur on a wine estate outside Stellenbosch.
He is a founding shareholder of the 2nd largest Vodacom cellphone retail company (est. 1996) and lives in Somerset West with his wife and two sons.
Niel is a director of WLH and is currently tasked with New Business Development.
HOPE BAKASA
HEAD OF LOGISTICS & WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT
Hope Bakasa started working at (WLH) at an entry level position in 2020. She enhanced her skill sets by taking courses in Office Administration.
Her hard work, diligence, tenacity, and ambition saw her raise quickly through the ranks to a managerial postion in just two short years. As our warehouse manager she is responsible for handling stock and other finer details of operations. She has transformed the Warehouse from good to great.
NICOLA MEYER
HEAD OF SALES
Nicola Meyer joined our team in June 2022, as Head of Sales, prior to entering the Cannabis-world she worked in the Health Industry for 14 years. Her in-depth CRM experience paved the way for her current position at White Lion Holdings.
Nicola lived in a small town; called Robertson, after she matriculated; she completed a 3-year course at The International Academy of Health & Skincare in Cape Town, where she obtained an International Academy Masters Diploma SAAHSP TEC and CIBTAC and completed her 3rd and final Post Graduate Course
Nicola always knew she wanted work towards Organic/Holistic/Nature alternatives in the Health Industry and got the opportunity to join the SKOON Team in 2017 as Sales field manager / Training Manager. SKOON uses Non-toxic, effective, clinically proven ingredients in their products, looking after Mother Earth, during this time, she had the privilege to represent SKOON on an INTERNATIONAL level by being the guest speaker on the TVSN Tele Sales Channel introducing the SKOON brand.
NICOLA MEYER
HEAD OF SALES
Nicola Meyer joined our team in June 2022, as Head of Sales, prior to entering the Cannabis-world she worked in the Health Industry for 14 years. Her in-depth CRM experience paved the way for her current position at White Lion Holdings.
Nicola lived in a small town; called Robertson, after she matriculated; she completed a 3-year course at The International Academy of Health & Skincare in Cape Town, where she obtained an International Academy Masters Diploma SAAHSP TEC and CIBTAC and completed her 3rd and final Post Graduate Course
Nicola always knew she wanted work towards Organic/Holistic/Nature alternatives in the Health Industry and got the opportunity to join the SKOON Team in 2017 as Sales field manager / Training Manager. SKOON uses Non-toxic, effective, clinically proven ingredients in their products, looking after Mother Earth, during this time, she had the privilege to represent SKOON on an INTERNATIONAL level by being the guest speaker on the TVSN Tele Sales Channel introducing the SKOON brand.
NICOLA MEYER
HEAD OF SALES
Nicola Meyer joined our team in June 2022, as Head of Sales, prior to entering the Cannabis-world she worked in the Health Industry for 14 years. Her in-depth CRM experience paved the way for her current position at White Lion Holdings.
Nicola lived in a small town; called Robertson, after she matriculated; she completed a 3-year course at The International Academy of Health & Skincare in Cape Town, where she obtained an International Academy Masters Diploma SAAHSP TEC and CIBTAC and completed her 3rd and final Post Graduate Course
Nicola always knew she wanted work towards Organic/Holistic/Nature alternatives in the Health Industry and got the opportunity to join the SKOON Team in 2017 as Sales field manager / Training Manager. SKOON uses Non-toxic, effective, clinically proven ingredients in their products, looking after Mother Earth, during this time, she had the privilege to represent SKOON on an INTERNATIONAL level by being the guest speaker on the TVSN Tele Sales Channel introducing the SKOON brand.
COMPANY
SUMMARY
White Lion Holdings(WLH) was founded in 2020 and has positioned itself as a market leader in medical cannabis cultivation, genetic development and cannabis consulting.
WLH has positioned itself in the cannabis product supply space focusing on the development of the cannabis industry in South Africa from source to end user, with best-in-class protocols entrenched into the business model.
The scientific principles related to cannabis cultivation are the cornerstone of WLH’s future development. WLH is focussed on best-in-class genetic breeding, cloning and cultivation producing predictable results as required by a dynamic and constantly changing market.
WLH has working experience in testing laboratories, seed banks, indoor cannabis grow operations and cannabis farms across the globe, including Amsterdam, United States of America, Lesotho, Australia and South Africa.
WLH cultivation is comprehensive – including our own and affiliated cultivation facilities across South Africa. With extensive experience in cannabis cultivation across the globe, the WLH team has consulted on more than 15 of South Africa’s commercial-scale cannabis farms.
our
facility
