Meet the New Frontiers Product Team

The New Frontiers Product Team works hard to ensure the product they curate is not only beautifully crafted and relevant, but also deeply informed by their clients’ needs and market trends. The close team alignment with Sales keeps Product attuned to what travelers are seeking, while the partnership with Procurement – led by Jo as Contract Manager and overseen by Erica as Commercial Manager – ensures they are always buying best, securing exclusive New Frontiers deals, and showcasing exceptional value through special offers.

The Product Team has been steadily growing – with some exciting internal moves and fresh energy across the board. They are a passionate, experienced team driven by a love for meaningful travel, and it’s time to introduce the faces behind the magic.

Jené

Head of Product

If you’ve worked with New Frontiers over the years, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Jené – whether during her time leading their Private Touring division, deep-diving into supplier relationships, or exploring new places and product in the Cape!

A natural early bird (who’s partial to a mid-morning matcha), J brings a soulful approach to Product, rooted in her passion for uncovering experiences with depth, beauty, and meaning. Think: open roads, inspiring people, and wild coastal settings where shoes are optional and stories run deep. For her, great travel feels personal, genuine, and a little bit transformative.

She’s recently returned from Gorongosa – which she claims “blew her mind” – but you’ll also find her shouting about small towns and back roads across the Western Cape. And with a French winemaker husband and their own family label, she has one foot in the world of wine (and a finely honed talent for champagne tasting – any hour of the day).

J is the calm in the Product storm, bringing decades of insight, experience, and a big-picture vision to the team. She’s already adding her magic behind the scenes – and it will continue to be exciting for you to see (and sell) what she’s lining up next.

Ren(ée)

South Africa Product Manager

If you’ve worked with the New Frontiers US team over the past few years, chances are you already know and love Ren(ée)!

Having made the move from Senior Consultant into our Product Team, Ren now brings her sharp eye, deep destination knowledge, and that signature calm-under-pressure energy to the other side of the desk.

She’s a true ‘bush, beach and berg’ kind of person – happiest when out walking in the wild or scouting hidden corners of KZN. Her passion for raw, immersive travel (think Mana Pools on foot or termite-swarm sunsets in the Delta) shines through, and her knack for storytelling and detail makes her a perfect fit for shaping the products we love to share with you.

Still fueled by coffee and a healthy dose of indie nostalgia playlists, Ren’s excited to bring a consultant’s perspective to Product, with the same grounded, collaborative spirit you’ve come to know.

Mvelo

Regional Product Manager

After nearly a decade of consulting (and two years leading the US team), Mvelo has made a seamless move into Product – bringing with him calm confidence, a wealth of hands-on experience, and a deep love for travel that makes a real difference.

He’s passionate about community-led tourism and meaningful conservation – and it’s the people and purpose behind the product that really fuel his fire. He counts walking with rhinos in Hwange among his most unforgettable travel moments, and closer to home, it’s the quieter corners that capture his heart – the Kgalagadi being his top pick for the sheer beauty and stillness it offers to those willing to venture off the beaten track.

Mvelo brings a thoughtful, measured approach to everything he does, along with excellent problem-solving skills and a genuine knack for seeing the big picture. When he’s not engaging with New Frontiers trade partners or deep in the detail, you’ll likely find him planning his dream: a long-distance motorcycle adventure across Southern Africa.

Nicknamed “Mphathi” (aka the boss) by his former team, Mvelo is as humble as he is insightful – and the team is excited to have him shaping the future of New Frontiers’ regional product offering.

Thobs (Thobekile) – pronounced Tobs

Product & Sales Assistant

One of the newest additions to the team, Thobs supports both Sales and Product with a calm, can-do spirit and an impressive eye for detail. A self-proclaimed early bird (powered by tea, not coffee), she brings sharp organisational skills and a quiet efficiency to everything she does.

With a love for structure honed during her time in Ops, Thobs is perfectly positioned to help keep things running smoothly across departments. She’s loving the opportunity to grow, learn, and dive deeper into the heart of the product New Frontiers sells – and is fast becoming the person the team relies on to get things done right the first time.

She’s especially excited to finally put faces to the suppliers she speaks to daily and is soaking up product knowledge like a sponge. Her favorite local escape? The mighty Drakensberg, with its breathtaking views and dramatic landscapes.

Just call her Thobs (or Thobsy) – and know that if she’s on it, it’s under control.

Meet the New Frontiers Product Team