Jonathan | www.JonathanLeeming.com

Jonathan is Southern Africa’s leading authority on spider bite and scorpion sting first response. He is a best selling author, international speaker and award-winning conservationist. He consults for poison information helplines, medical organisations and academic institutions, and speaks and is a panel member at medical conferences and is a member of the National Snakebite Advisory Group. His work has inspired a generation, and has shaped our understanding of scorpions and scorpion stings across Southern Africa.

My Story

From scorpions to sustainability

Jonathan is a unique individual. Born in England in 1970, he was fortunate to have been bought up in a family who encouraged an understanding and appreciation of all aspects of the natural world. Camping, hiking, climbing, fishing and sailing were all part of his “formal” education as a child. Immigrating to South Africa in 1984 sparked a new, and boundless fascination in the natural world. Spiders were hairier, scorpions were plentiful, snakes were more venomous and nature was woven into the fabric of society.

Fascinated by those creatures that bite and sting, his journey through a world that so many fear yet few understand began. In 2003, he wrote Scorpions of southern Africa, which gave him the leverage and a platform to be seen and heard. A few books later Jonathan quickly became the venomous animal go-to-guy.

Since the publication of his first book, Jonathan has worked in 11 countries and with people of many different cultures, beliefs and backgrounds – unravelling the barriers in our values and beliefs that steal the future from future generations. How the mere image of a spider, scorpion or snake reveals a deeply entrenched phobia that defines our culture, creating fear and developing a disconnection from the natural world.

Today, Jonathan’s work answers the question of “How do we avoid becoming a victim of our own circumstance?”. From waving the flag for venomous animals, Jonathan has taken aim at the looming target of sustainability and how civilisation’s attitude towards the world is stealing the future from our children and our children’s children.

Jonathan has developed the One World sustainability framework that bridges the gap between sustainability objectives and the individual’s values and beliefs.

One World is focused upon empowering participants to go back to their communities and drive their own sustainability efforts, regardless of what those efforts are.

Best selling author, conservationist and international speaker, Jonathan offers unique insight into creating a sustainable future by teaching lessons from the natural world, to create opportunities for change, responsible leadership and innovation.

My Story

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